Town boss Mick McCarthy was happy with a point after the Blues drew 1-1 at Sheffield Wednesday and felt the game was set up for re-signing Jonny Williams to come off the bench to score the equaliser.

“It was hard-fought, hard-earned, a deserved point and I’m pleased with a point,” he said.

“I thought we had some nice football in the first half and kept it but they were letting us do it and we didn’t really hurt them.

“We had a nice spell just before half-time with a couple of good chances. I think on reflection it was probably even on chances.

“I know they had a couple in the net. I don’t know why [Kamil Zayatte’s] goal from the other corner was disallowed, perhaps he pushed him. The other one was offside. If they are, they are, that’s the way it is.

“I was disappointed with the goal we conceded because that’s unlike us. But maybe I can take a bit of stick for that because we deal with the near post and perhaps it needs explaining a little bit more. It will get done now.”

As for Williams’s goal, the Town manager was unsurprisingly ecstatic: “I thought it was absolutely flipping brilliant! It’s the equaliser so if it had gone in off his backside it wouldn’t have bothered me, but it was a good goal.

“He knows how to make an impact. It was set up for him, wasn’t it, having done so well for us last season and having come back.

“He was never going to start, not with how well we’ve been playing. Neil Warnock asked me ‘Will he play?’. I said ‘He’ll play’ but I told him I’m not so sure where, but he’ll play, we’ll get him on the pitch. He had an instant impact.”

Did he think Williams handled the ball as he took it down? “Absolutely not! Not got a flipping clue, couldn’t see it.

“What do you expect me to say? I thought both their disallowed goals were offside and a foul and I thought our goal was perfectly great.

“If I could actually see them, I would be brutally honest about it. If we’ve been crap I’ll say we’re crap. If we’ve been deservedly beaten, I say we’ve been deservedly beaten.

“I don’t know. The referee makes his decisions honestly and I’ve said that when they make the against me as well. I’ve no idea.”

McCarthy explained why Williams switched to a blank shirt from his number 50 prior to coming on: “I think we put him down as 15. I think TC probably couldn’t believe he was number 50, so he had the wrong number on, but hey ho.”

As for the 20-year-old’s exit two minutes before the end, McCarthy added: “He had a bit of a groin, he shouldn’t have because he had a good warm-up at half-time. It wasn’t like we just stuck him on. I’d primed him that he was going on.

“But we’ve got Nottingham Forest on Sunday and then we’ve got a two-week break, so he’ll be fine.”

Meanwhile, Williams told the club site: “That was a great debut and one I won’t forget quickly!

“It was a great feeling to score so soon after coming on and it was fantastic to celebrate with the lads and, of course, the fans, who have been brilliant with me.

“I signed on Monday and to be honest it doesn’t really feel like I’ve been away. It was great to see so many familiar faces and I felt we deserved the point tonight.

“Sheffield Wednesday are a good side so it has to be seen as a good result, although it would have been nice to get the win.

“I came off towards the end as I just felt my groin, but I’m hoping I will be okay for the Forest game on Sunday. I’ll be in tomorrow to work with the physio team.”

Wednesday boss Stuart Gray says he expected Town to be tough proposition: “I saw these play at Wigan and credit to Mick, he plays to his strengths. He gets the ball forward to the three big strong lads up front. He’s got midfield men running on.

“But it’s the quality from back to front. They don’t really play through the midfield and when I saw them at Wigan they dominated the game.

“Credit to my players, especially when we lost Kamil Zayatte with a hamstring.

"You know before the game when you’re delegating players to pick up at set plays, every one of them is taller than us. But to be fair to my players we caused them problems at set plays. We got our noses in front with a good goal from Atdhe Nuhiu.

“I haven’t seen the second and the third one that the referee or the linesman disallowed. I just felt that Atdhe’s second goal looked onside.”

He added: “I think he disallowed the second for Kamil climbing over Chambers. As for Atdhe’s one, I can’t see him being offside there but the linesman was very quick to get his flag up."

Regarding Town's goal, he felt his side might have done better: “I think it was tired minds because they got the ball forward so many times.

“Maybe it was just one tired clearance that just dropped to the boy Williams, who had just come on.

“I’m a little bit disappointed that my midfield aren’t smothering him but he’s ended up getting a shot in and it’s dropped into the bottom corner.”

Did the Wales international handle the ball as he took it down? “I saw probably 100 fans in that corner appealing for a handball. It’s normally one or two, but when it’s about 100 you think it must have been handball.”

Photo: Action Images

GiveusaWave added 22:48 - Sep 30 Personally not happy with a point against Wednesday, but would agree that Williams was excellent when he came on.
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Foreverdon_Blue added 22:49 - Sep 30 Really glad that it seems Williams is OK, Hopefully we can now get a good result against Forest on Sunday.
5

Michael11 added 22:51 - Sep 30 Just got on the motorway home and I'm very happy to take a point tonight. Having that bit of class like Williams to rely on makes all the difference in this league. We had to weather the storm at times but the boys dug in well and deserved a draw. I've been a big critic of Gerken but he kept us in the game and deserves a mention. As for Sammon, I honestly don't think he's better than Frank Nouble!

11

ArnieM added 22:55 - Sep 30 You are kidding, right?! Not many teams will go there this season and come away wuth much more than bumps n bruises. Theyre a big physical team and they roughed us up last season. This was a great away point. ..... how'd the scum do tonight. Anyone know ? :)
11

ArnieM added 22:56 - Sep 30 My post was aimed at the initi posters comments. The nerd.
3

Lord_Mac added 22:57 - Sep 30 I do think Sammon is better than Nouble - in the air and tracking back, to name but two. Not that I'm particularly struck by either of em!
1

bigfatjoe87 added 23:04 - Sep 30 Would of taking a point before kick off. Wednesday have started well this season. Its hard for jonny not to put a big beaming smile on your face. What a guy.
3

mojo added 23:26 - Sep 30 So Jonny had a bit of a groin. I hope so.
0

HarryfromBath added 23:32 - Sep 30 We all have our favourite ITFC players, but it is years since I have felt such enthusiasm as that which I have for Jonny Williams. He is such a wholehearted player and unfailingly lifts both his team mates and supporters. I am thrilled for him.
6

NSL added 23:59 - Sep 30 Some 'supporters' comments beggars belief. Perhaps it's becuase its the first time in over a decade we haven't had anything to moan about that some thickets don't know how else to express themselves, but to carry on moaning. I am putting in to change my season ticket as I cannot stand the bloke behind me moaning and droaning on all game. 2 points off the top going into October with a squad which has cost 10k?! I mean, we should be having a party right now.

25

runningout added 00:19 - Oct 1 a lot of people moan, and almost seek perfection... doesn't mean they are any less or more loyal than your good self...
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runningout added 00:19 - Oct 1 a lot of people moan, and almost seek perfection... doesn't mean they are any less or more loyal than your good self...
-3

runningout added 00:19 - Oct 1 a lot of people moan, and almost seek perfection... doesn't mean they are any less or more loyal than your good self...
-2

runningout added 00:22 - Oct 1 oops
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NSL added 00:41 - Oct 1 Did I question loyalty? No. What I would like to see is a real feel good factor come back into the club and this is a great opportunity but the doom merchants are holding us back. I respect other people's right to moan, which is why I'm simply moving my seat and not making too much fuss.
10

Europablue added 04:58 - Oct 1 Wouldn't have taken a point before the match, but it looks like a good point now. Moaning is moaning and is never great to hear, although we all do it. It's nice to let off steam once in a while. People who moan even during the good times are just draining and I will challenge them every time. Now there is no excuse, but the poor people who have been to most games for the last six or seven years really did earn their right to moan. I went to the Millwall match which was my first for a while and it shocked me how negative the atmosphere was. That can be dangerous as the players must notice. We are owed a little of the good times! As for Stuart Gray's comment “I saw probably 100 fans in that corner appealing for a handball. It's normally one or two, but when it's about 100 you think it must have been handball.” I think maybe we should use this as evidence to get rid of referees and just go with whatever decisions that 100 people in a crowd of thousands say.

2

dangerous30 added 06:24 - Oct 1 i think we have had an excellent Sep and the team are looking good :-)
4

pennblue added 06:51 - Oct 1 Great away point, Sheff Wed have really got their act together and looked strong physically, but they were attacking with pace and caused us a lot of problems. They will be a top 6 side at the end of the season and this IS a very good away point.
2

battyblue added 08:00 - Oct 1 So at last we have (A Johnny on the spot) good point keeps the ball rolling but still room to improve the team from in the squad imo.
0

NS74ITFC added 08:25 - Oct 1 so September ends with 13/15 pts and we're now unbeaten in 6 games . Couldn't of asked for more really. Lets hope we keep the momentum going through October. COYB
5

itfcserbia added 08:38 - Oct 1 NSL - mate I'd give you 10 "ups" for that post but only can give one... Now bring Forest on (who are still unbeaten mind you)
5

itfcserbia added 08:39 - Oct 1 NSL - mate I'd give you 10 "ups" for that post but only can give one... Now bring Forest on (who are still unbeaten mind you)
0

ITFCFan added 08:51 - Oct 1 Another good point on the board! I like the way Mick is setting up and actually having ago especially away from home!! Get Williams on from the start against Forest. I wouldn't mind seeing a 4-5-1 Sammon Murphy Dids Anderson Hyam Williams Mings Berra Chambo Parr And get Williams on the ball running the show, I think this could work specially how hard are forward players work on the defensive side of the game to. Another 3 points Saturday please against a under par Forest!! COYB!!!!!

0

ElephantBlue added 09:39 - Oct 1 For al the moaners out there check out the form table who is top by 2pts. This is a hard league you can't win every game. If we keep winning at home and pick up draws away from home you are basically going to get promoted.
3

runningout added 11:12 - Oct 1 Be nice to stay on top of form table
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