Daryl Murphy and Luke Chambers netted second-half headers as the Blues came from a goal down at half-time to defeat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at Portman Road. A defensive mix-up between Bartosz Bialkowski and Christophe Berra led to Kieran Lee putting the Owls in front on 20 but the Blues were always on top and Murphy flicked home a Freddie Sears cross on 52, his 19th goal of the season, and Chambers powered in the winner 15 minutes later from Kevin Bru’s ball in from the left.

Boss Mick McCarthy made five changes to his starting line-up with Sears handed his full debut up front alongside Murphy with David McGoldrick missing out due to the thigh injury he suffered at Rotherham.

Jonny Parr came in at left-back for Tyrone Mings, who dropped to the bench, while Teddy Bishop, Stephen Hunt and Darren Ambrose replaced Bru, Paul Anderson and Jay Tabb, who were also amongst the subs. Keeper Dean Gerken returned to the bench having been out with a hip problem.

The Blues started in a 4-4-2 formation with Ambrose, who was making his third full league debut for the Blues, on the right and Hunt on the left.

Neither keeper was tested in the first 14 minutes but with Town having had most of the ball. On 12 Sam Hutchinson was lucky to avoid a yellow card for a foul on Bishop.

Seconds later, the Blues were similarly fortunate that referee Stuart Attwell pulled play back for a foul when Lewis McGugan had dispossessed Cole Skuse and had sent Stevie May away towards goal.

Championship top scorer Murphy came close to his 19th of the season right on the quarter hour when he brushed off Owls’ skipper Tom Lees before hitting a shot across goal from the left of the box but just wide.

But despite the Blues having had the better of the early stages, Wednesday went in front in the 20th minute via their first serious chance of the game and it was a goal - the third Town had conceded from a set piece in two games - which Bialkowski and Berra will want to forget.

Lees sent in a freekick from halfway on the right and Will Keane knocked the ball down towards May. Berra sought to shield the ball back to Bialkowski but the two of them seemed unsure of the other’s intentions and, as they collided, the Polish keeper could only push the ball away to the edge of the box from where Kieran Lee gratefully smashed into the roof of the net.

The Blues looked to get straight back on terms, Murphy making a strong run down the middle before hitting a shot which Wednesday keeper Keiren Westwood batted away.

As the half hour the Blues were almost handed an opportunity when Claude Dielna missed Parr’s cross from the left but the ball wouldn’t fall for Sears.

Moments later, Hutchinson dispossessed Bishop on halfway before bringing the ball forward and finding May, who shot across the face of Bialkowski’s goal from the right when he ought to have done better. At the other end, Smith headed an Ambrose corner from the right powerfully wide.

The Blues were beginning to put the pressure on but Wednesday were looking dangerous on the counter-attack. On 33 May broke and fed Keane to his left but Berra dispossessed the on-loan Manchester United man

Town went close to getting back on terms in the 33rd minute when Bishop fed Ambrose on the right and the midfielder sent over a low first time ball which Sears just couldn’t keep down. Soon after, Hutchinson was booked for a foul on the ex-Colchester man.

The Blues continued to press, keeping the ball far better than they have in recent weeks. On 37 Ambrose headed Parr’s left-wing cross to Westwood, then two minutes later Skuse hit a well-struck shot through to the Irish keeper.

Close to the end of the scheduled 45 minutes Hunt felt he had been shoved over by Marnick Vermijl as he shielded a bouncing ball from the ex-Manchester United full-back inside the area but referee Attwell wasn’t interested.

In injury time the Blues went agonisingly close to getting back on terms when Hunt crossed from the left and Murphy’s header beat Westwood but stuck the post before being cleared by a Wednesday defender.

Referee Attwell was booed off by the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand at the break, although in truth it would have been a harsh penalty had the decision close to the whistle gone Hunt’s way.

On the overall balance of the half the Blues hadn’t deserved to be behind, despite having conceded another poor goal.

Once behind, Town had played as well as they had in a while with Sears close to netting his first goal at Portman Road and then Murphy coming even nearer to adding to his total for the season. Wednesday, however, had remained a danger when breaking.

Mings replaced Hunt ahead of the restart with Parr moving to the left of midfield. The Blues began the second half where they had left off the first with Parr winning an early corner from which Berra’s header was bundled wide off a Town player.

But the equaliser the Blues’ performance had deserved wasn’t too much longer in coming. In the 53rd minute Sears sent over an inswinging right-foot cross from the left and Murphy deftly flicked a header past his international team-mate Westwood to claim his 19th goal of the campaign.

After a brief spell of Wednesday pressure, Mings played a 58th minute ball in from the left to Parr, who turned and shot over. While Westwood prepared to take the goalkick Kevin Bru replaced Bishop.

A minute later Town should have been ahead. Mings and Sears did well down the left and the full-back crossed to the far post from where Ambrose headed against the outside of the post when he should have scored.

As the hour mark approached, Mings again brought the ball in from the left and struck a low right-foot shot which flew just beyond the post.

The Blues were by now well on top and were creating chances almost at will and in the 67th minute - shortly after Wednesday had switched Atdhe Nuhiu and Lewis Buxton for Vermijl and McGugan - they finally got their noses in front.

Bru whipped over a cross from the left and skipper Luke Chambers powered a superb header across Westwood and into the corner of the net to claim his first goal of the campaign.

The Blues went looking for more goals, Smith heading straight at Westwood from Mings’s corner. At the other end, Bialkowski came and failed to reach a cross but fortunately the ball looped well away from goal off an Owls head.

With 12 minutes remaining Westwood blocked from Parr but with the Norwegian - who had put in an impressive display on his return to the side - had strayed offside.

With four minutes remaining, Noel Hunt replaced Sears, who was warmly applauded off the field by his new fans.

The Blues saw out the remaining minutes with few dramas to claim their first win in four matches.

Town thoroughly deserved the three points having put in their most accomplished performance for some while.

Of the players who came into the team, Parr, Sears and Ambrose were amongst the Blues’ best performers, while Murphy put in another fine all-round display as he closes in on 20 league goals for the season. Mings and Bru both impressed having come off the bench.

The result moves Town back to fourth, five points off the top with Middlesbrough going top having beaten Blackpool 2-1 at Bloomfield Road, while previous top two Bournemouth and Derby drew 2-2 at Dean Court.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Parr, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Bishop (Bru 58), S Hunt (Mings 46), Ambrose, Sears (N Hunt 86), Murphy. Unused: Gerken, Anderson, Tabb, Clarke.

Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood, Vermijl (Buxton 66), Mattock, Lees (c), Dielna, Hutchinson (Melo 59), Lee, McGugan (Nuhiu 66), Helan, May, Keane. Unused: Kirkland, Palmer, Maghoma, Bus. Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire). Att: 17,306 (Owls: 652)

Photo: Action Images

WindsorBlue added 23:29 - Feb 10 @billblue you did well to get from your seat at FPR to post that quickly! Bring on Saturday!! All aboard the love boat!! Ps mick, if your reading this, i love you!!
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MattinLondon added 23:33 - Feb 10 A very well earned three points. Glad to be back to winning ways. On another note why is the pitch so bad? Are the ground staff all on part time or are they deliberately letting it rundown?
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ArnieM added 23:34 - Feb 10 Sears HAS to keep his place with Murphy up front. Cant remember the last time I saw TWO strikers running with such pace and commitment as those two did tonight. They compliment one another so well and having a strike partner that can match his work rate and pace takes a huge pressure off Murphy - hence why he could have had a hat full tonight. So, but McGoldricks days as our first choice striker are numbered. His most effective position would be sat just behind Murphy and Sears.

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chevvymalc added 23:39 - Feb 10 Please please please leave the team as the one that started the second half and give us a great chance to beat fulham. After being at Rotherham Saturday this was a much more slick,positive and attacking display to watch "long may it reign" Now going to Fulham with with hope and a spring in my step.
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essexbluey added 23:49 - Feb 10 3 of us just got back to southend and iam still buzzing after that last 45 mins. Cant wait to go to fulham. My mates thinking of takeing his small fishing boat up the river near to fulham if its a nice day.
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bobble added 23:57 - Feb 10 groovy.....
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gippeswyk added 00:08 - Feb 11 I was at the game unlike some who commentate from their radios. Town played better than I've seen them for a couple of months and I felt more optimistic after today because I felt the team played well, irrespective of the result, which thankfully was the win we deserved. As a season ticket holder, and I've been to several away games, I had felt that Town were riding their luck running up to Xmas, getting the wins without playing very well. Today I felt we played well and despite being a goal down at half time, completely against the run of play, I was happy with Towns performance if not their bad luck in front of goal. Sure enough we turned it around second half and deserved the 3 points against a decent side. If we play like this every game we will be in the playoffs and maybe the top 2.

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BillBlue added 00:13 - Feb 11 dusth - Stupid question but what I would answer is that IMO Parr, Ambrose, Bru, Bishop, Sears and possibly Clark and several of the other young people who have been brought it and not given an opportunity are possibly better players than the the usual Anderson , Tabb And possibly the Hunts. Nor do I like to see a CB playing Left Back when we have one of the best full backs sitting on the bench. Rather than carp at facts you need to start reading people like Scribble who has seen through all the dross and puts it succinctly. Too many people on this board have a keyboard which they can touch but have absolutely nothing to say, the worst among these is the guy who Blueboy was mentioning this evening together with his second name of Tim!

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MHS added 00:15 - Feb 11 Really have to try hard to resist responding to some ignorant comments on here. After last game doom and gloom had set in, from reading some comments you'd have thought we were on a 10 game losing streak and heading for relegation. As for tonight, I think Mick made suitable changes, I dont think anderson/tabb provide us with enough width & quality personally despite their defensive efforts, and Sears looks like he could work well off Murphy - Sears was unlucky tonight, but if he keeps making the runs he does he will bag goals for us no doubt. Mings and Parr worked well down the left, Parr kept cutting in allowing space for Mings on the overlap. I do think in bigger games (a number of which are coming up) we may struggle playing just two CMs, perhaps bring in bru/hyam and revert to a 3 again. Bish/skuse do provide a good balance though. Good win. COYB

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StowTractorBoy added 00:23 - Feb 11 Just hope this is the start of another long unbeaten run and much relief in our household tonight. Wasn't sure about the team selection before kick off but MM put it right by changing it at half time which worked. Skuse may quell his anti brigade at least for a short time as he was superb and gets my man of the match vote. Still a bit concerned at the soft goals we give away as Wednesdays goal was a complete gift. Fair play to Mings who played his part when he came on after a disappointing performance at Rotherham. Parr when moved forward was lively and Sears worked his socks off. Murphy showed how valuable he is to us and just hope he stays fit as we have no ready made replacement for him. Can now enjoy my valentines weekend in London at least until around 5 p.m. on Saturday. We had better watch out as unfortunately the scum are gunning for us now.

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BillBlue added 00:31 - Feb 11 62wasBest - yes I too was glad to see murph score tonight because I was becoming a bit worried that if he didn't score soon he might hit one of those patches that strikers find it next to impossible to get out of. Bluesince1984 - My worry precisely and what I said in my earlier post, fraud the children got among mine and I earnfed 23 commendable minuses while you got one plus for saying the same thing. Funny old world but funnier people!

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BillBlue added 00:32 - Feb 11 62wasBest - yes I too was glad to see murph score tonight because I was becoming a bit worried that if he didn't score soon he might hit one of those patches that strikers find it next to impossible to get out of. Bluesince1984 - My worry precisely and what I said in my earlier post, fraud the children got among mine and I earnfed 23 commendable minuses while you got one plus for saying the same thing. Funny old world but funnier people!

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GiveusaWave added 05:37 - Feb 11 Very pleased with the result but even more pleased with the passing football, particularly in the second half. Well done to all at the club. Murphy and Sears looked a particularly potent combination and I'm genuinely, genuinely pleased that we didn't play hoofball. (yes, we did play hoofball a bit in the first half but...my God...it was so refreshing when we didn't). Ambrose deserves to start in front of Anderson.

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dannyrr added 05:55 - Feb 11 What a difference the team selection made. We were confident for most of the match. We attacked for most of the 90 minutes it was great to watch the Sears and Murphy partnership up front. The whole team contributed and felt we were unlucky not to core mor goals. Wednesday's goal was a comedic moment. Bart and Berra trying to work out who should get the ball. We picked ourselves up from that and MMs changes worked brilliantly. My biggest concern of the evening was seeing Tabb and Anderson warming up at the side. I'm not a religious person but was praying that the closest they got to the pitch was warming up on the sidelines. An inspired performance and good passing football not hoofball. Let's continue this and see the team cement themselves into that top six or even better to go for the top. I can dream can't i. COYB!!!

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budgieplucker added 06:36 - Feb 11 Thought generally we played quite well during the first half, no real bad performances - young Teddy tried to make things happen but got caught in possession a few times, on one of these occasions they broke and should have made it 2-0, that would have been difficult to retrieve. This is where I think the pitch didn't help Teddy's game. Hunty was like the normal "ferret on speed", but so often ran down blind alley's and his final ball let him down. So on the night I think Mick was spot on with his substitutions. For me Kev Bru is turning out to be one of the best players at the club - I didn't see him at Rotherham, so even if he did have a bad game there, I think he was unlucky to be dropped because I think he has been one of our most consistent players. It seems that he and Teddy are in competition for the same spot in a 4-4-2!!! That's a bit of a dilemma for me unless we play 4-3-3. Second half Bru was excellent and actually Johnny Parr looked really comfortable in the left mid spot and his partnership with Tyrone looked very good with them covering each other. I believe Johnny started his career as a striker, and I can't see why he couldn't make this position his own for the rest of the season - he carries the ball well and makes good driving runs. Second half I thought the whole team played well. Agree with other comments on the enormous contribution from Cole Skuse for the whole 90 minutes. Freddie Sears a bundle of energy and a breath of fresh air, always a danger waiting to pounce - tremendous work rate and UNSELFISH runs helping to pull the defence out of position or put them under pressure. Finally Darren Ambrose always looked like he could make something happen (unlike Anderson for me who despite his work rate and the occasionally good delivery lacks something going forward) and I believe there are potentially more goals in Darren than Ando, in fairness Darren should have really scored when he hit the post from fairly close range. For me if Mick insists on 4-4-2 then I would have to say the finishing 11 with Sears instead of Noel Hunt has to look the best balanced team I have seen this season for this formation. Final word thought the referee was really good tonight, it wasn't a game that was too difficult to ref but thought a common sense and not too card happy.

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warktheline added 06:49 - Feb 11 At least the blind had to put their knifes away for a few days, the frustration for them must be overwhelming. Well done Mick, done what all good managers do, recognised errors and was brave enough to correct them.
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warktheline added 07:01 - Feb 11 ......see we've won more games at home than rest of teams in division and lost only 6 games of 30....anti-mick club? I'm sure there is such a foolhardy gang on forum.
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blueboy1981 added 07:27 - Feb 11 warktheline .......... euphoria, euphoria, euphoria - let's bring it all back to some kind of reality should we ?? ONE win does not mean our slump is over - let's genuinely hope it is, but I would suggest your exuberance is tempered somewhat - at least for the time being. We only need to see what's coming up in the way of Fixtures - to be cautious.!!!
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battyblue added 07:48 - Feb 11 See what a different player Mings is when he is ALOUD to push forward and swing crosses into the box also Parr should start every game what a difference he made, Ambrose to composure on the ball a midfielder threatening in the box Sears a breath of fresh air, the only downside Bishop playing out of position so not 100% yet,these lads should all start on Saturday and i hope Mick is not going there for a point i believe he will play more defensive.

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Surco72 added 07:58 - Feb 11 warktheline ...your congratulating MM for doing what the so called blind have been saying for the last few weeks !!! Drop midfield players that are playing very poorly game after game and pick more flair players that offer a goal threat , inspired . Sort out the right back and we are nearly there . The big question should be if he had done the same team selection at Brighton,Wigan and Rotherham would we now be sat at the top of the table instead of dropping 8 points at very poor sides ?

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battyblue added 08:01 - Feb 11 People on here saying well done Mick for making changes he should have two weeks back,he had no option it was so obvious to most who know a bit about the game that these changes were needed and there is still one or two more needed as well. If MM had fielded the team of late last night we would have lost and he would be feeling the wrath of the supporters.
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BillBlue added 08:02 - Feb 11 Blueboy - a word of advice if I may be so bold. Don't bite, he is enjoying himself enormously, he has a keyboard, he is at the height of his intellect and even when it turns he will not recognise it, just go bumbling on. My only fear is he will find out about 'copy' and 'paste' then there will be an averaage of 90% posts instead of the current 75%. COYB
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krizz00 added 08:02 - Feb 11 Blueboy1981. I'm not sure I'd quite go so far as describing warktheline's posts as europhic or exuberent, nor do I interpret his comments as saying the slump is over. He quite clearly says "for a few days" which shows he's uncertain what's to come. He's also highlighting the stats across the whole season and not over the course of a few recent games. I don't agree with everything that Mick has done, I despair at some of the dour displays and the long ball tactics. However what he has acheived on his budget is quite remarkable and we should all be commending him for that. Pre-Southampton it was hard not to get carried away given our results and position in the table. Unfortunately that's what I think has happened to a lot of fans and the realism has evaporated. We're currently punching above our weight and the fact that we have a very lopsided list of goalscorers with a heavy dependence on one single player for our goals is very worrying. Weeks ago Mick warned that the run wouldn't go on forever and the character of a good team is shown by how they recover from adversity. Again, some on this forum got carried away thinking that promotion was in the bag. At the end of the day we are all Town fans and this knocking of fellow supports by the pro and anti Mick brigades saddens me. If only supporters would steer a more realistic course and stick together.

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NoelTheDub added 08:08 - Feb 11 Badly needed 3pts well over due.The changes last night was the difference as even going a goal down we had the players on the pitch to turn it around.Nice to see a bit of football played also a bit of pace.As I and many others have been crying out for Ambrose, Parr,Bishop,Sears to start and we got our wish better late than never.I hope its a start of a run but the above players must start as we are more balanced and more dangerous in the middle of the park.Please dont go backwards Mick we need 5 or 6 ball players on the pitch not 11 workhorses.

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Orraman added 08:09 - Feb 11 Really impressed by Skuse last night. Was this his best game yet for Ipswich. More forward looking play, box to box and even a shot on target. Still a bit of Hoofball from Smith and Berra but a few glimpses of Football. Liked the second half midfield. Parr, Bishop and later on Bru doing some good driving forward and putting some pressure on SW defence. Apart from the initial selection of S.Hunt, MM made some good choices. Musn't forget some excellent running from Freddie. Happier now than I was on Saturday

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