Town romped to a 4-1 opening day victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Portman Road. The Blues went ahead through a Alan Lee's early penalty, then Gary Roberts lashed home a stunning volley, before Lee made it three at the break. Couñago added the fourth prior to Leon Clarke pulled one back.

The Blues lined-up as forecast, with Gary Roberts replacing Gavin Williams on the left of midfield. Otherwise the team was as faced Panathinaikos last week with Tommy Miller and Pablo Couñago making their second debuts and new keeper Neil Alexander his first. Sheffield Wednesday included former Town loanee Franny Jeffers, who was booed from the off.

Couñago won a penalty with the game only 35 seconds old after being hauled back as he tried to get away from Wednesday's Lee Bullen. Referee Richard Beeby consulted his linesman before pointing to the spot.

Alan Lee stepped up to take the kick and sent Lee Grant the wrong way, opening his account for the season earlier than even he would have hoped. Chants of “We are top of the league,” immediately started to ring around Portman Road, alongside anti-Jeffers songs.

Town made it two in the 10th minute, Lee sending in a deep cross from the right from where Gary Roberts lashed a volley past Grant and into the net for a very early contender for goal of the season.

The Blues were rampant, with Couñago's clever touches, flicks and immaculate touch causing the leaden-footed Owls defenders no end of problems.

On 24 the Spaniard won the ball on halfway and found Lee with a sublime cross-field diagonal pass. Lee checked the keeper's position before hitting a shot, which bounced awkwardly over Grant and into the net to make it three. The keeper will feel he ought to have done better.

Portman Road was ecstatic, all the more so as Jeffers's only contributions to the game were a series of runs from offside positions.

Neil Alexander had to wait until the 26th minute for any serious involvement, the Scottish keeper pouncing on a loose ball after Steve Watson had broken into the area.

Alex Bruce flicked an Owen Garvan corner on to the roof of the net, then at the other end a Jeffers shot deflected into the path of Marcus Tudgay, but the former Derby man scraped his shot across the face of goal.

On 32 Couñago twisted and turned on the right of the area before teeing up Miller, whose shot was deflected wide for a corner. Soon after, Grant claimed a loose ball in the Wednesday box after Lee had headed a corner back across goal.

Referee Beeby was left with no choice but to issue a yellow card in the 35th minute after Wednesday's Frank Simek burst into the area and threw himself to groundsman Alan Ferguson's immaculate turf, much to the annoyance of the Town defence.

As half-time approached, Tudgay was given a free header inside the Town area but the ball flew into Alexander's arms.

The Blues were given a standing ovation at the break having completely dominated the half. Wednesday had been shattered by the early goals and had rarely looked like getting back into the game.

Town started the second period more sluggishly, it was difficult not to, with Wednesday seizing the early initiative, but the only shot they could show for it was a freekick played across the edge of the area to Glenn Whelan, whose effort flew over.

The Blues almost added their fourth in the 57th minute when Grant, enduring a nightmarish debut, mishandled a low ball in from the left by Roberts. The former Derby man was fortunate that neither Lee nor Couñago could get in a clean shot and the ball was eventually cleared.

But an addition to the lead wasn't long in coming. Lee played the ball down the right for Walters and the former Chester man crossed low for Couñago, who guided the ball into the net from six yards. The “Olé, olé, olé, olé” chants rang around Portman Road and a Spanish flag emerged on the North Stand as Couñago celebrated his first goal of the season proper and his third in a week.

The fourth goal was the signal for Wednesday fans starting to leave in droves with little prospect of a serious fightback from their side.

Alexander saved from Whelan before Lee almost completed his hat-trick. Owen Garvan whipped in a cross from the left but Richard Wood got in ahead of the Town striker to divert the ball narrowly wide of the post, although the otherwise excellent referee Beeby awarded a goalkick.

The Town striker made way for Danny Haynes soon afterwards with Jon Walters joining Couñago in the centre.

Brilliant interplay between the Spaniard and fellow returnee Tommy Miller almost conjured a fifth, but Grant stretched to save the former Sunderland man's shot.

Jeffers was withdrawn by Owls boss Brian Laws not long later, the ex-Everton man being roundly booed off by his old fans after an out-of-sorts performance. Conversely, Couñago was given a standing ovation from the whole of Portman Road as he made his way off to be replaced by Billy Clarke. With seven minutes remaining, Tommy Miller received a similar send-off as Sylvain Legwinski entered what remained of the fray.

The remaining Wednesday fans finally had something to cheer in the 88th minute when the pulled one back through Leon Clarke, Jeffers's replacement, rebounding an effort blocked on the line by David Wright.

But the game was long won and sustaining full concentration for the entire 90 minutes was probably difficult given the very hot conditions.

A superb performance from the Blues with excellent displays throughout the side. Couñago probably stole the show ahead of the rest simply for the classiness of his input, instantly killing balls belted in his direction, laying off passes, finding space and sending Lee away for the third with a superb longer pass.

Wednesday looked a beaten side from virtually the moment Lee's penalty hit the net and never looked like getting back into the game, despite the Blues sitting back for much of the second half.

Town will certainly face better sides in the weeks and months to come and to judge a season's potential on one game is dangerous, but Jim Magilton's men could have done little more to convince dubious fans that they have what it takes to be a force worth reckoning with in this division.

Town: Alexander, Wright, Harding, De Vos, Bruce, Garvan, Miller (Legwinski 83), Roberts, Walters, Lee (Haynes 66), Couñago (Clarke 74). Unused: Supple, Wilnis. Att: 23,099.

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