Boss Jim Magilton called for his players to make a good start to their season opener at home to Sheffield Wednesday and they gave him exactly that. The Blues won a penalty in the 35th second of the match and never looked back as they went on to a comfortable 4-1 win.

Magilton said: "I asked my players for a quick start and the penalty seemed to relax us. We did the basics better and didn't allow Wednesday a foothold in the game. We produced good movement and I am delighted.

"The start obviously helped us and we took our chances. We managed to keep our shape and this is something to work on. The back four were solid all day and disappointed to concede the late goal."

Magilton says he expects former loanee Franny Jeffers to do well with his new club: "We wanted Franny but then got others in. It was a pleasure to work with him last season and I am sure he will be a huge success with Wednesday."

After the game, two-goal striker Alan Lee told the club site about his accident earlier this week which left a cyclist in hospital: "Obviously it has been a very emotional week after the accident and it has been difficult to focus on the football.

"You would have to have a heart of stone not to be affected by it, but my conscious is clear over the accident. I couldn't have done anything about it, although I can't say too much because I have not given a statement yet.

"When the accident happened, my thoughts were obviously immediately with the poor fella. I've never seen someone in a bad state before and it does shake you up.

"I have been in contact with the police and they assured me that the guy is in a comfortable position. I hope he makes a speedy recovery and I will be going to see him in the next few days.

"Once I heard from the police on Wednesday that he was going to be OK, I started to think about today's game and for the 90 minutes you just focus on the football. It's my job, that's what I am paid to do."

Wednesday boss Brian Laws says he has realised he has a big job to do after his side's woeful display: "We gifted the goals to Ipswich and it was almost kamikaze stuff. There were costly individual mistakes which were just not good enough.

"The only positive to come from the game was that we drew the second half. I have a lot of work on my hands, I wasn't expecting so many bad performances, we almost capitulated.”

Laws felt his side ought to have been given a penalty when Frank Simek was booked for diving in the first half, although it seemed clear to most in the ground that no one touched him: "We still had chances to get back into the game. But Frank Simek was the only shining light. He was outstanding and should have had a penalty. We know that Frank is an honest player and he does not go down.

"We are a better team than we showed today. We have 45 games to go and we must put things right very quickly. I felt sorry for our travelling supporters who saw a performance like this.”

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