The Blues’ live Sky game against Sheffield Wednesday at Portman Road remains 0-0 at the break.

Myles Kenlock replaced the suspended Jonas Knudsen at left-back in what was otherwise an unchanged Town team.

The Blues again started in their increasingly familiar 4-2-3-1 system with lone out-and-out striker Joe Garner ahead of David McGoldrick, Martyn Waghorn and Bersant Celina. Emyr Huws was on the bench for the first time this season.

Sheffield Wednesday named the same team that drew 0-0 at home to Bristol City at the weekend with ex-Blue Jordan Rhodes in the XI, while Atdhe Nuhiu replaced Lucas Joao on the bench.

Town immediately went on the attack, Kenlock sending in a dangerous cross from the left which Wednesday did well to clear.

In the fourth minute Owls skipper Glenn Loovens was extremely fortunate not to be sent off after catching McGoldrick in the stomach with a high, studs-up boot.

The Town striker unsurprisingly spent some time on the ground and received treatment before continuing. Referee Keith Stroud - who had seen the incident but had played on with the Blues in possession and breaking forward - subsequently spoke to Loovens but failed to issue a card of either colour.

While McGoldrick was off the field, the Blues threatened from a well-worked freekick on the right, Celina playing the ball to Cole Skuse on the edge of the box but the midfielder’s shot was blocked.

The Blues continued to look the more dangerous side and on eight Callum Connolly played in McGoldrick on the right with only one defender ahead of him but the Town number 10 shot over.

Wednesday went close for the first time in the 16th minute, one-time Town schoolboy Morgan Fox sending over a cross from the right which ex-Blues striker Rhodes headed not too far wide of Bartosz Bialkowski’s right post.

The game meandered a touch as it passed the quarter hour mark with further stoppages for injuries and freekicks.

But in the 23rd minute Kenlock played a superb cross-field ball to McGoldrick, who fed Connolly and the on-loan Everton man took a couple of touches before hitting a powerful shot which was too close to Owls keeper Keiren Westwood.

Moments later, Celina cut in from the left and hit a right-footed shot which Westwood claimed low.

Town forced the Wednesday keeper into another save in the 26th minute when Garner was sent away in space on the right and crossed deep to Celina, but the Kosovan international’s diving header was too close to Westwood who palmed away.

Seconds later, McGoldrick scuffed a 20-yard effort which his Irish international team-mate easily claimed low to his left.

Ross Wallace shot wide from distance for the Owls, then on 33 the Scottish international curled a freekick over from25 yards after he had been fouled by Kenlock.

But the Blues continued to have the upperhand as half-time approach and the swirling wind grew stronger.

And they should have claimed the lead their first-half display deserved in injury time. Garner sent over a cross from the right towards Celina at the far post, Jack Hunt cut it out but presented the ball to Waghorn on the edge of the box.

However, the Blues’ eight-goal joint-top scorer scraped a rather hurried effort which Westwood saved when he could have taken his time. Referee Stroud ended the half soon afterwards.

Town will feel their first-half display ought to have yielded a goal with Westwood by far the busier keeper. But while the Ireland international had made stops, he hadn’t been forced to make any outstanding saves to keep his side on terms.

At the other end, Rhodes’s header had been the Owls’ only real chance, while Wednesday skipper Loovens will know he got away with what should have been a red card for his early challenge on McGoldrick.

Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Webster, Chambers (c), Kenlock, Skuse, Connolly, Waghorn, McGoldrick, Celina, Garner. Subs: Gerken, Iorfa, Ward, Sears, Nydam, Bru, Huws.

Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood, Hunt, Fox, Rhodes, Butterfield, Bannan, Loovens (c), Hooper, Lees, Reach, Wallace. Subs: Wildsmith, Jones, Van Aken, Lee, Fletcher, Palmer, Nuhiu. Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).

Photo: TWTD

Rensham added 21:59 - Nov 22 What were Sears or Ward doing on the pitch tonight?
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blueherts added 22:04 - Nov 22 Louvens and Hunt should have gone off tonight .BUT we threw that away . Just keep the ball for 2 minutes . Should have kept waghorn on . Sears decent cross but so short of confidence in front of goal . Some poor decision making tonight in front of goal . Good to see Huws back .
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blueherts added 22:18 - Nov 22 I wish we had a 6 foot 5 lump striker to come on in the last 10 mins to score! Oh yes, we do. Why is it players who havent scored for years always do so against us . Thought we defended ok till 95th minute! But the mistake was having three players surround a ball in the corner and lose it ! Connolly decent until 95th minute . Should have stopped cross
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