Toto Nsiala scored his first Town goal but was later controversially sent off as the Blues were beaten 2-1 by Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, Lucas Joao netting twice for the Owls. Joao headed the home side in front in the 16th minute, but Nsiala levelled on 44. The former Shrewsbury man was very harshly red-carded for a challenge on Fernando Forestieri in the 75th minute and two minutes later Joao won it for the South Yorkshireman.

Kayden Jackson was handed his full Championship Town debut as the lone striker with Ellis Harrison moving to the wide left role.

Tayo Edun was back from his one-match suspension replacing Cole Skuse, who missed out due to his quad injury, with Jon Nolan able to start despite having been a doubt with an ankle problem. Grant Ward, who started at Derby in midweek, dropped to the bench.

Janoi Donacien blazed high and wide in the opening seconds with the Blues starting brightly. On five Toto Nsiala nodded wide from a corner after a dangerous Trevoh Chalobah ball into the box had been turned behind.

Harrison smashed well over from distance on 12, then two minutes later got his name in the book for a wild challenge on Liam Palmer.

Wednesday had begun to threaten and in the 16th minute they went in front, Town again conceding from a set piece.

Barry Bannan sent over a corner from the right, Joao pulled away from Chalobah at the far post and nodded into the net all too easily.

Four minutes later, it was almost 2-0. Bannan whipped in a freekick from the right and Jordan Thorniley’s powerful diving header flew wide when he will feel he ought to have scored.

But Town began to get back on top and in the 24th minute Jonas Knudsen smashed over a low cross from the left which Owls keeper Cameron Dawson dropped but the ball was cleared by Thorniley from inside the six-yard box before Edun or Harrison were able to pounce.

The Blues continued to play the better football but without looking particularly dangerous either from open play or set pieces with a number of potentially promising freekicks having come to nothing.

But in the 40th minute Town levelled. In the aftermath a corner on the right, an Edwards ball into the box from the left deflected into the air on the edge of the box. Edun nodded into the area, Chambers headed on and Nsiala planted a third header past Dawson from six yards.

The Wednesday players and crowd protested vociferously that the centre-half was offside but referee Jeremy Simpson waved away the protests. Replays suggested Harrison was offside but not Nsiala and that the referee was right to allow it.

Soon after the goal Bannan, evidently still annoyed, was booked for his protest having been penalised for a foul. In the final scheduled minute Atdhe Nuhiu joined him in the book for a cynical trip on the breaking Nolan.

Town ended the half the stronger side and in injury time weren’t too far away from going in front on two occasions.

First an Edun corner from the left was flicked on and Nsiala’s header at the back post was kept out by combination of Dawson and Palmer on the line.

Then shortly before the whistle, Harrison ran on to his own knockdown, cut in from the left and hit a goal-bound shot which Dawson bundled away down to his left.

The home fans booed referee Simpson off following the whistle, still believing that the Town goal shouldn’t have stood.

Whether that decision was right - as it appeared to be - or otherwise the Blues hadn’t deserved to go in behind having been the better side during the first half.

Wednesday’s goal had come against the run of the game at that stage with Town having played the better football in the early period, albeit without looking overly threatening.

Having gone behind via another set piece goal, the Blues took time to re-establish their ascendency but they gradually began to pass the ball around confidently.

They were rewarded with the equaliser and might well have found themselves ahead at the break given the two late chances.

The Blues began the second half on top, winning a couple of early corners which Edun and Nolan took short.
"From the second, in the 51st minute, Harrison pulled off an overhead kick but straight at Dawson. The Owls keeper kicked long quickly and Marco Matias got in behind the Blues’ backline as Knudsen was unable to cut it out but rather fortunately for Town the Owls forward shot wide.

Wednesday threatened again moments later, Matt Penney cutting back from the right to the edge of the box from where Bannan struck a powerful low effort which Knudsen blocked on the line.

Jackson struck a deflected shot on the turn from a Knudsen throw from the left which looped through to Dawson on 62 with the Blues still on top of an increasingly open game.

Wednesday briefly put Town under a spell of pressure but after Donacien cleared a Bannan cross, Harrison broke strongly down the left but failed to find Nolan with a pass inside with Edwards in acres of space on the right.

On 70 Knudsen was booked for pulling back Joao as they battled for a bouncing ball with the Owls starting to take control.

Two minutes later, Palmer scuffed wide from the edge of the box, before Fernando Forestieri replaced Matias.

Then, in the 75th minute, the Blues were reduced to 10 men on contentious circumstances for the second successive Saturday.

Nsiala slid in and cleanly won the ball from Forestieri, who collided with the Town defender in the aftermath. It looked a perfectly good challenge but referee Simpson immediately ran over and showed his red card to the amazed Nsiala, who complained bitterly at the decision before walking off and then again to the fourth official as he left the pitch.

The resultant freekick led to a corner from which the Owls took the lead. Joao initially headed Bannan’s flag-kick off the post but followed up to net his second of the game.

Flynn Downes replaced Edun for Town as the Blues prepared to restart, while Wednesday goalscorer Joao was withdrawn for Steven Fletcher.

With 10 minutes left the Blues had a chance to level. Harrison was found breaking into the area and looked set to stab the bouncing ball past Dawson but before he could do so a Wednesday defender hooked it away from him.

Harrison suffered a knock as the game moved into its final five minutes and Freddie Sears took over.

Fletcher shot wide for Wednesday on 87, but Town kept pressing as the game went into four minutes of injury time.

The Blues’ last chance was Nolan freekick which was nodded back by Chambers was but was cleared from the area and Nolan’s subsequent shot was scuffed wide. Soon after, the final whistle confirmed what was an undeserved and unfortunate defeat for the Blues.

There was no doubt that the game’s key moment was Nsiala’s red card, Town appearing certain to lodge an appeal against the dismissal which would see the defender miss three games. Although Wednesday had started to get on top at that stage, Town had been in relatively little danger, while looking like they might threaten on the break.

The Blues hadn’t reorganised for the freekick which followed and then conceded from the corner immediately afterwards.

Having been the better side before the break Town had continued where they had left off at the start of the second, although without having tested Dawson further, and the game looked like anyone’s to win going into the final quarter of an hour.

The Blues still remain winless under new manager Paul Hurst - a Sheffield Wednesday supporter - and are bottom of the league going into next Sunday’s East Anglian derby at home to Norwich.

Sheffield Wednesday: Dawson, Palmer, Pelupessy, Bannan, Thorniley, Lees (c), Nuhui, Joao (Fletcher 79), Matias (Forestieri 72), Reach, Penney. Unused: Wildsmith, Fox, Hutchinson, Kirby, Baker.

Town: Bialkowski, Donacien, Nsiala, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Chalobah, Nolan, Edun, Edwards, Jackson, Harrison (Sears 85). Unused: Gerken, Spence, Ward, Roberts, Sears, Downes, Kenlock. Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire). Att: 22,499.

Photo: Pagepix

BecclesBlue500 added 19:56 - Aug 25 I hear what people are saying about a similar position under Roy Keane; but back the we had the likes of Delaney, Macauley, Fulton, Wickham, Leadbitter, Edwards, Norris, Counago, Lisbie, Peters, Scotland....... That smell of coffee is the realisation that we've got nothing like the quality of those players to get us out of trouble - bluntly there's not 1 player who we're fearful might be sold to a bigger or better club; our last 3 (Waghorn, McGoldrick and Garner) have already gone. A Div 1 side? If it waddles like a duck, quacks like a duck, and introduces itself as Donald - guess what?........

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BecclesBlue500 added 19:57 - Aug 25 * Fulop
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Desertion_ added 20:06 - Aug 25 Watching the game it feels we are a little unexperienced in attack - as expected. At times runs could have been more clever, running offside a little too early and when bringing the ball down after a good chestrap to put your body to cover incoming tackles whilst looking to release the trigger quicker. I also feel another winger, anything similar to the level of Edwards ability would be great and of course another CB. Noone instantly comes to mind in terms of a winger or striker though

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Gcon added 20:16 - Aug 25 I come in search of positivity.
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BluePatriot added 20:19 - Aug 25 I'm getting the relegation shivers !
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OliveR16 added 20:29 - Aug 25 I'm gonna stay positive for a while. But I can effortlessly imagine 23 better starts than this.
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thevoiceofreason added 20:30 - Aug 25 Well, let's see if we can find a happy medium. This is the second game I have been to following the season's opener. I wasn't confident before the game but I wanted to see an improvement. I think I saw that today. I do not think we deserved to lose that game as we created more decent chances than Wednesday who were made to look awful first half. Second half was pretty even but they caught us a couple of times on the break. The sending off was an absolute joke - the challenge put us on the attack and if anything Foriesteri should have been booked for a late tackle. Harrison should have equalised; he probably won't get better chances this season. I admit we have to sort out the defending at set pieces but we were rubbish at that under McCarthy as well. Is there a common cause at work? I like many on here believe we should judge after 10 games and even that is probably too short term. I think it will come good, there is evidence that the pressing game is getting better. A bit of confidence in front of goal should it. Let's hope we see it against the scum.

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thevoiceofreason added 20:36 - Aug 25 By the way, Phil, I think I saw Mr Downes have a few minutes this afternoon. A nice turn comes to mind.
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warktheline added 20:38 - Aug 25 I'm in Centre Parks with my family and fully appreciating the time! My thoughts continue to be with @MarcusEvans! A real shame the boys didn't win for 'just you' today. In regards to football, it's gonna take time but by one means or another I know Ipswich Town FC will again come good!
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Skip73 added 20:49 - Aug 25 We are the strongest team in the league, we are propping everybody else up.
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martin587 added 20:52 - Aug 25 TractoboyBeags. Sorry,I down marked you by mistake.Should have been a plus.🙊
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pauljones added 20:52 - Aug 25 Can we get pablo counago on a free?
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Swn98 added 20:57 - Aug 25 No Skuse another loss
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FrankMarshall added 21:24 - Aug 25 Starting to wonder if I picked the wrong user name. Table doesn't lie does it?
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LWNR2013 added 21:36 - Aug 25 We have undergone major surgery which requires a period of recuperation with loving care and understanding. Outcome - better, stronger, rejuvenated. (Casualty is on tele, but I'm not watching, honest). Seriously, it's early days take a chill pill.
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Tractorboy1985 added 22:07 - Aug 25 Crap refs... unlucky.. should have... blah blah blah... we are bottom of the league and offering very little! Some need to wake up!! This is NOT working why can't you see it!! Give him time?? Playing this way we'll be 10 points adrift come October!! This club has been in demise for 3 years regardless whether it be guardiola mick mc Carthy or Paul hurst! There is only ONE man to blame.. MARCUS MY TAX GOES MISSING IN IPSWICH EVANS!! Wake up the lot of you!! What has this man done for this club? A billionaire owner 90% of the time gets you success!! How in 10 years has this man failed to get us into the premiership?? I'll tell you why.. because he has no intention of getting this club any further!! I called for a protest 2 seasons ago.. many soon will realise whoever the manager this club will always fail whilst Marcus Evans is at the helm!!

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blueboy1981 added 22:21 - Aug 25 Eleven points off top and it's still August - played teams already that have visibly been there for the taking of points - one such instance today - but failed. The remedy shouldn't be too difficult to effect, because in all honesty the level of competition is not that special - therein lies the acid test for both Paul Hurst and Marcus Evans. Bottom of the table is no recommendation for anyone, regardless of circumstance. Potentially HUGE game coming up for many reasons - and yes, a win is a must right now.

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midastouch added 22:28 - Aug 25 Marcus Evans is fast becoming a poor man's Mike Ashley!
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Tractorboy1985 added 22:32 - Aug 25 Michael101.. I haven't see the ball much on the deck and we are bottom of the table!! Mick might have been boring but he would have never taken us down! Wake up!! It's not like the football has got so much better... this side are going down on current form/quality... FACT! I for one think hurst is a straight talker.. like what he says but he does not back his words up! Out of his depth.. Not looking forward to next week!

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Felstow1978 added 22:32 - Aug 25 Nothing brings out the over-enthusiastic onanists on this site more suredly than a Town defeat. There's a whole host of posters who only ever appear to share their ignorance and prejudice in such circumstances, as if their opinions and insights suddenly become so unbearably important to them that they feel compelled to share them with the rest of the world. Objectivity, balance and patience are increasingly rare commodities here on TWTD.

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midastouch added 22:34 - Aug 25 And all joking aside, Mike Ashley should consider getting Mick in if Rafa walks. Mike and Mick both love to play their Sports Direct so what could possibly go wrong?
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algarvefan added 22:34 - Aug 25 I have watched all the league games this season and no the table doe not lie, but neither does it tell the whole story. There are times when our football looks like the Ipswich Town of old, however we are still too slow moving the ball forward and we always have our back to the oppositions goal, hence we pass backwards far too often. Jackson has amazing pace, but we have yet to use it. Harrison worked like a dog today, Nisiala was sent off but had been exceptional again. To me the tactics are wrong 4-1-4-1 requires full backs to bomb on the wings and it's not happening and however good the striker might be is always isolated. 4-4-2 against the scum and lets have some creativity in midfield maybe Dozzell although Downes was good when he came on. Mr Hurst we have a squad and some players are not performing, lets put in some kids and have a proper go.......!!

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herfie added 22:38 - Aug 25 No question that we hoped the early performances and results would have matched the optimism built up following PH's appointment, and a totally different approach to team set up and style of play. But, with so much change, in a comparatively short time frame, coming out on the right side of narrow margin games was inevitably going to be a huge ask, with a group of players largely untested to the challenges of a hard and brutal league. Five games, in which a lot of lessons will have been learned, represents baby steps up a steep learning curve - starting next Sunday, however, has to be when manager and players leave the nursery and early days excuses, and start operating in the grown ups league. The next five games will probably define the season's end game.

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warksonwater added 23:00 - Aug 25 Just seen the red card on Quest. One of the worst, er, 'flipping' decisions I've ever seen in my whole life. I'm so 'flipping' angry about it, I was shouting at the telly. Not only wasn't it a red, it wasn't even a yellow, it wasn't even a 'flipping' foul. It was a 'flipping' good tackle. If I did to the referee what I feel like doing, I'd be put away for a very long time!

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BuckieBlue added 23:01 - Aug 25 Agree herfie although learning curve may take a little longer. After all, we all(?) put this season down as consolidation for a big push next year. As long as we don't get adrift, and there are enough other strugglers to stop that happening I believe, them I am sure we'll be ok and better prepared for '19-20.
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