Lucas Joao’s 90th minute goal saw Sheffield Wednesday to a 1-0 victory over the Blues at Portman Road. Wednesday spurned a number of chances but Town were on top and starting to create opportunities when Owls sub Joao turned home Adam Reach’s cross from the right.

Blues skipper Luke Chambers and fellow centre-half James Collins both missed out due to injury, neither of which are understood to significant knocks.

In their absence Matthew Pennington and Toto Nsiala started at the heart of the defence with new loanee James Bree making his Blues debut at right-back and Myles Kenlock at left-back.

In midfield, stand-in captain Cole Skuse was behind Flynn Downes and Teddy Bishop, who scored a hat-trick for the U23s on Monday.

Collin Quaner started as the central striker with Alan Judge on the left and Freddie Sears on the right.

Trevoh Chalobah and Will Keane were on the bench alongside Josh Emmanuel, who was involved in the Town team for the first time since the final day of the 2016/17 season having returned from his loan spell at Shrewsbury.

Callum Elder was the loanee who missed out on a place in the matchday squad with only five of the six permitted in the 18.

For the Owls, who had new manager Steve Bruce in charge for the first time, striker Fernando Forestieri made his first start since November, while central defender Michael Hector was back in the team having been ineligible for last week’s FA Cup defeat to his parent club Chelsea.

The game started scruffily but with the Blues on top, taking the game to the visitors and trying to get their passing football going.

On 10, following a corner, Judge sent the ball back in to the far post and Pennington headed wide.

A minute later at the other end, Forestieri smashed a snapshot well over from distance after the ball had broken to him.

One or two feisty Wednesday challenges flew in, particularly on Bishop and Judge, and Town won several early freekicks, while the Irishman slid in to make a number of tackles himself showing no signs of concern regarding the injury which kept him out for so long.

The Owls had shown little in the early stages but in the 18th minute they went close to going in front.

Steven Fletcher was found at the far post on the left in space by Michael Hector but Bartosz Bialkowski saved his shot with his leg. Kenlock cleared but only reached Barry Bannan, but the Scotland international’s low strike was blocked by Nsiala.

Moments later, Bishop skipped past his man at the other end but misread Quaner’s run and the danger was cleared.

The academy product was beginning to get more involved with his running with the ball causing Wednesday problems.

Town appeared to be growing in confidence and just after the half hour, following another Bishop run, Sears struck a low shot from distance on the right wide.

Despite the Blues having been on top, the Owls should have gone ahead in the 38th minute.

After a shot had deflected out to Morgan Fox, the former Town schoolboy’s low ball across the six-yard box was somehow diverted over the bar from a matter of feet by Adam Reach. The ex-Boro man will wonder quite how he failed to score.

Moments later, Forestieri nodded over from Liam Palmer’s cross from the right, then at the other end Bishop got his head to Judge’s under-hit freekick from the right but scuffed his attempt well wide.

On 42 Forestieri was found in space on the right of the box and Bialkowski batted away his strike. The Blues repeatedly made heavy weather of clearing but eventually the danger subsided.

Just before the end of the scheduled 45 minutes, Town won yet another freekick in the Wednesday half, Forestieri having fouled Quaner. The Owls failed to deal with Judge’s ball into the box from the left, an improvement on his earlier efforts, but eventually referee Oliver Langford gave the visitors a freekick.

That was the last action of a not overly-enthralling half in which Town had played most of the football but Wednesday had had much the better of the few chances.

New Owls boss Bruce will have gone off wondering how Reach had failed to give his team the lead, while Bialkowski had been the busier of the two keepers.

Town’s best moments going forward came from Bishop bringing the ball forward but so far without creating a clear-cut opportunity. The Blues had also failed to make enough of the numerous freekicks the Owls had conceded in potentially dangerous positions.

Five minutes after the restart Forestieri’s chip from the right of the box looped harmlessly to Bialkowski’s right with Wednesday having had marginally the better of the early exchanges.

Sam Hutchinson was shown the game’s first yellow card in the 54th minute for shoving Quaner into a hoarding as the striker burst past him round the outside as the Blues broke.

The German frontman, on loan for the rest of the season from Huddersfield, was swapped for Keane a minute later with the game increasingly being played in the Wednesday half.

Just after hour mark Bannan was yellow-carded for a foul on Bishop, before the Owls missed another golden chance to go in front.

Nsiala left a ball through to Bialkowski not realising Forestieri was behind him and onside according to the officials. The Argentinian looked certain to score but blazed wildly over. It was another fortunate escape for the Blues.

After Downes had been somewhat surprisingly booked for what referee Langford deemed a foul, Wednesday switched one-time Blues target George Boyd for on-loan Spurs man Josh Onomah.

Nsiala did well to force Forestieri wide after a Skuse slip on 68, then three minutes later Wednesday had another opportunity to go in front.

Forestieri was sent away on the left behind the Town offside trap by Hector but scraped wide when he either should have scored himself or cut across the area to Fletcher, who was immediately replaced by Joao.

Chalobah replaced Bishop, who had tired after an excellent first half, in the 74th minute as Judge prepared to take a freekick on the right. The Irishman sent in a dangerous ball which eventually fell to Downes, who shot not too far wide.

The Blues threatened again two minutes later when, after a patient move, Skuse cleverly flicked to Keane, who fed Judge on the edge of the box but the former Brentford man shot over.

Wednesday subsequently put the Blues under pressure with Nsiala making an important blocking challenge inside the box, then Bialkowski claimed a high ball into the area at the second attempt.

On 79 Judge played a superb pass from the left into the path of Bree breaking on the right. The new signing sent over a low cross towards Keane, who had made a significant impression having come off the bench, but a defender just got across to turn behind. Following the corner, the ball broke to Bree but the on-loan Villa man shot well over.

Town forced Keiren Westwood into his first save of the afternoon in the 84th minute, Chalobah heading Judge’s corner into the ground and goalwards but without enough power to cause a problem for the Irish international, who lost his grip on the ball initially but reclaimed as Pennington went after the rebound and caught him in the head.

Rolando Aarons, who joined the Owls on loan from Newcastle on Thursday, took over from Forestieri four minutes from the scheduled end.

On 88 Keane headed a Judge cross from the right goalwards but without the power to beat Westwood, then in the final scheduled minute the South Yorkshiremen took the lead.

Town felt Hector’s challenge on Keane on halfway had been a foul, and the on-loan Chelsea man had appeared to go in with both feet, but referee Langford waved play on.

Hector played the ball wide to Reach, who burst round the outside of Kenlock and cut back to unmarked sub Joao, who turned home. It was the Portuguese striker's third goal against the Blues this season having netted both goals in the Owls' 2-1 victory over Town at Hillsborough in August.

Blues keeper-coach Jimmy Walker was yellow-carded for dissent in injury time after a foul on Hector had been awarded against Keane, although probably more through frustration.

Ellis Harrison took over from Downes for the final few seconds in which the Blues got one or two crosses into the box without being able to cause the Wednesday defence any problems. But there was to be no equaliser before referee Langford blew his whistle to boos, aimed towards the official rather than the Blues.

The Wednesday winner came at a time when Town had looked to be in the ascendency and for the first time were starting to create chances, although a 0-0 draw appeared to be the most likely outcome at that stage.

However, over the 90 minutes they couldn’t really complain about the result with the Owls having failed to take a succession of chances with Forestieri missing gilt-edged opportunities in addition to Reach’s first half howler.

Town continued to pass the ball far more than was previously the case but all too often without getting into dangerous areas with their only serious chances coming in the later stages and mainly from Judge’s set pieces, which improved as the game wore on with Wednesday giving away plenty of freekicks in dangerous positions throughout.

But overall, they don’t present enough of a threat going forwards and give far too many opportunities - particularly today with their makeshift and at times very shaky backline - to their opposition.

With Millwall and Rotherham drawing 0-0, the gap to safety stretches to eight points plus goal difference with 16 left to play and League One football next season looks an ever more certain outcome.

The Blues are next in action next Sunday in the East Anglian derby against Norwich City at Carrow Road.

Town: Bialkowski, Bree, Pennington, Nsiala, Kenlock, Skuse, Downes (Harrison 90), Bishop (Chalobah 74), Sears, Judge, Quaner (Keane 55). Unused: Gerken, Nolan, Dozzell, Emmanuel.

Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood, Palmer, Lees, Hector, Fox, Hutchinson, Bannan, Reach, Boyd (Onomah 65), Forestieri (Aarons 86), Fletcher. Unused: Dawson, Pelupessy, Thornley, Nuhiu. Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands). Att: 16,888 (Wednesday: 1,713).

Photo: TWTD

blueboy1981 added 17:49 - Feb 2 Well at least the usual wags haven't yet blamed Chambers - I wonder why ?? No points for anyone telling me he didn't play today - I know that !! ... Just saying..... !!
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SickParrot added 17:50 - Feb 2 I accept that we are weaker without Collins but the new signings are not making enough difference. Just 3 wins all season says it all. We are rubbish and deserve to go down but can Lambert make us good enough for League 1?
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blueboy1981 added 17:51 - Feb 2 ....... warktheline ....... fine coming from you, soot still on the face ..... !!! Let's blame Chambers - shall we ......... ???
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EssexTractor added 17:53 - Feb 2 Paul Lambert talks the talk ...but...are his decisions any better than Paul Hursts? Lambert may have had his abilities to strengthen the squad hindered by The Owner but are his purchases/ loans really making Ipswich a team to get excited by? Today it was Hursts Nsiala who was as " good" as anyone..he and the slightly ungainly Pennington saw off most of Wednesday's thrusts and those they didn't were poorly missed by the visitors. Yes the referee got himself into a tangle toward the end but it was not why we lost We lost because today we were powder puff...as we have been all season.... No back four player really has the ability , the intelligence to play out from the back....eventually after meaningless cross field passes the ball almost inevitably gets " booted"... But that is also because no midfielder can take the ball from the back four and INSPIRE.... Bishop showed some glimpses , Judge looked busy...but neither created a clear chance, split the defence, made a shot.. And up front the weight and thus apparent strength of Quaner is sadly compensated for by his lack of jumping, his shortage of pace and awful first touch.... Come back Frank Nouble and Keiffer Moore..... The cheering and singing from the North Stand in particular gives evidence that there is support but how long that can be sustained is now very questionable...when yet again the visitors goalkeeper may have come on in his lounge suit, so little did he have to do.

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jas0999 added 17:53 - Feb 2 Well I'm sorry blueboy - I always normally agree with you, but not on Evans. Evans admitted this week that back in 2015 when we were top, Mick wanted a couple of quality additions and despite a long search couldn't find one within the budget. That in a nutshell is the issue. The budget freed up by the owner just isn't enough to be competitive in today's championship. Quality players demand decent wages. This Summer saw us spend around half we received on fees. Evans admitted that as a result the wages would be less. It's a ridiculous concept! We spent on wages but were shopping in league one and two, because the wage budget restricted better recruits. Evans has for years got the strategy wrong, he's not been competitive enough, and has relied too heavily on short term deals/loans after selling our better players for huge profits - rarely reinvesting every penny into the playing squad. He appointed PH. He appointed Jeane and Jewell. He let MMs relationship with the fans get out of control, because it was easy for him with MM at the club. You don't need to spend millions. I agree. But to suggest Evans isn't responsible (albeit not 100%) is ridiculous. As owner of the football club he is most certainly to blame. There are others of course, but Evans has to be taken to task. Sorry - this is not a rant at you as you are entitled to your opinion to which 95% of the time I agree. But for you to suggest folk should not be disappointed and raise concern at Evans is in my opinion wrong. Like you - folk are entitled to raise their point of view. Mine is Evans is to blame.

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JimmyP45 added 17:54 - Feb 2 The players we are putting out and the formation we are choosing to play are creating 1-2 chances a game. That simply isn't enough to get a win. The team selection is too safe. We are at the bottom of the table and need to go for broke for the win every single game.
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Suffolkboy added 17:55 - Feb 2 Just too easy to be despondent, though really all we can do is reflect with the accuracy of hindsight : and I guess not too many will yet recognise what a great job MM did to keep us up ! Not only did he acquire useful characters & players both on loan and permanently ,but somehow prevented the fall into the relegation trap .It wasn't easy , either on the eye or on the morale of supporters : but just look at the people we had and lost – McGoldrick, Webster, Waghorn ,Garner Murphy ( do and have goals always won games ?) . With only a little support ITFC might well have been much much better placed right now ; and the verbose Messiah from Shrewsbury wouldn't have wreaked absolute havoc ( I return to the Peter Principle ) So we MUST accept what is , accept the horrible situation created for PL & Co to remedy ,and realise it's a demanding task to bring together a unified ,successful TEAM with the immediacy of the trials ahead . So only our support and encouragement will provide sustenance and help ! COYB

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cat added 17:56 - Feb 2 Evans has failed in what he wanted to achieve here, there little doubt in that, but you cannot blame him for what happened on the pitch today, that fault lies with the manager and the inept players. Money has been invested in a ‘limited amount' but that money has been ‘spunked up the wall' and the prove was on the pitch today. Don't get me wrong here, I'm not pro Evans, but I take the positives out of his situation cause I can't see it changing.

6

blueboy1981 added 17:57 - Feb 2 ....... or Evans - of course !! - just a reminder that HE wasn't on the pitch today, but the Manager was in the dugout, and eleven players on the pitch. That should account for some accountability, otherwise 16,000 plus wouldn't have turned up today - expected MORE than just another defeat. Tactics / formation / substitutions - all down to Lambert - NOT Evans, or the equally maligned Chambers.

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prebbs007 added 17:57 - Feb 2 blueboy1981 omg you talk utter tosh. As stated above -£16m spent by Evans, it's totally his fault he has invested nothing into our club and gas only really financially backed the tw&t Roy Keane. Until he sells we will continue to fail. It's true £millions won't guarantee success but it shows clearly that without investment in the transfer market it's much much harder !!! An argument of “what is the alternative” doesn't make it right to stick with current dross. Blueboy you continue you stick your head in the sand when you come up for air our club will still be screwed while this tax dodging crook is in charge.

0

blueboy1981 added 18:00 - Feb 2 I ASK ALL YOU EVANS KNOCKERS - Give me your alternatives of Ownership ?? - otherwise there is NO point in continuous criticism of the same two people.
2

planetblue_2011 added 18:00 - Feb 2 My 2nd team Wednesday have sent us down. I am totally gutted! Supported Sheff weds since the two cup finals with Arsenal in 1993 but could be wrong could of been 1991. some fan hey!!! That's why I am town mad & a season ticket holder just really thought we would get the 3 points today. Ref was terrible as always but we were lucky on several occasions. Just sad to see the town are edging nearer to league 1. Oh well that's life & thanks 2nd team for probably sending us down😢

2

itfcbam added 18:00 - Feb 2 Why is it still Knudsen fault? So many on here were slagging him off saying he was rubbish, etc. Now it's his fault because people actually realise he is better than Kenlock! Sorry to say it but Kenlock isn't strong enough and is far better in a back 5 where he plays as a wing back. He is better going forward than defending and in a 4 gets caught out of position too often. Bluearmy 81, the transfer "profit" doesn't even balance the books over that time as we don't generate enough income as contrary to some on here's belief we are not a big club in modern terms. Also just because no fees have been played do you think free transfers don't generate any substantial signing on fee?

1

blueherts added 18:02 - Feb 2 We will only get out of this mess by playing attacking front foot football Simple - 2 up top attacking midfielders and take the game to the opposition PL seems in capable of doing this - at least give it a go We have no creativity - not that we have had in recent seasons but I would love to see a team with Bishop Lankaster and Dozzell actually getting at teams We have nothing to lose PL was bought in to help create something - I am still waiting and his tactics are not working so aside from being a Press cheerleader what else is he doing We need to go down to shock ourselves out of this long and painful demise

6

barrystedmunds added 18:03 - Feb 2 I was resigned to our fate before Christmas, but hoped we could turn it around, but we're down of that I'm sure. For me, when PL spoke of bringing in people who could “ help us”, I was thinking experienced championship players but with the possible exception of Collins the rest have been way off the mark. I suppose the only positive from all this ,if that's possible, is the fact that unlike the Premiership relegation season, we're not getting spanked every week, cue the Scum!!!

4

blueboy1981 added 18:03 - Feb 2 Alternatives to Evans Ownership - NOT a single one forthcoming - but still many keys being punched in criticism. Hopeless case, or what ..... ??
0

Taricco_Fan added 18:08 - Feb 2 Norwich must be rubbing their hands together in anticipation.
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Baz added 18:08 - Feb 2 Phil, over the past 5 years, in total, how much have we sold players for and how much have we spent on permanent signings. The difference will show why we are in the position we are
1

ringwoodblue added 18:10 - Feb 2 Why does PL make so many changes every week? Its like a brand new group of strangers every week! Appreciate some changes are forced due to injuries but surely a settled team have more chance of gelling and winning games. We haven't been hammered yet this season but I fear it will come at the hands of our arch enemies to complete a thoroughly miserable season.
5

Bluearmy_81 added 18:10 - Feb 2 Minus 16m spend on players over the last 6 years https://www.transferleague.co.uk/ipswich-town/english-football-teams/ipswich-tow
2

BluePatriot added 18:10 - Feb 2 WE NEED TO SCORE !!!!! Evans out will not work, owners don't go as easy as managers
3

blueconscience added 18:13 - Feb 2 @Blueboy One alternative could be an Evans who cares and wants the club to succeed.
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DebsyAngel added 18:17 - Feb 2 Typical performance we have become accustomed to. Great first half and some brilliant football played. Second half absolutely dreadful, not helped by yet another abysmal referee. I am dreading that Norwich game.
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Cakeman added 18:19 - Feb 2 Very disappointing today. Obviously a massive loss to lose both Collins and Chambers but even so we were second best apart from a spirited ten minutes just before the Owls scored. I mentioned long ago that it will probably get worse before it gets better but sadly I don't think we have reached our bottom point yet. Next season we must have a clear out of the squad for a fresh start/rebuild.

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carlo88 added 18:20 - Feb 2 It's not the manager, it's not the owner, it's not even the players; it's the shirt. That's the most diabolical strip we've ever had and deserve to be relegated just for having the audacity to wear it.
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