Marvin Johnson’s sixth-minute goal saw Sheffield Wednesday to a 1-0 victory over the Blues at Hillsborough. Johnson volleyed Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s cross into the net from the Owls’ first attack of the game and Wednesday had a number of chances to increase their lead with the Blues rarely threatening to get back on terms.

Dominic Thompson was handed his Town debut and Idris El Mizouni returned to the XI for the first time since Kieran McKenna took charge as the Blues boss made five changes from the team which beat Wimbledon 2-0 on Tuesday with front three Macauley Bonne, Bersant Celina and Conor Chaplin all back in the side.

Thompson, who joined on loan from Brentford on Thursday, was at left wing-back with Kane Vincent-Young suspended for one match having been sent off at Plough Lane.

El Mizouni joined Tyreeq Bakinson in the centre of midfield with skipper Sam Morsy serving the second game of his four-match ban. Centre-half George Edmundson again wore the armband.

Tom Carroll and Kayden Jackson were missing from the 18, while James Norwood and Sone Aluko were among the subs having started against the Dons, as were Rekeem Harper and Vaclav Hladky, who has been absent for the last two matches due to illness.

Wednesday gave debuts to loan signings Jordan Storey and Harlee Dean in their three-man defence, while eight-goal top-scorer Lee Gregory missed out due to foot injury with Josh Windass coming in for his second league start of the season. Former Town loanee Massimo Luongo started in the Owls' midfield.

After both teams had taken a knee, the Blues, in their black third kit, dominated the ball in the early stages.

However, Wednesday took the lead in the sixth minute following their first spell in possession of the afternoon.

After Edmundson had lost the ball on Town’s left touchline, Mendez-Laing brought it forward down the right before sending over a deep cross and Johnson, who had broken away from Wes Burns, volleyed a low shot back across Christian Walton and into the corner of the net.

Town continued to see most of the ball, although with Wednesday more involved than they had been before their goal. However, Town had shown nothing in the final third until a 16th minute Janoi Donacien cross from the right which was headed clear.

There was a scare for the Blues in the 18th minute when Florian Kamberi was sent away behind the Town backline by Luongo but Luke Woolfenden got back to force him inside and Edmundson smashed the ball out for a corner from which Dean headed across the face and wide with no one able to add a further touch.

Wednesday were beginning to get on top with their fans, previously quiet despite the goal, starting to get behind them. On 23, Mendez-Laing took the ball inside following a short corner but screwed his shot well wide.

A minute later, Windass hit an effort wide, before Dean was shown the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Celina in the centre circle.

Town threatened for the first time on half hour when Bakinson clipped a looping ball to the far post but it bounced over Thompson and out for a goal-kick. A minute later, Celina brought it forward before shooting well over from the edge of the box.

On 37, Burns, who moments earlier had been given instruction by manager McKenna, was sent away down the right and sent in a cross which was cleared at the back post.

Wednesday should have made it 2-0 in the 40th minute when Edmundson got the merest of touches on Barry Bannan’s cross from the left and took it away from Kamberi. The former Rangers man laid it to Mendez-Laing, who subsequently worked himself space eight yards out and seemed certain to score but somehow hit his shot the wrong side of the post.

Celina wasted a Blues free-kick on the right in the 42nd minute, although in the aftermath the Kosovan international sent Donacien away on the right and his cross was diverted towards his own goal by a Wednesday defender, but Bailey Peacock-Farrell in the Owls goal was able to claim.

Kamberi forced Walton to save at his near post on 44, then from the corner Sam Hutchinson headed straight at the Blues keeper. A foot either wide of him and it would have been a goal.

That was the last chance of a half which Town had started brightly before conceding from the Owls’ first attack.

Thereafter, the Blues had long spells of possession but largely in their own half and they have been unable to create a serious opportunity, while the home side had more than enough chances to make it 2-0 with Town getting sloppier the longer the half progressed.

The Blues started the second half more on the front foot. El Mizouni made a strong run from deep into the Wednesday half in the 48th minute, having made a slick turn to get away from Bannan.

Bakinson shot against a defender having won the ball back midway inside the Owls’ half.

Wednesday had another chance to make it 2-0 in the 54th minute when Windass’s cross-shot from a tight angle was palmed out to Bannan who couldn’t keep it down as he broke into six-yard box at speed. Thompson complained that he had been fouled by Windass and may have had a case.

As the game moved into its final half hour, the Blues were dominating possession but still without being able to find a way through the Owls.

On 62 Kamberi had the ball in the Town net following a Wednesday break but having strayed a long way offside. A minute later, the home side swapped Mendez-Laing for Liam Palmer.

In the 67th minute, a Kamberi cross from the right found Johnson on the edge of the box but the Owls’ goalscorer hit this effort the wrong side of Walton’s left post.

Town were continuing to have long spells on the ball but without carving out an opportunity and it was little surprise when McKenna made a double change in the 71st minute with Aluko and Norwood taking over from Chaplin and El Mizouni.

Almost immediately, Wednesday again went close to a second. The ball was cut back to the edge of the area for Bannan, who hit a powerful strike which was destined for the top corner until Walton brilliantly got across to palm it away from goal.

After the Blues had defended the corner, the Owls swapped Windass for Tyreece John-Jules, who was making his home debut having signed on loan from Arsenal.

Moments later, Town weren’t too far away from an equaliser when a Burns cross from the right reached Aluko via Norwood and the Nigerian international hit a shot which was blocked.

On 77 a deep cross from the right found Thompson, who hit a shot which deflected behind off a defender.

Two minutes later, Norwood headed over at the back post from a deep Celina corner from the left. Ahead of the goal-kick, Joe Pigott took over from Bonne. On 84, Owls goalscorer Johnson was replaced by Jack Hunt having suffered a knock.

The game appeared to be petering out but on 88 Burns nodded a ball into the box back towards Pigott but it was looped behind.

In the final scheduled minute, Woolfenden brought it forward and exchanged passes before his cross was cut out. However, the Blues kept the ball in the final third and Norwood hit a shot which was deflected behind.

As the fourth official’s board indicated five additional minutes, the corner was played short and Aluko put it behind the goal, his frustration summing up Town’s afternoon.

A disappointing result and display from the Blues, who started positively but having conceded never really looked like getting an equaliser.

Although Town had a lot of the ball most of their possession was in safe areas and lacked tempo, while Wednesday had a number of opportunities from which they should have made it 2-0.

The result - manager McKenna’s second defeat in his six games in charge and the poorest performance of his time at Portman Road - sees the Blues drop a place to ninth in the table, back to eight points from the play-offs with second-bottom Gillingham at Portman Road next Saturday.

Sheffield Wednesday: Peacock-Farrell, Storey, Dean, Hutchinson, Mendez-Laing (Palmer 63), Dele-Bashiru, Luongo, Bannan, (c) Johnson (Hunt 84), Windass (John-Jules 73), Kamberi. Unused: Wildsmith, Byers, Paterson, Sow.

Town: Walton, Donacien, Woolfenden, Edmundson (c), Burns, Bakinson, El Mizouni (Norwood 71), Thompson, Celina, Chaplin (Aluko 71), Bonne (Pigott 79). Unused: Hladky, Burgess, Harper, Edwards. Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire). Att: 23,517 (Town: 2,818).

Photo: Pagepix

Linkboy13 added 23:25 - Jan 29 We are a work in progress how long have we been saying that. Looking forward to next season going to Forrest Green and filling the ground. Was quite impressed with Thompson the amount of times he made good runs and never received the ball. Not too sure about Bakinson think he's better playing the holding midfield role and might get a better idea of his ability when Morsy is back. Mathamaticly we can still make the play offs but we are just not capable enough of putting a run together. I wouldn't put my house on us beating Doncaster and Gillingham we lack the mental toughness to put a run together .

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barrystedmunds added 23:42 - Jan 29 Too much sideways and passing back from promising positions for me! Time and time again we gave them time to get back into formation when we should have been more ambitious. For all our pretty play we never once seriously tested their keeper. MoM for me was Walton which pretty much says all you need to know about our performance!!! Frustrating!!!
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htb added 02:09 - Jan 30 Not as bad as some are making out and was always going to be a tough game. As a Sunderland fan said after the game at the Stadium of Light we are little bit “all fart nee sh..ite”. I don't think Bonne is helping us at the moment other than first two months of the season has been very underwhelming. Did a very poor job of holding the ball up today and when he did manage to do it he seemed to typically pass the ball back 30 yards to the centre halves to start the attack again rather than bring our flare players into the game. We will do better keep the faith COYB

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shakytown added 02:20 - Jan 30 I just cannot understand the way managers think. Aluko has probably been our best player for the last few months and Norwood is scoring goals and they are both on the bench. El miz is a good footballer but a strong fart would blow him off the ball so we were set up to fail again. Just does not make sense.
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Bluedocker added 02:22 - Jan 30 2 poor teams and 1 won the game simples Onwards and upwards.
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DifferentGravy added 02:23 - Jan 30 You cannot keep changing the line up so drastically and expect fluidity and performance. We are not Manchester City and these players are not of that level. The players are only expected to play two games in a week....max (Monday to Monday). If they are not fit enough to do that then there is a problem with physical conditioning. So blindingly obvious we would lose this game. Really frustrating with the managers decision making this week.

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brendenward35 added 07:55 - Jan 30 We need to remember thanks to Morsy we had a totally new midfield yesterday and Thompson totally new to the team so we can't really expect miracles can we? I personally think McKenna rested some players as he knew it was going to be difficult and is working on various games to get 3 points. Think Thompson will turn good just needs another game or two. Chin up move on to next game

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WorcesterBlue added 08:30 - Jan 30 If you're going to play a possession based game you need to do it with intensity and purpose or else you just end up letting the opposition get set up and you create nothing. Playing slowly also ‘kills' strikers and I felt for Bonne today. Celina was particularly negative and didn't once take his player on down the outside. I wonder what Harper and Edwards have done to not even considered for pitch time? But it's clear he's developing a style of play and I suppose everything from now on is just building for next season. With better players in key positions, it may work.

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Saxonblue74 added 09:26 - Jan 30 The biggest concern for me is not whether we can make the play offs, I absolutely think we still can when you look at the fixture list. But what happens if we do get there? No guarantee that we'll turn up on the day! As someone mentioned earlier, the big "6 pointers" only seem to go one way and we shouldn't be relying on one or two absent players to add steel.
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mathiemagic added 10:24 - Jan 30 So our first choice midfield were either suspended or with partners having a baby. To get out of L1 it seems you need to be handing out Durex at every training session rather than advice on possession football.
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billlm added 10:41 - Jan 30 We basically have to win no draws against oxford Plymouth and mk, Lose any of them forget it,
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Billericay12 added 12:09 - Jan 30 Hard to see where the goals will come from apart from Burns. Might be time to give Piggott a run alongside Bonne or Norwood.
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blueboy1981 added 13:27 - Jan 30 Let's face hard fact Folks - we shade poor opposition - and struggle against average opposition i.e. again yesterday. Wednesday are not a ‘good side' - but that was a much easier three points for them than the scoreline suggests. People don't like hard fact - so mark me down as you will. Yesterdays travel and admittance cost was simply - not worth it … with that performance. Many Wednesday supporters said they couldn't believe there luck, at how bad we were … !!!

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Dissboyitfc added 14:48 - Jan 30 More hard facts Blueboy, New manager as in first job as manager. We are playing nice football and we will win more than we lose. 4 wins from 6 is a win ratio that will see us promoted if that is carried in to next season. Shade poor opposition? We spanked Gillingham. Look at Sunderland, didnt see that one coming did they, up until a few games ago they were considered an easy game! If we win our next 2 games, which is possible that will be 6 wins from 8. Whilst you make many valid points blueboy, dont omit certain points, keep it balanced. KM is going to be a good fit for us but its going to take a little time.

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NorfolkBlue39 added 18:04 - Jan 30 I knew we'd lose this game as soon as I heard Alex Mathie was co-commentating. Seriously when did we last win or even draw with him on the radio!?
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Barty added 07:51 - Jan 31 Our inconsistency and lack of being able to put a good run together will mean yet another season in League 1.
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Razor added 17:34 - Jan 31 Why all the chopping and changing with our team----is this another manager just trying to be too clever?##Why bring Simpson back andnot play hin----other managers have been guilty of this-----him and Nozza up front would be some power and opposition defences would have to get off thei deckchairs.
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