Free-kicks from Nathan Broadhead and Leif Davis either side of half-time saw Town come from 2-0m behind to draw 2-2 with Sheffield Wednesday at Portman Road. Conor Chaplin missed a 19th-minute penalty for the Blues before Michael Smith and George Byers netted on 27 and 34 to give the Owls, who went into the match top of League One, a commanding lead but Broadhead’s brilliant free-kick in the 43rd minute and Davis’s deflected strike six minutes after the restart claimed a point for the Blues, who subsequently looked the more likely to grab a winner.

Town boss Kieran McKenna made four changes from the team which drew 1-1 at Cambridge United last week.

Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess returned at the back for Richard Keogh and George Edmundson, who dropped out of the squad, while Cameron Humphreys started in midfield for the injured Lee Evans.

George Hirst was the central striker against the club where he started his career and where his father David was a legend in the eighties and nineties with Freddie Ladapo on the bench.

Wes Burns was fit enough to start wide on the right having been a doubt ahead of the game.

Town’s other former Wednesday man, midfielder Massimo Luongo, missed out on a place in the 18 having been another concern going into the match.

The Owls made one change from the team which beat Plymouth 1-0 last week with goalscorer Callum Paterson injured and Akin Famewo coming into the side. Former Town loanees David Stockdale and Tyreeq Bakinson were on the Owls’ bench.

The Blues struck the game’s first shot in the eighth minute, Broadhead cutting back from the left towards Chaplin but a defender just did enough as the Blues’ 15-goal top scorer shot to take the sting out of his effort which bounced harmlessly through to Owls keeper Cameron Dawson.

The visitors created their first chance two minutes later, Smith smashing well over the bar after chesting down Byers’s pass.

Town continued to see most of the ball and as the game past the quarter-hour mark the Blues won two corners in quick succession.

And from the second, the Blues were awarded a penalty. As the ball was played short, Burns was sent to the floor by Marvin Johnson and the linesman waved his flag frantically to indicate a foul. Referee Geoff Eltringham discussed the matter with his assistant at length before pointing to the spot but didn't show a card as they were unable to identify which player had thrown the elbow.

Chaplin was charged with taking the kick - Hirst having tried to grab the ball before the referee had even confirmed the award - hit it down the middle and the keeper saved with his trailing feet as dived to his left.

Town were to rue the miss eight minutes later when Wednesday took the lead. Following a quickly-taken free-kick on the left, Josh Windass was played into space down the flank with the Blues sleeping. The former Rangers man crossed and Smith glanced a deftly-guided header over and across Christian Walton into the top corner of the net.

Seven minutes after the first goal, the Owls made it 2-0. After Will Vaulks had been booked for time-wasting ahead of a free-kick on halfway, skipper Barry Bannan looped the ball into the box and as Davis and Windass challenged in the air, it fell loose to Byers on the edge of the area from where he hit a low shot past Walton and into the corner of the net.

Wednesday were almost handed a third in the 36th minute, Woolfenden gifting possession to Smith midway inside the Town half with Walton advanced from his goal. Fortunately for the Blues, the former Rotherham striker took the ball too wide and eventually Vaulks struck a low shot from the edge of the box which was straight at Walton.

The Blues’ support’s frustration with that incident, how the game had progressed and their team’s increasingly scrappy display was made clear, as it was when a number of subsequent passes went astray.

However, in the 42nd minute, the Blues pulled a goal back. Humphreys was tripped as he burst towards the area and Broadhead sent a powerful shot over the wall and into the top corner of the net to Dawson’s right.

The recent signing from Everton’s first goal for the club completely changed the mood around Portman Road and the previously deflated home fans roared their side on as the half entered its final minutes, Hirst breaking into the area on the right before hitting a shot against a defender.

Moments later, Burns was correctly penalised for a foul on Flint as a cross came over from the left and reached Hirst at the far post, the striker scuffing wide in any case.

Town ended the half in the ascendency with their fans continuing to give them their backing.

Up until Broadhead’s goal - and it’s difficult to recall a better Town free-kick since the days of Martijn Reuser - it had been something of a nightmare half for the Blues.

Town had started to look threatening when they were awarded the penalty but as so often this season the Blues failed to make the most of an opportunity with Chaplin’s spot-kick a poor one.

Wednesday, who had shown no threat up until that point, then went in front via Smith’s excellent header, although Blues boss McKenna will have been less than impressed with the lax defending following the quick free-kick.

Town defended similarly poorly to allow the Owls to go two in front and at that stage the game looked all over with Wednesday having a chance to make it three.

However, Broadhead’s goal changed the atmosphere around the game with the impetus with the Blues as the half-time whistle blew.

Three minutes after the restart, Morsy won a free-kick on the right. The ball was sent to the far post but Burgess just couldn’t reach it while battling with a defender.

The Blues were beginning the second half very brightly and in the 49th minute, Davis sent a dangerous ball across the area from the left but with no one there to add the final touch.

A minute later, Chaplin was tripped as he broke towards the area on the right, Byers picking up a yellow card as a result.

And from the free-kick, the Blues levelled. Davis smashed a shot which looked to be going beyond the far post but it clipped Byers on the way through and flew into the top corner to put the Blues back on terms, a position which had looked wholly unlikely in the minutes after the visitors’ second goal.

Having equalised, Town went looking for a third goal. On 55, Chaplin struck a remarkable volley back over his shoulder from the edge of the area after a corner had been cleared which he was unlucky to see fly straight to Dawson.

Six minutes later, Chaplin again sent the ball into Dawson’s arms, this time the diminutive forward having headed towards goal unchallenged from a Davis corner on the left.

On 65, Burns was played in on the right of the area and sent over a powerfully hit low cross which was cleared. Moments later, Hirst laid off to Chaplin on the edge of the box but the former Pompey man’s shot was blocked.

The Blues were dominating with the Owls unable to get out of their half. A minute later, Dawson claimed a Chaplin cross, Iorfa almost having clumsily felled the Town man as he broke towards the byline.

Town made a double change in the 69th minute, Ladapo and Marcus Harness replacing Hirst and Chaplin. Five minutes later, Wednesday swapped Windass for Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.

Blues chances had become rarer but in the 75th minute Clarke unleashed a shot from well out on the right which landed on the roof of the net.

A minute later, the Owls threatened for the first time since the break. Flint was found unmarked on the right of the area from a free-kick. The 6ft 6in tall centre-half’s nod back from a tight angle was blocked but the ball ran back to him and he smashed a shot over the bar. It was a lucky escape for the Blues.

With 11 minutes remaining, Town switched Burns and Broadhead, who had been undergoing treatment on the pitch, for Kayden Jackson and Sone Aluko. Jackson quickly sent across two low balls from the right which were cut out.

On 86, the Blues replaced Davis with Greg Leigh, then two minutes later the Owls brought on Dennis Adeniran for Bannan.

The Blues found themselves under some pressure for the first time since the break as the game moved into five minutes of injury time with long throws coming in from both flanks which Town successfully defended.

After a long throw had been knocked back out to him, Clarke looped over a ball from the right which reached Ladapo but the striker scuffed his shot wide.

Humphreys saw a cross nodded away before referee Eltringham brought an entertaining game to a close.

While Town went into the game after the three points, from the position they found themselves in after 34 minutes, a 2-2 draw can’t be seen as anything other than a positive result, the game having followed a similar pattern to the game at Hillsborough earlier in the season when Wednesday came from two down to draw.

Having missed the penalty and after going behind, as at Cambridge last week, the Blues fell apart somewhat after conceding and gave away another poor goal.

Broadhead’s brilliant goal dragged Town back into it and in the second half, after Davis had levelled, there was only one team which looked likely to win it with all bar one of the chances created by the Blues.

The result sees Town stay third, now level on points with Bolton, who moved up to fourth following their 5-0 win at Peterborough, while Derby slip after losing 3-2 at Wycombe.

Wednesday are now second, still six points ahead of the Blues, two points behind Plymouth, who return to the top following their 3-1 victory over Portsmouth.

Town are back in action again when they travel to take on Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Ground on Tuesday.

Town: Walton, Clarke, Woolfenden, Burgess, Burns (Jackson 79), Humphreys, Morsy (c), Davis (Leigh 86), Chaplin (Harness 69), Broadhead (Aluko 79), Hirst (Ladapo 69). Unused: Hladky, Donacien, Leigh.

Sheffield Wednesday: Dawson, Palmer, Vaulks, Iorfa, Bannan (c) (Adeniran 88), Windass (Dele-Bashiru 74), Byers, Famewo, Johnson, Smith, Flint. Unused: Stockdale, Brown, Bakinson, Shipston, Fusire. Referee: Geoff Eltringham (County Durham). Att: 29,072 (Wednesday: 2,148).

Photo: Matchday Images

Linkboy13 added 20:41 - Feb 11 Sorry Hirst didn't do it for me ran around like a headless chicken and his hold up play was non existent. Strikers in general are in the team because they are supposily potential goal scorers so why can't they take penalties.
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Cakeman added 20:52 - Feb 11 A scrappy start to the game as we found it difficult to string passes together which given the ridiculous and unnecessary huge number of team changes we had once again was no surprise. Unfortunately we have built a large expensive squad and one that our manager is struggling to identify what would be his strongest starting eleven hence the constant changes. Today for a time our team looked like a bunch of strangers. Need to stick with eleven and give them a run. Barring injury or suspension this should be possible. Until that time we shall be inconsistent results wise. It looks like play-off's at best so promotion could go either way. If we do not go up this time there must be pressure on the management. Season ticket sales could actually drop given the financial state our country is in coupled with what's likely to be an increase in price on what we currently pay. I don't think the owners would settle for lack of progress for too long either.

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RobsonWark added 20:54 - Feb 11 We need to get rid of Wolfenden. He is our WEAK link in defence. Too laid back, too many mistakes. He is having a laugh at our expense picking up the wages he does every week.
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RobsonWark added 20:58 - Feb 11 Once again Kieran settled for a draw when he brought on Jackson. Jackson offers no attacking threat. Pathetic.
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shakytown added 21:14 - Feb 11 We really need to tighten up our defense and keep some clean sheets. Every game we let in soft goals and other teams know it.
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Tractorboy1985 added 22:01 - Feb 11 This will get many down marks as he's “one of our own” but Luke Woolfenden is garbage! Too casual.. awareness of a centre halve is diabolical.. too many number 10's in this squad and not enough “nasty ol pros” to be nailed on as champions! Not throwing the towel in yet but far too many draws at home this season = playoffs and an absolute lottery!
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Stato added 22:04 - Feb 11 That's 4 wins from last 14 games. Only 2 clean sheets in that period. 20 points from a possible 42. McKenna is a busted flush.
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Stato added 22:06 - Feb 11 Meant only 3 clean sheets
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budgieplucker added 23:24 - Feb 11 Extracting myself from the emotion of the analysis: Great turnaround and effort to retrieve the game from 0-2 position. Missing the penalty epitomises Ipswich, failure to take your chances and in this case we had the luck in the linesman spotting the incident, a very very poor penalty. Plymouth have won 14 of their last 15 home matches, we can't expect success unless we can get close to matching that type of form. Plymouth and Wednesday seem very much aware of being top two and hell bent in remaining there, contrast with Ipswich attitude with nothing is won at this time of the year and there is plenty of points to play for and we will take each game as it comes. We have poor physical strength and presence, gives the opposition one dimension less to worry about. Our goalkeeper dithers far too much, gives the impression he is going to release the ball fast and then slows the whole game down. Very overrated. Our substitutions disrupt the tempo and flow of our game when we are having positive

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Rimsy added 23:34 - Feb 11 Lots of negativity as usual. Our run in from here looks easier than the teams around us, we've played most of the big guns. Still in with a good chance of top 2.
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blueboy1981 added 23:37 - Feb 11 STILL saying it - MUCH TO DO … !! - the Chasing Pack is on our Back now. And who relishes us playing ANY of them in the Play Off's ?? - that's if we make them, at this rate !!
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warfarinman69 added 00:36 - Feb 12 Why does Chaplin take the penalties when he has missed a couple already and doesn't look like he will score at any time. And Burns is not the same player since he was called up by Wales. Drop him!!!
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KiwiTractor added 05:25 - Feb 12 After the Cambridge match, I thought we are definitely playing League One again next season. This result hasn't changed my thinking - if we win the next 5 games in a row (all of which are winnable), maybe that will help change my mind....
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johnwarksshorts added 07:38 - Feb 12 Showed great resilience to come back from 2 0 down, and maybe should have won it as we were a lt better in 2nd half. Desperately need a winning run now or it's play offs at best.
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cat added 09:00 - Feb 12 First and foremost what a great afternoons entertainment. It had everything apart from a first half performance where we looked like the away side. Fortunately we got one back before half time because the atmosphere was turning hostile. I agree with others that say we need a settled starting line up, to many changes and to many draws. We will finish top 6 but after the start we had this is below the standard we should have achieved.

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Carberry added 09:16 - Feb 12 Why does Chaplin take penalties? Has our army of analysts, statisticians and coaches not noticed he has missed more than he has scored from the spot in his career?
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londontractorboy57 added 09:21 - Feb 12 Blueboy you didn't like football the Mccarthy way you don't like it the Mkenna way or all the ways in between have ever thought of changing your sport?
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:30 - Feb 12 Wednesday will get promoted, and good luck to them. I had hoped Plymouth would drop off but there is no sign of that either. So, after trying to resist, I am now resigned to the lottery otherwise known as the playoffs.
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Help added 10:02 - Feb 12 Would I take a draw after going 2 nil down. Yes, now I would. But why after talking about starting fast do we start so slowly time after time. Why are our players asleep, why do they watch the ball and not the players. Why can't we learn from the same mistakes. Wednesday are a big strong team, but we only started playing after Broadhead scored. And thank goodness he did, because if he had not, we would have lost that game. Would Chaplin's penalty have changed the match if he had scored, I don't think so. I still think Wednesday would have played the same, and equalised, possibly soon after the penalty anyway. Would the penalty have Gee'd us up, I don't think so. However, another draw against top opposition, sounds familiar. Other than Derby who have not lost since we beat them, we are struggling against top opposition. We are not killing off beatable opposition. that is why we are third, with teams below us with games in hand. This is our Achillies heel. Cannot see results going our way with Wednesday and Plymouth dropping points like we do. It is and always has been up to us, but I don't think we are capable. Wednesday provided the insight in how to counter and beat teams with fast clear passing and incisive play.

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Nomore4 added 10:21 - Feb 12 I said before the Burnley replay. KMcM is 3 games away from the sack. Lose against Bristol and it's curtains. After spending millions in 12 months a 3rd season in div 3 won't be acceptable to 3lions/gamechanger.
3

Linkboy13 added 11:05 - Feb 12 Ive said many times on here our recruitment could be better and have been marked down by the Ashdon worshippers. Three players we have signed have been injured Camara 3 operations, Ball who has never been fit or if he has looks a dodgy buy and now Luongo why we signed him i will never know. Brentford are a perfect example of recruiting good players when they were in the championship. Ashdon has done a decent job but he's not God like some small minded people think on here.

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IpswichT62OldBoy added 11:47 - Feb 12 I thought we needed 20 pts from 8, three games ago, we now need 15 from 5.
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Marinersnose added 12:08 - Feb 12 Brilliant entertainment again but the result is not good enough. Chaplin looked like a Rabbit in the headlights prior to his poor spot kick. He took an age to take the kick and never looked confident. I'm thrilled that we actually got back into the game but we dominated the second half and couldn't win the game. I spoke to an Owls fan after the game and he said you battered us second half but we never looked like conceding. We cannot turn possession into goals. We haven't got sufficient big game players in the squad and for me we will remain in this league for a further season. Yes I believe we will make the playoffs but that'll be it. KMK has massively improved the squad but we lack ruthlessness and steel. Too many lightweight players always looking for fouls. This league need physicality in order to win games.

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Stato added 12:16 - Feb 12 You make a good point Linkboy. I rate Ashton much higher than McKenna but Ashton has to stop signing players who are either injured at the time of signing or who have a bad record of injuries. Evans has lost a lot of game time with injuries and we only have Humphreys to step in. Maybe in the summer we won't sign another 4 number 10's and instead bolster the CB and DM positions.

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Cadiar added 13:42 - Feb 12 Disappointed by the result & a great shame for 29000+ crowd. chaplin must never take another penalty, my Grandma could have done better & shes been dead 25 years.think RobsonWark needs some psychiatric help, always got an enormous amount of absolute rubbish pouring out. A lobotomy needed.
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