Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Saturday, 17th Sep 2022 17:12

Michael Smith’s 89th minute goal - which video evidence shows was offside - saw Sheffield Wednesday come from two goals behind to claim a 2-2 draw with the Blues at Hillsborough. Town looked on their way to their fifth away win in a row from the start of the season after Kayden Jackson’s opener on four and an own goal by ex-Blues loanee Dominic Iorfa in the 71st minute but George Byers hit back on 75, then Smith headed the leveller.

Town boss Kieran McKenna made three changes from the team which beat Bristol Rovers 2-0 on Tuesday with George Edmundson replacing the injured Cameron Burgess on the left of the defence.

Tyreece John-Jules, who was on loan with the Owls in the second half of last season, came in for Freddie Ladapo as the lone central striker and Jackson for Marcus Harness, playing in a wide right role in what was essentially a 4-2-1-3 system with Burns advanced on the other flank. Harness and Ladapo were on the bench.

For Wednesday, ex-Town loan keeper David Stockdale started, as did Iorfa, who was on the right of their back three, while Tyreeq Bakinson, who ended last season on loan with the Blues, was among the subs. Another one-time Town loanee, Mark McGuinness was absent from the squad.

Following a minute’s silence in honour of Her Majesty, The Queen, who died last week, and the national anthem, the Blues, wearing their black and red away kit, were first to seriously threaten in the second minute when a quickly-taken Leif Davis throw on the left sent Jackson away. The striker crossed through Iorfa’s legs to skipper Sam Morsy, whose shot was blocked.

There was a scare for the Blues moments later when a Christian Walton clearance found Barry Bannan on halfway and the midfielder tried a looping effort towards the empty goal, which only just bounced over the bar.

But within a minute Town were in front. Edmundson made a strong run from inside his half before playing an inch-perfect pass into the path of Jackson, who was making an arcing run in from the left. The striker latched on to the ball and confidently slammed it into the corner of the net to Stockdale’s left, the one-time Barnsley man’s second goal of the season.

Wednesday quickly went about looking for an equaliser and on seven Josh Windass shot over from just outside the area.

The Owls were seeing most of the ball with Town not looking entirely comfortable at the back. On 12 Michael Ihiekwe looped a header over from a Bannan free-kick from deep on the left.

The Wednesday pressure continued and in the 17th minute Bannan played in Fisayo Dele-Bashiru on the right and his cross was nodded out for a corner by Wes Burns at the back post.

The frenetic pace of the Owls’ fightback relented after Janoi Donacien suffered a knock and underwent treatment, and also quietened the Hillsborough crowd.

On 19 Chaplin was played in on the right of the box but lofted his effort at goal wide with the flag having already been raised, before home fans started to get on their keeper Stockdale’s back after a couple of wayward clearances into the stands.

After their nervy spell following the goal, Town began to show their usual level of composure and control of the game.

On 25 Bannan was booked for a foul on Lee Evans in the centre circle, then two minutes later, following an Edmundson cross-field pass, Burns cut in from the right and hit a shot which was blocked by Ihiekwe, Town having looked to use the pace of the Welshman down one flank and Jackson down the other with early balls, the goalscorer having left Iorfa standing on a number of occasions.

Town remained in the ascendant and on 35, following a spell of probing around the box, Morsy struck a 25-yard effort well over.

Four minutes later, Wednesday worked their first chance for some while, Byers crossing from the right towards Michael Smith, who nodded well over.


As half-time approached, the Owls began to get back on top and in the 43rd minute, after Town had played themselves into trouble, Liam Palmer sent a low ball across the six-yard box from the right which no Wednesday player was able to reach.

A minute later, Town again lost possession, this time just inside their half, and Luke Woolfenden clipped Windass’s heels in order to stop the break and was booked.

Just prior to the fourth official announcing three additional minutes, the game was briefly held up after objects were thrown on the pitch by Wednesday supporters frustrated that referee Peter Wright had failed to give them a corner.

Boos rang around Hillsborough as Wright blew the half-time whistle, aimed towards the official, who was being spoken to at length by Bannan has they left the field, but also after a frustrating half for their side.

Town will have been delighted with the scoreline as they made their way down the tunnel, having taken their early chance, created superbly by the returning Edmundson and finished clinically by Jackson.

The Blues subsequently found themselves under the cosh for a long spell but with Walton not forced into a save.

The injury break for Donacien’s knock saw the Owls lose their momentum and Town take control, although without seriously looking like scoring a second.

But a couple of errors had allowed Wednesday, who themselves had been sloppy throughout, especially in their own half, to look more dangerous towards the break.

The Blues were the first to threaten following the restart. In the 48th minute, after Wednesday had been caught in possession midway inside their half, Chaplin was played in on the right and cut back to Evans, whose low deflected shot was claimed at the second attempt by Stockdale ahead of John-Jules.

Home fans were cheering every throw-in awarded to their side after an earlier clearly wrong decision had gone against them. A foul given against Byers for a blatant pull on Morsy as Town counter-attacked led to a chant of ‘you’re not fit to referee’.

Davis was yellow-carded for time-wasting in the 52nd minute with the game going through a scruffy period. Two minutes later, the former Leeds man was swapped for Greg Leigh.

The left-back was quickly into the action, heading an Evans free-kick - which he was second-best to win - across the face of goal but with no one there to add the final touch.

Moments later, Jackson was sent away in space down the left and crossed but his ball also failed to find a red and black shirt.

With Town having started to get on top, Wednesday switched Dele-Bashiru for Lee Gregory.

On 61 Jackson played a neat one-two with John-Jules on the left of the area but shot over under pressure from Ihiekwe.

Two minutes later, Leigh was booked for a pull on Palmer on the right touchline, keeper Walton catching the resultant Bannan free-kick confidently.

Home fans were continuing to show their annoyance with referee Wright as Town made two further changes, Ladapo and Harness taking over from Chaplin and John-Jules.

Owls fans one again showed their fury with referee Wright after the official had waved play on after a foul on the Wednesday right with the attack coming to nothing, and from which Town broke and scored their second goal.

Ladapo played in Jackson down the left but his cross was overhit. Harness retrieved it and fed Burns, who sent over a low cross which Iorfa diverted into his own goal at the far post as he sought to stop Jackson grabbing his second of the afternoon.

There was another delay after the goal as referee Wright went over to Walton’s goal to pick up a couple of plastic bottles and other objects which had been thrown towards the Town keeper by frustrated home fans. A PA announcement followed, requesting Owls supporters not to throw objects onto the pitch.

The Blues’ two-goal lead lasted only four minutes. Wednesday won a free-kick wide on the left and Bannan played it short to Marvin Johnson, who sent the ball over and Byers slammed into the roof of the net at the far post.

Morsy was booked for a foul on Windass on halfway a minute later as Wednesday went looking for their second of the afternoon with their fans in full voice.

On 79 Reece James joined the Town skipper in the book for fouling him as Town broke, then two minutes later Richard Keogh replaced Jackson.

Harness was cautioned for a cynical trip on halfway on 82 as the Owls countered, then shortly afterwards Wednesday fans and Windass called for a red for the ex-Pompey man following another foul but referee Wright kept his cards in his pocket.

The game had become stretched and an increasingly end-to-end affair and on 89 Wednesday equalised.

James crossed from the left and Smith, so often a scorer for Rotherham against the Blues in the past, headed home from inside the six-yard box, however, with video evidence indicating he was clearly offside. However, the assistant didn’t raise his flag and the goal stood.

As the fourth official announced six additional minutes, Ladapo cut in from the left and curled a shot into Stockdale’s arms.

At the other end, Wednesday claimed a penalty when sub Alex Mighten went to ground under pressure from Harness but referee Wright wasn’t interested.

The final stages saw the free-kick count increase as Wednesday went looking for a winner and Town looked to hold onto a point while looking for their third on the break. Late on Morsy and Harness both had efforts blocked following a corner before referee Wright ended an entertaining game.

Ultimately, a frustrating afternoon for the Blues who looked to have the game won at 2-0 but allowed the Owls back into the game by conceding the set piece goal so soon after Iorfa’s own goal.

The second Wednesday goal appeared offside but the first had given the Owls - and their vociferous fans - a sniff which they really shouldn’t have had at that stage.

The point, coupled with Portsmouth’s 2-2 draw at home to Plymouth, sees the Blues stay top ahead of Pompey on goal difference.

Town are next in action at home to Arsenal’s U21s in the Papa Johns Trophy on Tuesday with the Blues travelling to face the Pilgrims at Home Park next Sunday.

Sheffield Wednesday: Stockdale, Palmer, Iorfa (Mighten 71), Ihiekwe, James, Johnson, Byers, Bannan, Dele-Bashiru (Gregory 57), Windass, Smith. Unused: Dawson, Vaulks, Bakinson, Wilks, Paterson.

Town: Walton, Donacien, Woolfenden, Edmundson, Burns, Evans, Morsy (c), Davis (Leigh 54), Chaplin (Harness 68), John-Jules (Ladapo 69), Jackson (Keogh 81). Unused: Hladky, Ball, Ahadme. Referee: Peter Wright (Merseyside). Att: 26,281.


Photo: Pagepix



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



cat added 17:12 - Sep 17
I would have taken the point beforehand but being 2 up and letting it go is mildly disappointing. Still top though and a difficult away fixture out of the way.
29

ImAbeliever added 17:13 - Sep 17
Great result away from home. Top 4 all drew against each other.
15

CustardCream added 17:13 - Sep 17
Well that was frustrating. The majority of us would probably have taken a point at the start of the day, but to throw a two goal lead away brings us down to earth a bit. Burns nowhere near his level last season and cost us the first goal.

That was one of the worst refereeing performances I've ever seen. Davis booked for being grabbed and pushed, their equaliser looked a long way offside, managed to not play advantage when burns was through on goal and managed to give a free kick inside the Wednesday half after they were offside. Baffling

Lucky not to lose in the end, but at least Pompey drew too.
6

TimmyH added 17:15 - Sep 17
Well in any other circumstance would have taken the draw but with 15+ minutes to go feels like a loss...BUT we're still unbeaten and still top, I fancy a year or so back we have defo lost a fixture like this. Consistency will get us over the line in this league and so far that is what we're doing though a long way to go.

Keep grinding Town!
18

blueboy1981 added 17:15 - Sep 17
Sorry Folks - a Point is a Point - but to throw a 0-2 lead away, away from home is simply not good enough.
At 0-2 Sheffield Wed' should have been out of it … !!
No excuses please.
-12

midastouch added 17:15 - Sep 17
Maybe Mick McCarthy wasn't quite as daft as I thought when he said 2 nil is a dangerous scoreline!
7

dezb added 17:16 - Sep 17
Shame to lose 2 points from such a strong position, but a game to learn from.
I see a few on social media having a pop at mckennas subs (with hindsight of course). The issue was conceding 3 mins after our second and giving them a free go at it for 15mins, along with some daft free kicks! Don't think mckenna has much choice but to throw on a defensive body at that point!

We move on! Comfortably ahead of 2 points per game!
10

cressi added 17:19 - Sep 17
Yea never felt confident of victory a good point ,But at 2-0
Should have seen game out
Last goal looked well offside though
10

jas0999 added 17:19 - Sep 17
Although on the face of it a point is not a bad result, throwing away a two goal lead against a promotion rival is disappointing. We need to close these type of games out.

Frustrating, but we move on as still undefeated on the league this season, with a couple more tricky matches to come.
9

ButchersBrokenNose added 17:19 - Sep 17
A great game against a team that will be there or thereabouts in May. Before kick-off, I would've taken a point away to Wednesday, but having seen how we played, this feels like a loss.

The equalizer was clearly offside, but there's nothing we can do about the officials' mistakes, just grin and bear it. We switched off for their first goal, however, and that's an individual error. We can't afford those kind of mistakes in these types of games.
15

martin587 added 17:23 - Sep 17
First real test and a few harsh lessons learnt by the boss.No complaints from me as we played well and should have won.I'm sure there second goal was offside. But without the dreaded VAR what can you do.Full praise for Jackson today he took his goal(s) well.Not much more to add really.Hell of a way to go as yet and two very hard matches to come.Great support as usual.
16

runningout added 17:24 - Sep 17
Decent draw. Worthless us moaning at little winnable game drawn. Sheff Wed are a good team like Plymouth and several more are. Same league same respect
6

Umros added 17:24 - Sep 17
Well let's take the positives, we have two ‘Evening up' decisions in the bank this season, with 4 points denied between today and Barnsley. I look forward to receiving them 😂. Decent point beforehand but 0-2 on 71 not so great. Next game though, maybe we'll
Get a decision for us this time 🤞
10

Nobbysnuts added 17:25 - Sep 17
Well we didn't lose but it feels like a defeat...some strange team selections today to say the least...let's hope km learns from his mistakes.....your not the messiah.....yet.
-8

Lightningboy added 17:27 - Sep 17
Very scrappy game & performance..would've taken a point beforehand but to throw a 2 goal lead away should be a bit of a wake up call.

Don't suppose anybody kept Ladapo's receipt?.
2

tractorboybig added 17:29 - Sep 17
well plymouth and portsmouth wont be trembling in their boots
0

joyousblue added 17:30 - Sep 17
I came away from a hard match , happy to have a point , lots of teams will come here and get nothing , but this referee, I was afraid to sneeze , i case he booked me , and how the hell he didn't give offside for the equaliser I'll never know ,, but still unbeaten still top coyb
5

Rimsy added 17:39 - Sep 17
Always had a feeling of inevitability we were going to be pulled back. Harness should have been on from the start and bringing on Keogh to try and see the game out was a mistake. Should have bought on another attacking player and gone for it.
7

SussexTractor added 17:42 - Sep 17
Arguably our hardest match of the season so far and historically we tend to lose this fixture. Two nil up, finishes 2-2 with their equaliser definitely offside, feels like a defeat but it is an important point against a top team.
9

Saxonblue74 added 17:43 - Sep 17
Would have taken the point before ok, but feels like 2 points dropped now. That's 4 points we've lost to poor officials.
6

JewellintheTown added 17:49 - Sep 17
Those are the games that show how well we'd survive in the Championship against strong opposition. Seems only yesterday we used to take being in the Championship as a given.
Continue the progress, guys, but hopefully a lesson hard learnt that won't come back to bite us at the end of the season.
Plenty of positives but not there yet.
7

runningout added 17:53 - Sep 17
crying about decisions is sad. Put plenty in back of the onion bag is priority with ruthlessness
4

blueboy1981 added 17:56 - Sep 17
That's one test of ‘where we are' - and we didn't prove too much - the two P's will be tests too, and we'll need to be better overall than today.
We'll see how we shape up in these, shall we ?
There is a long road ahead this season - just a reminder to those who seem to think that we are Cruising to Promotion already …. !!!
Much to do for that.
1

grow_our_own added 18:18 - Sep 17
Close but wasn't offside. Ball was level or just ahead of Smith:
-6

Suffolkboy added 18:19 - Sep 17
Yet another game undefeated : of course it's disappointing to concede twice in the back end of any game – and doubtless KM will express the same sentiments . We should,however ,always remember the Sheffield teams are usually full of spunk and endeavour ,and will fight to the end : no doubt they'll be quite satisfied to get away with an ‘offside ‘ goal !
In any sport the rub of the green cannot be pre- ordained ,so today we were very unlucky but must hope the Officials see the video and seriously consider how to improve their performance ,and ,as with our smashing team ,learn from mistakes .
Well done ITFC , a great start to 2022/2033 season so far – keep it up ! Much to admire .,
COYB
7


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024