An early Marvin Johnson goal was enough to see Sheffield Wednesday claim all three points with an assured performance at Hillsborough.
Both wing-backs were directly involved in the winner. It was Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s cross that allowed Johnson to slide home a volley in the sixth minute. Ipswich did not pose any particular threat throughout the game and Wednesday were able to see the game out without much pressure on their goal.
There was a setback for The Owls before a ball had even been kicked. Top scorer Lee Gregory was ruled out with a foot injury and was replaced by Florian Kamberi in one of four changes made by Darren Moore from the 3-2 defeat by Oxford. There were also debuts for new signings Harlee Dean and Jordan Storey.
The goal was the first real action of the match. Mendez-Laing was given the ball in a dangerous crossing during a Wednesday break. His deep cross found fellow wingback Johnson sliding in at the back post and he volleyed home six yards for his first goal of the season.
Kamberi was sent through on goal by a good long ball from Massismo Luongo. The striker miscontrolled when trying to cut back inside the defender and it was cleared for a corner from which Dean headed narrowly wide.
In the 39th minute, a good cross from Barry Bannan found Florian Kamberi within the six-yard box. The on-loan striker managed to get the ball under control and set up Mendez-Laing who somehow fired wide from 12 yards when he really should have scored. The Wednesday wingback was in the thick of the action again a minute later, almost turning an Ipswich cross beyond his own goalkeeper.
The Owls created two chances in quick succession at the end of the first half. First, Kamberi forced Christian Walton into a good save at his near post. From the corner that followed, Sam Hutchinson directed a free header straight at the goalkeeper.
Wednesday continued to control proceedings in the opening stages of the second half. Good play down the right saw Josh Windass have a powerful shot parried by Walton. The resulting rebound was headed over by The Owl’s skipper Bannan.
Johnson came close to doubling both his and his team’s tallies in the 67th minute – dragging a shot from 12 yards just wide following a Kamberi cut back. Minutes later Bannan forced Walton into a magnificent save with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.
Ipswich were on the backfoot for most of the game but created their first decent chance of the second half in the 73rd minute. Debutant Storey was forced to make an important block from Ipswich substitute Sone Aluko’s well hit shout within the penalty area.
In truth, the Tractormen never really looked like scoring despite dominating possession and the home side were able to see out the rest of the match quite comfortably. The Owls will hope to replicate this performance in mid week against Morecambe in order to continue to push for promotion.
Sheffield Wednesday: Peacock-Farrell; Storey, Dean, Hutchinson; Mendez-Laing (Palmer 63), Bannan, Luongo, Dele-Bashiru, Johnson (Hunt 84); Windass (John-Jules 72), Kamberi. Unused subs: Wildsmith, Paterson, Byers, Sow
Ipswich Town: Walton; Donacien, Edmundson, Woolfenden; Burns, Bakinson, El Mizouni (Norwood 71), Thompson; Celina; Bonne (Pigott 78), Chaplin (Aluko 71). Unused subs: Hladky, Harper, Burgess, Edwards
Goals: Sheffield Wednesday: Johnson (6′).
Bookings: Sheffield Wednesday: Dean (26),
Attendance: 23,517
Referee: Darren Bond
