Sheffield Wednesday vs Ipswich Town. Sky Bet Championship.
HillsboroughAttendance25,851.
Saturday 5 November 2016 19:45, UK
Goals from Tom Lawrence and Luke Chambers gave Ipswich a 2-1 victory at Sheffield Wednesday.
Lawrence, who is on loan from Leicester, put the visitors in front before Gary Hooper equalised shortly afterwards. Just three minutes from time, skipper Chambers scored the winning goal.
Ipswich, who went into the game on the back of a run of just one win in their previous eight games, were looking for an early breakthrough and a chance fell to David McGoldrick when he found space inside the area but he shot off-target.
Wednesday's first effort came from Barry Bannan, who put a long-range effort over. Adam Reach then squared to Steven Fletcher whose low shot was deflected wide. Reach also had a shot charged down before Ipswich took the lead. Lawrence made a surging run into the centre of the area and beat Keiren Westwood with a low finish.
Hooper equalised just four minutes later, turning home the loose ball after Bartosz Bialkowski could only parry a low shot from David Jones. That was the 100th goal of Carlos Carvalhal's reign as Wednesday's head coach.
Hooper threatened soon after the restart with a low shot which was saved by Bialkowski. Jack Hunt's cross from the right picked out Fletcher at the far post but the striker was unable to guide the ball on target, heading wide.
Fernando Forestieri, so often Wednesday's talisman, was brought on as a substitute before the hour-mark, replacing Reach. Fletcher put an effort on target but his low shot was weak and straight at Bialkowski who gathered the ball easily.
Carvalhal made a second change to his line-up, sending on Ross Wallace in place of Jones.
Ipswich were seemingly content to soak up any pressure and try and catch the home side on the break, rarely posing an attacking threat. Wednesday, meanwhile, were struggling for any potency. Wallace, looking to make an impression shortly after coming on, had a shot blocked.
Goalscorer Lawrence was withdrawn with Kevin Bru taking his place. Wednesday's third substitution came when Almen Abdi replaced Hooper. There was a chance for the visitors when Freddie Sears broke into the area, but he was forced wide by Westwood and he could not direct his shot on target from a tight angle.
Grant Ward then had a shot blocked before playing the ball across the face of goal and only a vital interception from Tom Lees prevented Jonathan Williams from scoring.
Chambers headed the winner after Christophe Berra knocked down Ward's free kick. Wednesday never threatened to mount a comeback in the time remaining.
Sheff Wed boss Carlos Carvahal:
"I must accept that we didn't perform at our level and I hope that will be an exception. We were lacking energy and hit a wall. We must be more dynamic and have a different attitude. They were very compact and, to open up this kind of team, we need to move the ball very well and create spaces.
"We didn't pose a real threat to the opponents, but we didn't deserve to lose the game. We didn't deserve to win, either. We have the same points as last season at this moment, but of course we expect to have more."
Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy:
"I'm very, very pleased, of course, with the performance and happier with the result. As the game went on, we caught them on the break a number of times and didn't really make enough of it until we got the winner. I had no worry about my ability or my confidence in the players and they've backed that up today with a really good performance.
"That performance and result today reflects my time at Ipswich. That is more like my team and how I have been. We're going into the international break and having a couple of days off and the difference is that I'll enjoy them now."
