Report: SWFC 0-1 Town
By Aston
February 21 2010
Town climbed back out of the bottom three with a 1-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough earlier today.
Town made four changes from the side that lost at Peterborough during the week, Brian Murphy made his debut in goal in place of Arran Lee-Barrett. Shane O'Connor made only his second Town appearance while David Wright and Carlos Edwards returned to the Town squad.
Wednesday came close to scoring within 10 seconds of the kick-off, a poor clearance from David Wright allowed Luke Varney to fire goalwards, only for Murphy to beat the shot away.
Town first real chance came in the 11th minute when Damien Delaney was left unmarked at the near post and headed wide from an Edwards' throw in.
Four minutes later Town took the lead, Edwards was left unmarked and was picked out by Grant Leadbitter before firing home from 25-yards to score his first goal since 2007.
Colback and Leadbitter were both denied by Lee Grant in the Wednesday goal before Marcus Tudgay hit the top of the Town bar as Wednesday looked for an equaliser.
Gray forced a save out of Brian Murphy a few minutes later, Tudgay crossing back into the box to Gray who found himself six yards out but unable to beat Murphy.
Leadbitter curled an effort wide for Town and Daryl Murphy was unable to score his 4th goal of his loan spell, finding the angle of post and bar just as the half drew to a close.
The second half got underway with neither side making any changes. Town's first real effort of the half came thanks to a mis-placed pass by Wednesday's Esajas which was intercepted by Carlos Edwards who then ran at goal, firing just wide.
Daryl Murphy did manage to beat Grant but his header was lacking power and didn't manage to cross the line.
At the other end Brian Murphy blocked Leon Clarke's effort as the game started to drift slowly towards the end with notable chances running out.
Town thought they had scored a 2nd goal, Jon Walters headed home from a Leadbitter corner but the goal was ruled out for pushing. Luke Varney fired wide and the game ended 1-0 to Town who move 19th in the table, 1 point below Scunthorpe who Town face on Tuesday.
Sheffield Wednesday: Grant, Simek, Hinds, Beevers, Spurr; Gray (Clarke 62), Potter, J O'Connor, Esajas (McAllister 80), Varney, Tudgay.
Substitutes: Jameson, Boden, Palmer, Soares, Nolan.
Ipswich Town: B Murphy, D Wright, McAuley, Delaney, J O'Connor; Edwards, Leadbitter, Norris, Colback, D Murphy (Wickham 90), Walters.
Substitutes: Lee-Barrett, Balkestein, Peters, Counago, Quinn, Healy.
Referee: Mr M Russell (Hertfordshire)
Attendance: 21,641.
Got a view on the result? Leave it below.