The visiting Owls (wearing the grey away kit) were quick out of the blocks and quickly put Ipswich on the back foot, forcing an early throw-in from Ross Barkleys cross. Michail Antonio launches the ball in and Ipswich somehow scramble the ball away. Antonio puts the ball back in the box and after a couple of deflections the ball lands the feet of Barkley who side foots the ball home. Wednesday have a shock lead with only 45 seconds on the clock! 2 minutes later and it could have been another goal when Chris O'Grady threads a ball to Barkley who in turn finds Antonio - only for the £1m signing to fire tamely at the Town keeper. With the clock barely reaching 6mins, Ipswich are looking shambolic - unable to put 2 passes together or keep the ball. Even a golden chance from a free kick, conceded by Jose Semedo fouling Lee Martin, is wasted when Aaron Cresswell puts the ball out for a goal kick. Determined not to be rolled over, Ipswich click into gear and Josh Carson whips a corner in that Chris Kirkland does well to claim after Miguel Llera had conceded the set-piece. A mis-control by Paul Corry is capitalised on by Lee Martin who advances towards the away goal, firing his shot well wide to spare the young Irishman's blushes. A spell of Ipswich possession to settle the team and stunt any momentum follows and is only interrupted when the referee inadvertently tackles an Ipswich player and sets Wednesday on an attack. Barkley goes on a 25 yard run and releases Antonio - only for the wide man to fire wide. The Owls force a corner on the 15th minute and Jay Bothroyd launches a ball into the box, Stephen Henderson punches the ball away badly and O'Grady lifts the ball back in, Antonio reacts first but sees his header cleared off the line by Danny Higginbotham. A perfectly timed tackle by Lewis Buxton prevents Cresswell advancing and from the throw-in Antonio blocks Carlos Edwards' cross as Ipswich try to force an equaliser. Town then get awarded a free kick when the bandaged Buxton fouls Daryl Murphy in a dangerous area, Richie Wellens' cross is cleared by Anthony Gardner as Wednesday strive for a much needed clean sheet. The defender sees yellow after fouling Lee Martin but sees the direct free kick go high and wide. Daniel Jones also concedes a free kick in the same area for fouling Carson and Creswells effort goes in the exact same place - high and wide. The Tractor Boys are lucky to only be one down when O'Grady squeezes between the 2 centre backs only to somehow loop his effort over the bar. The home team then fashion their own chance when Wellens plays a short free-kick to Luke Chambers who fires his shot wide. As the 40th minute approaches the game turns scrappy when a spate of throw-ins stop any momentum for either team. When Martin gets the chance to advance he attempts a cross which sees Jones concede a free kick for handball - just outside the area. Higginbotham sees his headed effort go wide. Wednesday see another chance go begging as a clear through Antonio fluffs his effort wide as the Ipswich defenders held back. The half ends with a short corner by Carson, Cresswell crosses the ball and Higginbotham jumps the highest - only for his headed effort to clear the bar.
HT. Wednesday started well but need to reapply the pressure otherwise running the risk of an Ipswich equaliser. The half time snack of a coffee and Flake see me through to the second half.
As expected, Ipswich start with renewed vigour and Edwards launches a dangerous ball into the box - only for Gardner to again clear the lines. Shortly after, the much improved defender again clears for Wednesday as Martin fires a free-kick into the box. The two loanees, Bothroyd and Barkley combine well and only inches spare Barkley a second goal when his shot thunders just wide. Ipswich come close to equalising when Wellens crosses for DJ Campbell after snatching possession - but the striker forces Kirkland into a comfortable save with his shot at goal. The 55th minute sees Gardner again clear for the away side when Edwards receives a ball from Martin and attempts a cross. Barkley is everywhere for Wednesday and it comes as no surprise when he ventures into a centre-forward role, controlling a pass with his right foot and launching a powerful shot with his left, flying past the keeper for the games second goal. With a 0-2 lead and a toothless Ipswich in front of them, the Owls were looking comfortable. They could have had a third after good silky skills by Bothroyd releases Antonio into the box, only for Henderson so make an easy save from his effort at goal. The 64th minute is marked by a meaningful home attack and Martin fires a great cross in for DJ Campbell - but Miguel Llera rises a fraction higher and heads the ball just beyond the attacker and away from danger. Minutes later and another Ipswich attack is thwarted by Gardner - twice in quick succession denying Martin, staking his claim for man of the match. A brief stop in play allows the players to take some tactical orders when Martin dangerously fouls Jones, leading the left-back requiring physio treatment. In the 69th minute, Campbell finds some space after a neat one-two and Gardner decisively tackles Wellens as the former Doncaster man shapes to shoot. The resulting corner is cleared by none other than Anthony Gardner again! Paul Corry gets replaced by Jermaine Johnson on the 72nd minute and by the 79th minute the stadium is filled with boos. The home fans are not impressed by their team passing without precision, backwards and sideways with no outlet and 0-2 down. When Wednesday regain possession they play keep ball themselves with olé passing of over 40 accurate touches earning a standing ovation from the travelling faithful. When Kirkland claims a Lee Martin cross, he launches the ball upfield, O'Grady controls well and lays the ball off for the impressive Barkley. A fancy drag back and dribble allows space to pass to the advancing Antonio, rounding the keeper and slotting home from an acute angle to give Wednesday a comprehensive 0-3 lead with 10mins left on the clock. The popular winger celebrates his 4th goal of the season with a Gangnam Style dance of his own. After Gary Madine replaces O'Grady, the Owls are sitting comfortably when Bothroyd releases the energetic Antonio - but the chance is wasted when he fires over the bar, resulting in more home fan boos. As the minutes tick by, Ipswich fans clear out of Portman Road - undoubtedly worried at the performance of their team. Another wasted corner by Ipswich compound the performance and as the final whistle is blown the familiar sound of booing echoes around the freezing cold stadium.
FT. What a performance! The defence put a good shift in and all of the players did very well. Antonio is starting to prove the 'not good enough at this level' critics wrong and Gardner is improving.
Attendance: 17,738
Owls MoM: Barkley
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