Town defeated Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 at Hillsborough thanks to Conor Chaplin’s third goal of the season. The Blues, who maintain third with a perfect away record, had a number of chances to go ahead before Chaplin blasted home Leif Davis’ low cross just before halftime, and had chances to extend their lead in the second half.

Town made one change from the lineup that defeated Cardiff 3-2 at Portman Road a fortnight ago, with Freddie Ladapo replacing George Hirst.

Hirst, a former Owls academy player, suffered an adductor injury against the Bluebirds but returned to training this week and was named to the bench.

Despite suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty with Wales, Wes Burns was fit to start on the right side.

Barry Bannan was missing from the Owls’ 20-man squad, while Republic of Ireland international Jeff Hendrick made his debut after joining on loan from Newcastle, and John Buckley, another new loanee from Blackburn, was among the substitutes.Former Blues loan defender Dominic Iorfa started, with former Blues loan midfielder Tyreeq Bakinson on the bench.

Within the first minute, Town threatened when Burns was sent away on the right and cut back to Ladapo, but the striker scuffed his effort and Hendrick was able to clear ahead of the lurking Nathan Broadhead.

The early phases were sloppy on both sides.

The first half was a shambles, with neither team able to gain control and Wednesday allowing Town little time on the ball in their own half.

On 10, captain Sam Morsy received the game’s first yellow card for putting his body between himself and Juan Delgado, who collapsed to the ground holding his face.

Akin Famewo of Wednesday joined him in the book moments later for kicking the ball away to slow Town down at a throw-in.

The Blues began to improve their passing.

Wednesday was forced to make a substitution on 29 when Iorfa took to the grass with a knock, having done so earlier in the half. Di’Shon Bernard, who previously worked under Town manager Kieran McKenna at Manchester United, took over.

The game, which had become more stop-start due to Wednesday players requiring treatment, was halted again three minutes later when Famewo landed awkwardly in the centre circle after an aerial fight with Ladapo.

The Blues had broken after the confrontation, with home fans furious that the game had not been stopped, but Broadhead had been dispossessed as he approached the edge of the box.

Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Ipswich Town – Match Report Saturday, September 16th, 2023 17:12

Town defeated Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 at Hillsborough thanks to Conor Chaplin’s third goal of the season. The Blues, who maintain third with a perfect away record, had a number of chances to go ahead before Chaplin blasted home Leif Davis’ low cross just before halftime, and had chances to extend their lead in the second half.

Town made one change from the lineup that defeated Cardiff 3-2 at Portman Road a fortnight ago, with Freddie Ladapo replacing George Hirst.

Hirst, a former Owls academy player, experienced a recurrence of his adductor injury against the Bluebirds but has returned to training this week.

The 2,000-plus Town fans erupted at one end, while Chaplin imitated painting a post at the other after scoring his third goal of the season.

The game was delayed again after the fourth official indicated six more minutes due to an injury to Davis, who was assisted off the field with what appeared to be a right ankle ailment and was replaced by Brandon Williams.

Davis walked across the perimeter in front of the clapping Town fans, towards the bench, aided by two club staff members, with no weight on his damaged leg.

Josh Windass hammered a free-kick into the Town wall just before the whistle after what ended out to be 11 extra minutes.

The Blues deserved their lead after creating all of the chances in the first half. Town would have been unhappy not to be ahead prior to Chaplin’s goal, with Ladapo and Burns both having excellent earlier chances.

Wednesday attempted to disrupt Town’s rhythm and control of the game by making the game as stop-start as possible while never genuinely threatening themselves.

Callum Paterson was booked seconds after the game restarted for catching new full Australia cap Cameron Burgess with a stray arm.

Wednesday made two substitutions during the second half, replacing Smith and Lee Gregory.

Town dominated the second half, winning an early free-kick on the right and then a corner on the opposite side, from which they came within inches of increasing their lead.

Clarke flashed a header towards the far post, but Vasquez wonderfully kept it out, the keeper responding quickly enough to paw the ball up and away from goal before it was cleared.

After a brief Owls onslaught, the Blues scooped up a loose ball midway inside the Wednesday half on 54, but Burns fired over when the opportunity could have been capitalised on. Hladky was booked two minutes later for taking too long over a goal-kick.

Wednesday, when the game approached the hour mark,

Hillsborough alumnus Hirst came over from Ladapo in the 63rd minute, as Town needed more of a presence up front, and was booed by his old supporters. Hendrick was arrested three minutes later for catching Broadhead with his arm.

Hirst’s introduction appeared to calm the Blues down, and they began to reclaim control. Clarke put the sub away on the right side of the box behind the Wednesday backline in the 69th minute, and he lofted the ball over Vasquez but also the bar from a tight angle.

Within a minute, Luongo sent Hirst in on the left side of the area, and this time his attempt at goal was saved by the keeper when he could have cut back to Chaplin.

Wednesday switched

The Owls were still looking for an equaliser but were doing little more than huffing and puffing, with their fans remaining quiet aside from heated yells from referee James Linington when decisions went against them.

On 83, Williams received the ball on the left and drove ahead and inside before connecting with Jackson on the right side of the box.

Town defended another corner and subsequent pass across the box, while the Owls failed to register a shot on goal.

As the game entered its final minute, Chaplin sent Broadhead away on the left, and the Welshman took the ball into the area before unleashing a low effort.

Clarke flashed a header towards the far post, but Vasquez wonderfully kept it out, the keeper responding quickly enough to paw the ball up and away from goal before it was cleared.

After a brief Owls onslaught, the Blues scooped up a loose ball midway inside the Wednesday half on 54, but Burns fired over when the opportunity could have been capitalised on. Hladky was booked two minutes later for taking too long over a goal-kick.

As the hour mark approached, Wednesday began to see more of the ball and fired over a number of dangerous crosses, which Burgess dealt with while the Blues struggled to restore control.

Town scores in the 63rd minute.

Within a minute, Luongo sent Hirst in on the left side of the area, and this time his attempt at goal was saved by the keeper when he could have cut back to Chaplin.

Wednesday replaced Hendrick with Anthony Musaba, and Town replaced Burns with Kayden Jackson, the player of the match in last season’s comparable matchup.

The Owls were still looking for an equaliser but were doing little more than huffing and puffing, with their fans remaining quiet aside from heated yells from referee James Linington when decisions went against them.

On 83, Williams received the ball on the left and drove ahead and inside before connecting with Jackson on the right side of the field.

As the game entered its last minute, Chaplin sent Broadhead away on the left, and the Welshman took the ball into the box before shooting a low drive that Vazquez saved down to his right.

Town held on for five minutes longer, the whistle signalling loud boos from the home crowd, to secure their first win at Hillsborough since March 2018 and their third victory in three away games since their return to the Championship.

In reality, the Blues should have won by a wider margin, as they generated numerous decent chances both before and after Chaplin’s well-worked and surgically taken goal.

Wednesday, who are still winless, were unable to compete.

The result keeps the Blues in third place in the table, having dropped from second on goal difference on Friday night following Leicester’s 4-1 triumph at Southampton, with the Blues the next visitors to St Mary’s on Tuesday evening.

Vasquez, Paterson, Palmer (c), Iorfa (Bernard 29), Famewo, Delgado, Byers, Hendrick (Musaba 76), Windass, Gregory (Buckley 46), Smith (Fletcher 46), Sheffield Wednesday. Dawson, Valentin, Ihiekwe, James, and Bakinson were not utilised.

Town: Hladky, Clarke, Woolfenden, Burgess,Woolfenden 45), Morsy (c), Luongo, Burns (Jackson 77), Chaplin, Broadhead, Ladapo (Hirst 63), Chaplin, Broadhead, Ladapo (Hirst 63). Ball, Evans, Taylor, Hutchinson, and Scarlett were not used. James Linington (Newport, Isle of Wight) is the official referee. Att: 25,938.