Sheffield Wednesday v Ipswich Town
Saturday 16th September 2023 – 15:00
Hillsborough Stadium
Pre-Match Thoughts - Mike
I don't think too many of us Town fans quite expected what we were dished up in the second half of our last Championship game at home to Cardiff City. Having been a bit under par for much of the first half and in truth second best to the Welshmen it looked for all the world like we were going to fall to a second successive home defeat, especially after we had fallen Two goals behind early in the second half but this Town team is as resilient as any Town team I can remember and Cardiff's Second goal served only to awaken us from our slumbers as were suddenly came alive to produce a superb turnaround in a game that looked all but lost.
After the excellent Aaron Ramsey and Joe Ralls had given our visitors a Two goal lead it was going to take something special for us to get back into the game, yes we had had our chances in that first Hour but unlike Town we had failed to take any of them. Nathan Broadhead saw a header comfortably saved by the keeper as early as the Fifth Minute when he should really have scored, a couple of early chances from distance fell to Conor Chaplin but on this occasion he was unable to make them count.
We did get a bit of luck in between those chances with the Bluebirds having an effort disallowed for offside, this following a cracking save from Vaclav Hladky. It was the returning George Hirst that passed up the best chance to score, having been played through down the middle the big centre forward could only fire his effort against the keeper and away to safety.
Sometimes out of adversity comes a change of luck and this certainly proved to be the case after Hirst had limped off injured late in the first half, Freddie Ladapo was to replace him and boy did he grab his chance with both hands. First up though was that much needed moment of magic that Town needed to get us back into the game. A lovely ball through Midfield from the excellent Sam Morsy set up Broadhead who's quick feet twisted and turned the Cardiff defenders before sending a rocket of a shot into the top of the net to get Town right back into the game.
It was very much Town's best spell of the game and it wasnt long before they had pulled themselves level courtesy of super sub Ladapo, Leif Davis swung in a corner which came off a defender before falling invitingly for Ladapo to help it home from a couple of yards out with quick reactions to beat the defender to the ball. Portman Road erupted as belief returned that we could actually turn this around.
Better was to come for Town but not before Hladky pulled off another super save to keep it level. The key to the win was to come with the introduction of Brandon Williams & Omari Hutchinson who both had a part to play in what turned out to be the winning goal, the latters cross pulling a save from the Cardiff keeper which cannoned off the lurking Ladapo and into the net to send the crowd wild. The noise was like nothing I have heard at Portman Road for many a long day as the celebrations kicked in.
Town went close to a fourth thanks to Broadhead but with the game deep into the Six minutes of injury time it was Hladky who once again came out the hero with a vital save as he grabbed the loose ball with a striker bearing down and ready to pounce. Everyone to a man celebrated at full time and it was another incredible show of character which this team has in abundance that ultimately turned the game on it's head.
Sadly we had to endure a dull International break which stopped us building on our win but it may just be it was what we needed what with Clarke, Hirst and One or two others carrying knocks. it seems like Wes Burns has picked up a hamstring injury while away with wales which we could do without but as Ladapo showed when someone else gets a chance you need to grab it, we have options so hopefully all will be fine.
Since that Cardiff game we have also added to the squad with the addition of Centre Back Axel Tuanzebe, the free agent having failed to earn a place at Luton Town despite impressing while on trial. this could be seen as something of a gamble by Town but it could just be a gamble that pays off if he can stay fit, there is no doubt he has the pedigree to excel at this level and in truth I think we all felt another CB was a must, I am looking forward to seeing what he can do.
Next up is a trip to Sheffield Wednesday who I must confess I do not like in the slightest, last season's motor mouth's really did make themselves look stupid having basically proclaimed themselves up as early as march only to go on a torrid run and bottle it big time, add to that the shenanigans of the Club and Darren Moore parting company and they really haven't endured themselves to many neutrals, certainly not in these parts.
The Owls have found life tough back in the Championship with just a solitary point from their opening Five games, albeit a creditable draw with Leeds Utd so they will be looking to kickstart their season before very much longer. It has to be said that their squad does look a little light in terms of quality for this league and there seems no doubt that the goings on behind the scenes hasn't done them too many favours where it matters most, out on the pitch.
I think Town will go into this full of confidence that they can get a Third win on the road and why not, Hillsborough however is not a happy hunting ground for us and they aren't the easiest team to play against, we showed last season though that if you can silence the crowd it makes a massive difference, we did it last season only to be robbed so let's go and do it again to keep ourselves up at the top of this very early league table. Town to edge it for me !! COYB'S.
The Opposition – Sheffield Wednesday Honours
League
First Division/Premier League
Champions (4): 1902–03, 1903–04, 1928–29, 1929–30
Second Division/Championship
Champions (5): 1899–1900, 1925–26, 1951–52, 1955–56, 1958–59
Runners-up (2): 1949–50, 1983–84
Promoted (1): 1990–91
Third Division/League One
Runners-up (1): 2011–12
Promoted (1): 1979–80
Play-off winners (1): 2004–05, 2022-23
Football Alliance (1)
Champions (1): 1889–90
Cup
FA Cup
Winners (3): 1895–96, 1906–07, 1934–35
Runners-up (3): 1889-90, 1965–66, 1992–93
Football League Cup
Winners (1): 1990–91
Runners-up (1): 1992–93
FA Community Shield
Winners (1): 1935
Runners-up (1): 1930
The Manager – Xisco Muñoz
League Table
Form Guide
Sheffield Wednesday
4 Aug Sheffield Wed 1 - 2 Southampton
12 Aug Hull City 4 - 2 Sheffield Wed
19 Aug Sheffield Wed 0 - 1 Preston
26 Aug Cardiff City 2 - 1 Sheffield Wed
2 Sep Leeds Utd 0 - 0 Sheffield Wed
Ipswich Town
6 Aug Sunderland 1 - 2 Ipswich Town
12 Aug Ipswich Town 2 - 0 Stoke City
19 Aug QP Rangers 0 - 1 Ipswich Town
26 Aug Ipswich Town 3 - 4 Leeds Utd
2 Sep Ipswich Town 3 - 2 Cardiff City
Head to Head
Match Referee – James Linnington
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 0 IPSWICH TOWN 1
