Sheffield Wednesday faced a tough challenge as they clashed with Ipswich Town at Portman Road over the weekend, resulting in a disappointing 3-1 defeat for the Owls. This loss marked Sheffield Wednesday’s sixth setback in their last seven Championship matches, highlighting the difficulties they have been facing in recent fixtures.
The match saw Ipswich Town taking an early lead and maintaining control throughout the game. Goals from Cédric Kipré and Jaden Philogene on either side of halftime put the promotion-chasing Tractor Boys in a commanding position, leaving Sheffield Wednesday with an uphill battle to claw their way back into the game. Liam Cooper managed to pull one back for Wednesday, injecting a glimmer of hope into their performance, but Ipswich ultimately sealed the victory with a third goal courtesy of substitute Jack Clarke.
Here is a detailed analysis of how each Sheffield Wednesday player fared during the match at Portman Road:
- Pierce Charles (Rating: 8) – Displayed strong goalkeeping skills, making crucial saves throughout the game to keep his team in contention, despite eventually conceding three goals.
- Dominic Iorfa (Rating: 4) – Found it difficult to contain Ipswich’s attacking threats and was forced off the field in the second half due to a head injury.
- Liam Cooper (Rating: 6) – Showed versatility by scoring his first goal for Wednesday and putting in a solid defensive effort to help his team stay in the game.
- Max Lowe (Rating: 5) – Contributed to ball progression from the back but had to be substituted after 66 minutes due to an injury concern, limiting his impact on the game.
- Liam Palmer (Rating: 4) – Faced a tough task of dealing with Ipswich’s dangerous attackers and made defensive errors that proved costly for Sheffield Wednesday.
- Svante Ingelsson (Rating: 6) – Demonstrated defensive diligence in midfield and tried to spark attacking opportunities whenever possible, showcasing his work rate on both ends of the pitch.
- Barry Bannan (Rating: 6) – Orchestrated the midfield play for Sheffield Wednesday, showcasing his playmaking abilities and creating chances for his teammates, including the assist for Cooper’s goal.
- Harry Amass (Rating: 6) – Showed composure and defensive prowess as he dealt with Ipswich’s threats, making crucial tackles and interceptions to disrupt their attacks.
- Jamal Lowe (Rating: 5) – Provided a spark of pace and energy for Sheffield Wednesday’s counterattacks, but struggled to convert chances into goals as the game progressed.
- Charlie McNeill (Rating: 5) – Displayed effort and determination in a challenging match where attacking opportunities were limited, showing glimpses of his attacking capabilities despite the team’s overall struggles.
- Bailey Cadamarteri (Rating: 5) – Missed a clear chance early in the game and faced difficulties in breaking through Ipswich’s defense, highlighting the team’s offensive struggles on the day.
Substitutes:
- Gabriel Otegbayo (Rating: 3) – Introduced in the second half but struggled to cope with Ipswich’s attacking threats, leading to defensive lapses that allowed the opposition to score.
- George Brown (Rating: 5) – Substituted in to provide physicality and energy in the attacking third, adding a different dimension to Sheffield Wednesday’s frontline in the latter stages of the match.
- Jarvis Thornton, 15. Reece Johnson, and 16. Ike Ugbo (Not rated) – Introduced late in the game with limited time to make a significant impact on the match, as the outcome was already decided.
Despite the disappointing result, Sheffield Wednesday will look to regroup and address their shortcomings as they prepare for upcoming fixtures in the Championship. The team will aim to bounce back stronger and improve their form to climb the league standings in the remaining matches of the season.
