Ipswich Town showed great character as they battled back from two goals down to draw with Sheffield Wednesday this afternoon.
In front of a packed Portman Road, it looked as though the Blues were going to fall flat on such a big occasion, as goals from Michael Smith and George Byers put the visitors 2-0 up after Conor Chaplin had seen an early penalty saved by Wednesday keeper Cameron Dawson.
But, just before half-time, Nathan Broadhead fired home a brilliant free-kick which changed the mood dramatically before Leif Davis did the same five minutes into the second period, bringing the Blues level and raising the roof at Portman Road.
Despite long spells of pressure Ipswich weren’t able to find a winner as these two sides shared four goals for the second time this season.
The result sees Town remain third, now eight points behind new leaders Plymouth Argyle but still six behind Wednesday, who hold a game in hand. Bolton’s thumping victory at Peterborough this afternoon moves Ian Evatt’s side level with Town, having played a game more.
McKenna made four changes to the side which drew at Cambridge in the Blues’ previous League One game.
Christian Walton started in goal, with a back four of Harry Clarke, Luke Woolfenden, Cameron Burgess and Leif Davis lining up behind Sam Morsy and Cameron Humphreys.
Wes Burns, Chaplin and Nathan Broadhead are the attacking three behind striker George Hirst.
A huge roar greeted the two teams as they emerged into the Portman Road air, before the packed house paused to think of the thousands of people impacted by the natural disaster which has devastated parts of Turkey and Syria this week.
Both sides got the ball under control during the opening exchanges before Chaplin had the game’s first opening, with the Town attacker pressured into popping a shot up into the hands of Cameron Dawson, before Michael Smith had the first shot in anger for the visitors as he lashed over the top of the bar.
The Blues were beginning to pressure their visitors by winning set-pieces and, as a short corner was taken by Morsy, Burns hit the deck inside the penalty area clutching his face. A two-minute conference between referee and assistant resulted in a penalty.
Portman Road hushed as Chaplin stood over the ball, before Town’s No.10 saw his spot kick saved by the trailing leg of Cameron Dawson, whose name was soon being sung from the packed away end housing 2,000 Wednesday fans.
And they were cheering again soon after as Wednesday caught Town cold with a quick free-kick down the left which allowed Josh Windass to deliver a perfect cross and Smith arrow home an even better header as he found the top corner and gave Walton no chance.
The big striker celebrated provocatively right in front of the North Stand, with his side soon two up after Barry Bannan’s lob into the box wasn’t dealt with well enough by Burgess or Davis, allowing the deep run of Byers to end with the midfielder lashing home.
Town were all over the place, lacking shape and confidence and should really have been three down when a complete lapse in concentration from Woolfenden let Smith in behind. Thankfully the striker’s touch took him wide as he stepped round Walton and the chance was eventually gone.
Just when it looked as though all was lost, Broadhead came up with a stunning free-kick to cut the deficit to only one heading into the break, changing the mood drastically as the sides returned to the dressing rooms.
The players returned knowing the opening exchanges of the second half could set the tone for the rest of the afternoon and Ipswich played their part, getting on the front foot early and earning their reward when a free-kick whipped towards goal by Davis flicked off of Byers’ head and deceived Dawson as it flew into the back of the net.
Portman Road erupted ahead of a period of prolonged home pressure which built belief that the Blues could go on and win this game, with Wednesday needing to repel danger inside their box.
McKenna went to his bench to introduce Freddie Ladapo and Marcus Harness in place of Hirst and Chaplin, before the hosts breathed a huge sigh of relief as a completely unmarked Aden Flint thankfully lashed the ball over the top of the crossbar from inside the box.
As both sides made changes the energy drifted out of the game, with the two teams ultimately sharing four goals and the points for the second time this season.
Ipswich Town: Walton; Clarke, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis (Leigh, 86); Morsy, Humphreys; Burns (Jackson, 80), Chaplin (Harness, 68), Broadhead (Aluko, 80); Hirst (Ladapo, 68)
Subs: Hladky, Donacien, Leigh
Sheffield Wednesday: Dawson; Palmer, Iorfa Flint, Famewo, Jounson, Vaulks, Byers, Bannan (Adeniran, 88), Windass (Dele-Bashiru, 74), Smith
Subs: Stockdale, Brown, Fusire, Bakinson, Shipston
Att: 29,072 (2,148 Wednesday fans)
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