Sindre Walle Egeli (left) was hooked at the break. (Image: Ross Halls)

ANOTHER FLAT START

Ipswich burst out the blocks against Swansea a fortnight ago. Since then, however, against Hull, Leicester, Stoke and now Sheffield Wednesday, they’ve failed to score in four successive underwhelming first half displays.

On and off the ball, Town lacked intensity. Darnell Furlong took too long over throw-ins. When George Hirst pressed he was left annoyed at team-mates not following his lead. Sindre Walle Egeli, hooked at the break, frustratingly kept checking inside rather than driving at his marker. Too often, a touch, pass, shot or decision in the final third wasn’t good enough from the boys in blue.

That frustration continued after the break. Dara O’Shea being flagged offside when a deep free-kick entered the box rather summed things up. This felt more like a pre-season friendly than an end of season Championship match.

Did Kieran McKenna’s men think they could stroll to victory against a crisis club who’ve only scored 10 goals at home this season and claimed just one point in 2026? I actually think it may have been more a case of a busy run of games – this the seventh in 22 days – catching up physically and mentally.

Ivan Azon gave Ipswich the lead three minutes after missing a big chance. (Image: Ross Halls)

AZON’S CHARACTER

As is so often the case, substitutes provided Ipswich the lift they needed.

Two almost combined to break the deadlock in the 75th minute. Jack Taylor’s through ball was precise, Ivan Azon did the hard part by taking in his stride only to stab wide as the keeper advanced.

Credit to the Spaniard for his reaction. Instead of letting his head drop, the front man produced smart movement to get across his man and finish Ben Johnson’s teasing cross just three minutes later. That’s the sign of a good striker. He’s now on five goals for the season.

Goals from subs: 17. Goal involvements from subs: 24. Town lead both of those stats across the whole of the Premier League and EFL.

Maintaining focus at the other end, to keep a 14th clean sheet of the campaign, also deserves credit given how poor the goals against had been in midweek at Stoke. It was that which provided the platform for a sub to strike.

Jack Clarke won and converted the late penalty that sealed victory. (Image: Ross Halls)

A PENALTY AWARD!

There’s been a lot of penalty talk over the last week or so. Cedric Kipre was denied a stonewaller in the dying moments of the 1-1 home draw with Leicester. Stoke were then awarded a very soft one to deny Ipswich victory at Stoke.

The Blues sealed this win courtesy of their seventh spot-kick of the season (three more than anyone else in the division has been awarded). Was Jack Clarke inside the box? Just. Did he exaggerate a fall over the outstretched leg of Sean Fusire? Undoubtedly.

A soft-ish penalty that didn’t change the result. Ipswich will feel they are due more decisions to go their way over the final nine games before they can subscribe to the notion that things even themselves out over the course of a campaign.

Azor Matusiwa’s disciplinary tightrope walk is over. (Image: Ross Halls)

TRIO AVOID BANS

Sheffield Wednesday came into this game having come within seconds of beating Watford at Hillsborough. McKenna decided he could take nothing for granted and started all three of the players that were walking a disciplinary tightrope.

Thankfully, Azor Matusiwa, Darnell Furlong and Anis Mehmeti all reached the end of match 37 without picking up their 10th league booking of the campaign. The slate is now wiped clean. Matusiwa, remarkably, managed to get through 17 league games on nine.

It’s a major bonus that no-one else will join Leif Davis and Cedric Kipre in being suspended for next Saturday’s crunch home clash with Millwall.

Jaden Philogene made his return from injury. (Image: Ross Halls)

ONE OUT, ONE BACK

It was a surprise to see Wes Burns start two games in four days earlier in the week given he’s not long removed from nearly a year out. Called upon from the bench at half-time in this one, his straight line speed required, he lasted less than half an hour before hobbling off with a calf issue. Hopefully that’s nothing serious because, without question, he is Ipswich’s most effective right winger at present.

On a more positive note, Jaden Philogene was the man to replace him. It was the tricky winger’s first appearance since he suffered an MCL knee injury in the 3-0 home win against Blackburn back on January 17. His X-factor ability could make all the difference for the run-in.

Ipswich are back up to third in the Championship table. (Image: Ross Halls)

RIVALS SLIP

Job done. That’s about all you can say about this win. Following an emotionally draining and frustrating few days, the pressure was on. And Ipswich found a way.

It was made all the more sweeter by all three of the automatic promotion rivals dropping points on home soil.

In the early kick-offs, Coventry lost 2-1 to Southampton, while Middlesbrough conceded a 96th minute equaliser to draw 1-1 with Bristol City. Millwall then let a lead slip to lose 2-1 to Blackburn.

Ipswich have jumped back above Millwall into third ahead of the two sides clashing at Portman Road on Saturday. The gap to second-place Boro has been cut to two points, while leaders Coventry are now nine ahead. Town have a game in hand on all of them to come.

That’s the beauty of the Championship. The one thing predictable about it is its unpredictability.