Match Report: Wednesday 0-1 Ipswich Town
By Nicholas Rigg
December 17 2005
Nicky Forster scored a late winner for Ipswich as Wednesday were again made to rue missed chances. The Owls are now 5 games without a goal and without a win, and have dropped in to the relegation zone going in to the tough christmas fixture list.

 Wednesday 0-1 Ipswich

Date:  Saturday 17th December

Venue: Hillsborough, Sheffield

Wednesday conceded a second late goal in a week to condemn them to their fourth straight league defeat - and push them into the relegation zone before the tough christmas fixture list.

Nicky Forster's 87th minute strike was enough for Ipswich after Wednesday were guilty of missing glorious chances in front of goal. Lee Peacock and Daryl Murphy the main culprits this time.

Paul Sturrock stuck with the same side that lost 1-0 at Hull last weekend with Lee Peacock retaining his place on the right side of a three-man attack.

Jim Magilton returned to Hillsborough to make his 300th appearance in an Ipswich shirt.

Both teams were struggling for form going in to the game and it showed in the opening quarted of the game. Neither team grabbed hold of possession and caused any major threat to the oppositions goal.

A Gavin Williams cross-come shot was the closest the visitors came.

Wednesdays first half-chance came in the 7th minute when Glenn Whelen put David Graham through on goal. Graham was surrounded by two Ipswich players though and turned to find Murphy free at the edge of the box, who's team effort was saved easily by Jason price in the Town goal.

The best chance of the game came on 16 minutes when confusion in the Ipswich defence lead to Murphy again being put through on goal. The on-loan Sunderland man rounded the goalkeeper and just had to slot the ball home but he scuffed his effort and saw it cleared from an open goal.

At the other end Ipswich were still pressing the Wednesday defence and it was Williams who again had a low shot saved well by Weaver.

There were no real opportunities by either team and long range efforts by Steve Adams and Glenn Whelen were causing no threat to the Ipswich goal.

Paul Sturrock was forced to change his hand before half-time with David Graham coming off with an injury. Chris Brunt came on to replace the former Wigan man.

Joe Royle made one change at the break with Darren Currie coming on for Daniel Haynes.

Magilton was organising the Ipswich team in his 300th appearance and it was his cross in the 57th minute which found the head of Dean Bowditch only to see his header go wide of Nicky Weavers goal.

Ipswich made two changes in the 65th minute with Ian Westlake and Matt Richards coming on for Dean Bowdtich and Jim Magilton.

Paul Sturrock also mad his second change of the game by bringing the impressive Steve Adams off for the on-loan Chris Eagles.

On the 68th minute the home stands thought Wednesday had taken the lead from a Chris Brunt corner. The corner found the head of Graham Coughlan who's header appeared to go over the line, but the referee played down the appeals of fans and players alike.

The attempt seemed to lift Wednesday as they drove forwad in front of that vital goal. Peter Gilbert's cross again found the head of Daryl Murphy but he couldn't direct his header goalwards.

Sturrock made his final change in the 76th minute when Barry Corr came on to replace Lee Peacock.

The changes came to no effect though, as Nicky Forster slotted home in the 87th minute to give the visitors a 1-0 victory. Jason De Vos looked to be offside but Williams' pass found the feet of the ex-Reading hitman to give Ipswich the win.

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WW Man Of The Match:  Graham Coughlan

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Wednesday:

Weaver, Coughlan, Wood, Simek, Gilbert, Whelan, O'Brien, Peacock (Corr 75), Adams (Eagles 67), Murphy, Graham (Brunt 40).
Subs Not Used: Lee, Hills.

Ipswich Town:

Price, Wilnis, De Vos, Naylor, Sito, Magilton (Westlake 65), Juan, Forster, Bowditch (Richards 64), Haynes (Currie 45), Williams.
Subs Not Used: Garvan, Supple.

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Paul Sturrock said:

''I wanred everyone at the start of the season that it would be a dog fight and that's exactly what it is. I feel bad for the fans because they're fantastic and don't deserve it. We need them to continue to support us or things won't get any better.''

''It's going to be muck and mire right until the end of the season.''

''I think we just shaded the game but again finishing let us down.''

''It's a strange situation that I'm in at the moment because I've never had the experience of losing more than two matches on the bounce on many occassions.''

''The fans need to get behind the team because it's going to be the same team that tries and gets us the goals in our next match. We just need that one goal and I'm sure the rest will follow.''

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Attendance:  21,716

Referee:   I Williamson (6/10)

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