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Owls heading in right direction - MATCH REPORT AND SLIDESHOW
MID-table teams have ups and downs - that's why they're in mid-table - and Saturday's game was a fair reflection of Wednesday's and Ipswich's season so far.
Each side deserved a point, each side could have won and each side's play was a bit of a mixture.
But to stand back and look at the broader picture brings the view that the Owls could be on the rise. Even with another injury-hit side, they produced an overall performance of some substance and earned for themselves a pleasing point to cap a week of dramatic, rapid progress off the field.
The spirit and endeavour of the players were spot-on, and they deserve a pat on the back.
Amid all the changes of the last couple of weeks under the revolution brought about by new chairman Lee Strafford, it may have been easy to forget that ultimately it's what happens on the pitch that counts most.
The new order and a new player - Michael Gray - have given the club a big shot in the arm. Manager Brian Laws thinks that the uplifted mood around the place has rubbed off on the players.
It's not the first time, however, that Steve Watson has come back into the side and made a significant impact in midfield.
He keeps on shrugging off injury niggles and bouncing back to show his undoubted quality and experience.
Watson, the club captain, and Richard Wood, the team captain, led by example, the former with his all-round capability and a well-taken goal, the latter with rugged defending.
It was a just a pity that Wednesday could not add to Watson's third goal of the season, which was a well-taken header after he cleverly lost his marker to get on the end a great ball from Jermaine Johnson.
Laws had sprung a bit of a surprise by fielding his club skipper on the right side of midfield, rather than in the centre, where Luke Boden got the role vacated by the suspended James O'Connor, and with Wade Small ruled out by yet another hamstring problem.
The Owls manager explained that Watson's position was all to do with his problem hip.
"In central midfield there's a lot of twisting and turning to be done and it might have caused him a problem, so I put him wide right," he said.
"He's jumped off the treatment table, trained one day and played. He'll be back on the treatment table and will probably do the the same next week.
"Steve, when he's on the pitch, is a good player; it's just getting him on the pitch on a regular basis ...
"We've tried to get the best out of him and manage him as best we can. He's a great character, a great lad in the dressing room. He showed in this game what he's worth."
Michael Gray's debut on the left side of midfield was worthy of comment too.
There were signs of his top-flight pedigree in the way he moved and passed; he's 34 but looks quick and sharp - a very promising signing, on this display.
Laws said: "He did very well. He's experienced; he's excellent in the dressing room; he's just what we needed; he can play in a couple of different positions.
"He showed his calmness on the ball. He can slow it down or quicken things up."
That wasn't the whole story.
Laws switched Gray to the right and Watson to the left during the second half.
"You don't want a team that's too stiff. You need to be flexible and allow players to express themselves, be it on the left or right. That's something I try to impress upon on players," he said.
One of the versatile ones is Johnson, playing up front again, because Marcus Tudgay and Leon Clarke were still out.
The inconsistency of mid-table was personified by the makeshift striker.
His cross for the goal was first-class, delivered with his left foot from way out on the left wing.But he could have helped Wednesday to increase their lead soon afterwards.
Firstly, on a breakaway, he tried to a carve a way through the middle and lost possession when Gray was unmarked to his right, just needing a simple pass.
Secondly, Johnson went too early and got caught offside when Gray played the ball through, after a fine long pass by Watson began the move.
The club skipper also went close with a first-half shot past a post and (a better chance) an effort he knocked over the bar after fine assists from Francis Jeffers and Gray respectively.
That first goal of the season still would not come for Jeffers, though the only opportunity he had was an awkward one well outside the near post after a good ball in from the left by Johnson.
Ipswich too had their moments and a sprinkling of opportunities over 90 fairly evenly-fought minutes.There were chances for Jon Walters, Gareth McAuley and sub Jon Stead. Fast right-winger Danny Haynes was a handful for Tommy Spurr early in the game and later forced a full-stretch save from Lee Grant.
The equaliser came after Wednesday allowed centre-back McAuley a free header from a corner for the second time in the match.
Grant made a brilliant one-handed block and was unlucky when the ball rebounded to the head of Pablo Counago.
Wednesday were mostly solid in their defending, however.
Their overall display, with a below-strength side, and a second draw of the season with Ipswich, reflected the way they have made strides since losing twice to Jim Magilton's side in 2007-08.
MANAGER'S VIEW
"I said to the players after the game I thought we deserved a draw, but the secondary thing is a tinge of disappointment that we didn't get all three points.
"Goals change games. The second one was always going to be the most important.
"We've gone in front and then had magnificent opportunities, really Jermaine Johnson failed in both incidents; they were wrong decisions he made.
"We had probably the simplest opportunities.
"I'm happy with a point, in the circumstances.
" Last season when we came here we got a good thumping. This was a much better performance. Our back four and the keeper were excellent."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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