Ipswich v Sheffield Wednesday: Oppose overrated Owls

Ipswich v Sheffield Wednesday
Wednesday November 22, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports

Ipswich's underdog spirit
Jordan Spence's last-gasp leveller rescued Ipswich a 2-2 draw at Hull on Saturday. It was the 10th point gained from a losing position this season - more than any team in the Football League and marked the ninth goal Town have scored in the 88th minute or later in games this term.

Boss Mick McCarthy commended his charges for their togetherness, underdog spirit and never-say-die attitude as Blues moved to within a point of the play-off positions and 12 points clear of the dreaded Championship drop zone.

Tommy Smith is now back available following his return from international duty with New Zealand whilst Emyr Huws is back in contention for a start. However, Andre Dozzell, Luke Hyam and Teddy Bishop all remain sidelined through injury.

Sheffield Wednesday's pedestrian Saturday showing
Sheffield Wednesday failed to muster a single shot on-target in a drab, tactical battle against Bristol City on Saturday. The Owls were alarmingly lethargic and pedestrian in possession despite arriving off the back of a two-week break.

Head coach Carlos Carvalhal will be hoping for a more inspired attacking performance here, as well as more support from the officials. Wednesday were denied two clear penalty shouts with the Portuguese chief suggesting poor decisions have cost his side a "minimum of seven points" this season.

Midfielder Kieran Lee made his return from injury against Bristol City, coming off the bench to replace Jacob Butterfield, and may start here. Elsewhere, Ross Wallace has recovered from flu symptoms whilst George Boyd, Sam Hutchinson and Fernando Forestieri remain long-term absentees.

Owls overrated in the Match Odds market
Ipswich 3.00 have lost only two of their past 16 (W7-D7-L2) league encounters against Sheffield Wednesday and arrive at Wednesday night's match having collected seven points from a possible 12 (W2-D1-L1) over the past month.

The Tractor Boyes have actually picked up all 25 of their points against sides currently in the bottom-half (W8-D1-L2) with their five fixtures against top-half teams all ending in defeat. And at Portman Road, Town have returned only W2-D5-L6 when hosting top-half opposition.

Sheffield Wednesday 2.54 are unbeaten in their most recent four fixtures (W2-D2-L0) but have managed only two triumphs in eight (W2-D2-L4) games as guests thus far, only once scoring more than a solitary strike on their travels.

The Owls appear a touch overrated in the pre-match markets and so it may pay to support Ipswich in the Draw No Bet market at an inflated 2.14 price.

Long-term trends oppose goals
Seven of Ipswich's past nine Championship dates have delivered in the Over 2.5 Goals 2.00 market but longer-term trends point towards a low-scoring contest in Suffolk this midweek.

Six of Sheffield Wednesday's eight away matches have paid out for Under 2.5 Goals 1.91 punters, as have 22/31 (71%) of their road trips since the start of last season. With 19/31 (61%) of Ipswich's home outings producing fewer than three strikes across the same sample, opposing goals appeals.


Recommended Bets
Back Ipswich draw no bet @ 2.14 in Ipswich v Sheffield Wednesday 
Back Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.91 in Ipswich v Sheffield Wednesday