Well on Trac
BROADHEAD & CO KEEPING PROMOTION PUSH TICKING ALONG WITH HAMMERING
KIERAN MCKENNA hailed silky speedster Omari Hutchinson for helping propel Ipswich back into the automatic promotion slots.
Town leapfrogged Leeds – who play today – to move a point behind leaders Leicester, who are on FA Cup duty this weekend.
Chelsea loanee Hutchinson scored twice in a super display, with sub Ali Al-hamadi also bagging a brace of tap-ins following goals from Cameron Burgess and Nathan Broadhead.
Hutchinson, 20, was deployed in the No.10 role in place of the injured Conor Chaplin – and tormented the relegationhaunted Owls from the off.
Manager Mckenna said: “Omari was excellent. He continued the trajectory and the growth in his performances that he has made throughout the season.
“He played a slightly different role and there is lots for him still to learn in that position but he really showed his quality.”
Hutchinson swivelled to fire
Ipswich ahead in the 15th minute thanks to a swift passing move that allowed Wes Burns to pull the ball back from the right of the box.
Hutchinson’s first touch took him away from goal but he recovered to fire a low leftfooted effort into the corner.
Burgess (below) doubled the lead in the 37th minute following a scramble from a Leif Davis corner. Kieffer Moore saw his header bounce back off the bar and Burgess smacked in from close range after the ball bounced off a cluster of Owls players and Town defender Axel Tuanzebe.
Worse was to come for the hapless Owls when Broadhead made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time.
The Wales forward sprinted in to divert a cross from sub Kayden Jackson past keeper James Beadle. Wednesday boss Danny Rohl made two changes at the break but his side were four behind by the 48th minute.
Hutchinson drilled home a superb passing move that began inside the Ipswich half on the left and was capped by Broadhead’s defence-splitting pass.
Goal No.5 10 minutes from time was a disappointment for teenage keeper Beadle, who allowed Jeremy Sarmiento’s long-ranger to slip out of his gloves and gift Al-hamadi a tap-in – and Hutchinson presented the substitute with another in stoppage-time.
Wednesday remain second bottom but despite a denting to their goal difference they are still within a win’s distance of five relegation rivals.
Manager Rohl said: “We have a big opportunity to achieve our goals. Now it is about keeping going.”
IPSWICH: Hladky 7; Tuanzebe 7, Woolfenden 7, Burgess 8, Davis 8; Morsy 7 (Taylor 85), Luongo 8 (Travis 85); Burns 6 (Jackson 38, 6), Hutchinson 9, Broadhead 8 (Sarmiento 72, 5); Moore 7 (Al-hamadi 72, 6). SHEFIELD WEDNESDAY: Beadle 5; Iorfa 5 (Famewo 78), Ihiekwe 5, Bernard 5, Johnson 5; Vaulks 5, Bannan 6 (Diaby 46, 4); Poveda 7 (Wilks 53, 4), Musaba 5, Gassama 4 (Valentin 46, 4); Ugbo 5 (Smith 65, 3). STAR MAN: Omari Hutchinson. The Chelsea loanee looks a real prospect. REF: Leigh Doughty 6