MOORE SALUTES DOGGED OWLS

DARREN Moore felt his side ran out deserved wins as Sheffield Wednesday made it nine games unbeaten at Hillsborough after a narrow victory over Ipswich.

In blustery conditions, Wednesday went ahead after just six minutes when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing picked out Marvin Johnson at the back post and he volleyed home superbly past Town keeper Christian Walton.

Wednesday failed to extend their lead and missed several second-half chances through Barry Bannan, Johnson and Mendez-Laing, but held on for all three points.

Owls boss Moore said: “I don’t really remember them getting any clear-cut chances.

“It was a hardfought three points against good opposition. I thought once we got the goal, we never lost the impetus and were always threatening.

“When they got in and around our 18-yard box we defended really well, we were solid and resolute.

“The goal came early so even though we broke forward to get the second goal, the concentration levels have still got to be spot on.

“They want spaces to work into and I thought we nullified that. They worked hard today, the boys.

“I could hear the messages on the pitch in the latter parts in the game. I could hear voices saying ‘clean sheet mentality’ which is what you want.”

Following Sheffield’s opener, the visitors nearly grabbed a goal against the run of play when Bersant Celina failed to convert after a superb run.

Wednesday should have doubled their advantage six minutes before the break when Florian Kamberi laid off to Mendez-Laing, who fired narrowly wide.

Ipswich grew into the second half, but the home side continued to miss chances. Walton’s save was enough to stop Bannan’s goal-bound effort from going in, shortly after Johnson dragged an attempt wide of the far post.

Wednesday withstood some late Ipswich pressure and were rewarded by leapfrogging them into eighth place.

Despite defeat, Town boss Kieran McKenna, who suffered just his second defeat after six games in charge, was relatively pleased with the way his side played at a challenging stadium to visit.

He said: “I thought there were some positive aspects of the performance. We wanted to come here and impose our football on the game and I thought we did that.

“We started the first seven or eight minutes really well and we barely allowed them a kick. Then the first time they got near our box it was a really good cross and they scored from it. That changes the complexion of the game.

“We said from the start that we were a long way off, so we’re not going to obsess over results. We’re going to be obsessed with trying to get better performances.”