Marcus Tudgay scored his sixth goal in five games as Sheffield Wednesday celebrated Brian Laws' first game in charge of the Coca-Cola Championship club with a 2-0 win against Ipswich at Portman Road.

The Owls got off to the perfect start when Tudgay finished off a splendid Owls counter-attack before Madjid Bougherra sealed the points with a second-half header.

Laws kept true to his word that he would not look to tinker much with the Owls' starting line-up, with his only change seeing veteran goalkeeper Mark Crossley come in for his first appearance at the club since his loan move from Fulham.

Tudgay began the move which led to the opening goal when he cleared Matthew Richards' centre, sparking an incisive break down the field which culminated in pacy winger Wade Small sending in a pinpoint pass that Tudgay steered home left-footed from six yards.

Town were struggling to hold onto any meaningful possession and they were further disadvantaged when Danny Haynes was forced off with an injury after 23 minutes and replaced by on-loan Crystal Palace striker Jon Macken.

Town should have drawn level on the half-hour when Richards made space in the penalty area before unselfishly feeding a pass to Alan Lee, who only needed to get a meaningful touch on the ball but instead fluffed his attempt wide from six yards.

Richards then missed a gilt-edged chance of his own five minutes later when a neat interchange of passes between Lee and Gary Roberts set him free - but he blasted his shot high over the bar with the goal gaping.

After the break Town looked keen to string some passes together and they were almost rewarded for their patience when Lee headed a ball to Macken who, with his back to goal, turned swiftly before shooting into the side-netting.

Jason De Vos got on the end of a teasing cross from Darren Currie, heading an effort that the 37-year-old Crossley needed two touches at before defusing the danger.

Town were beginning to dominate the play but their lack of cohesion in front of goal was frustrating their attempts to draw level with Macken heading an effort wide when Lee was better placed to score.

And they were made to pay for their profligacy when central defender Bougherra scored his first goal for the Owls in the 80th minute.

Kenny Lunt sent in a dangerous cross that Bougherra planted into the back of the net with a powerful header after the Town defence failed to track his run.

The visitors should have scored a third a minute later when Deon Burton lost his marker but he shot wide with just Supple to beat.

Town began to throw caution to the wind and were only denied a consolation goal when Lee Bullen cleared off the line with substitute Richard Naylor lurking.

The Owls' win ended their run of four consecutive defeats against Ipswich and represented their first away success since mid-August.

Sporting Life