Sheffield Wednesday: Richard Wright backs Jim Magilton

Ipswich keeper Richard Wright dived to the defence of his under-fire manager Jim Magilton.

The Suffolk side's promotion hopes took another knock with this draw leaving them eight points off the play-offs.

Crowd frustration continues to build at Portman Road, but Wright said of Magilton: "I'm a thousand per cent behind him."

Wright, whose exteam-mate is now in his third season in charge, insists that a change at the helm is not needed for the club to go on a major run.

He said: "Our manager is here and he is staying here. This club has gone on runs in previous years to get into the play-offs and can do so again."

"Jim brought me back here last summer and I believe in the man. We went behind in this match but showed great character to come back and could have won it."

Owls manager Brian Laws' decision to play experienced central midfield man Steve Watson on the right proved a good one.

Laws explained he did it so that there would not be so much twisting and turning for a player with a hip problem.

"I wanted him to run in straight lines," explained Laws.

Versatile 34-year-old Watson certainly ran in a straight line in the 52nd minute, to head home a Jermaine Johnson cross.

Striker Pablo Counago rescued a point for the home side in the 66th minute.

Owls keeper Lee Grant brilliantly stopped a header from Gareth McAuley, only for Counago to nod home the rebound.

Magilton, who has spent a £12million transfer budget in the last year, said: "In the final third our quality wasn't there."

Laws said: "Considering we have 10 players injured this was a good result. We have to turn the draws into wins."

Dave Allard (Mirror.co.uk)