Lucas Joao has been with Sheffield Wednesday since the summer of 2015
Substitute Lucas Joao gave Steve Bruce a winning start as Sheffield Wednesday manager with a late goal against Ipswich Town.
Adam Reach cut the ball back to leave the striker an easy tap-in and he made no mistake to inflict the home side's third successive Championship defeat.
The Owls carried the greater attacking threat for much of the game, but wasted chances with Reach somehow clearing the bar from six yards before the break and Fernando Forestieri failing to beat goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski when one on one in the second half.
Ipswich did not produce their first effort on target until the 83rd minute, when sub Trevor Chalobah's header from a corner was saved well by Keiren Westwood.
The defeat left Paul Lambert's side, who were without centre-backs Luke Chambers and James Collins, still five points adrift at the foot of the table, and eight from safety, while Wednesday climbed a place to 18th.
Bruce decided against a major shake-up of the Wednesday matchday squad, with Rolando Aarons the only one of their three deadline day signings included - and he was only sent on for the final few minutes.
Steven Fletcher and Forestieri were Bruce's preferred combination up front, but it was Joao, who scored both goals in Wednesday's 2-1 home win over Ipswich earlier in the season, who made the difference.
He slotted home his ninth of the season as they won away for only the second time in nine games, and completed a seasonal double over Ipswich for the first time since 2006-07.
Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert told BBC Radio Suffolk:
"First half, I don't think we were anything near at it. Second half was more like it, we forced the issue more.
"But, the goal was a really poor one to concede and Myles Kenlock got caught out. It was a poor goal to lose to.
"We have to try and force the issue in games and take the risk with the position we're in. I'd rather go for it than sit and wait in games.
"We have to keep persevering with it and keep going, but that was a blow to lose a game like that in the end.
"You take your medicine at certain times, but that was poor and the first half wasn't good enough."
Steve Bruce was appointed on 2 January, but Wednesday agreed to delay his arrival until the start of February
Sheffield Wednesday boss Steve Bruce told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"It should've been a lot more comfortable than 1-0 to be brutally honest. We missed some really good chances which on another day could've gone against us.
"But overall I'm pleased. We were comfortable apart from our finishing.
"There's still a lot to do, let's not get carried away. But, defensively it was good to see and I have to thank the lads who've put in a lot of work on the training pitch to make that happen.
"You've got to make sure you give yourselves a platform and today there were glimpses that that can be more than just in defence."
- Published31 January 2019
