Sheffield Wednesday 1 Ipswich Town 1: Lita earns Wednesday point and gains Jones praise over work-rate

Leroy Lita smashed in his fifth Wednesday goal early in the second period to cancel out Jay Tabb’s fortuitous 12th-minute opener at Hillsborough as Jones’s men moved four points clear of the bottom three.

Midfielder Tabb converted Carlos Edwards’s long throw with his thigh to register his first goal since October 2008 before on-loan Swansea striker Lita collected right-back Lewis Buxton’s right-wing cross at the back post in the 58th minute to powerfully beat Town goalkeeper Scott Loach with a right-footed drive.

Lita again had the ball in the back of the net with 12 minutes remaining but was denied by an offside flag.

At the other end, Ipswich striker Frank Nouble went close with a hooked effort which was cleared off the line by Wednesday left-back Danny Pugh.

Jones said: “We didn’t really get going in the first half. The second half we were probably the better team. I don’t know whether it’s offside (Lita’s disallowed goal), it doesn’t look it but some you get, some you don’t and if you’re not going to win the game then you certainly don’t lose it at this stage.

“It was a hard-earned point and, probably overall, a fair result because we’ve cleared one off the line and we’ve had one that’s a hairline whether it is or it isn’t.

“And I’m pleased for the players because that’s two very hard games in a few days and I thought we looked a bit leggy, particularly in the first half.

“But we battled on, we got the goal, and we did deserve something from the game.”

The Owls made the unusual decision to make two substitutions within the first 28 minutes, winger Jermaine Johnson and Kieran Lee withdrawn. Striker Steve Howard came on for Lee in a tactical switch, which pleased Jones.

“It was tactical,” he admitted. “I felt we needed a focal point up front and that’s why I put Stevie Howard on up there. I thought he was superb. He won all his headers and by the end, their defence couldn’t deal with him. Chris Maguire (who replaced Johnson who had a hamstring injury) came on and he did really well too. It shows the value of having that depth in your squad.”

USA international Stuart Holden has been recalled from his loan spell at Hillsborough by Bolton Wanderers as they chase a play-off spot in the Championship. Jones added: “Bolton are in a play-off spot, they have one or two injuries, and they want him back. He’s got better and stronger as his loan has gone on and I would like to thank him for his services and wish him the very best for the future.”

Sheffield Wednesday: Kirkland, Buxton, Gardner, Llera, Pugh, Lee (Howard 25), Olofinjana, Coke, Jermaine Johnson (Maguire 28), Helan, Lita. Unused substitutes: Bywater, Taylor, Mattock, McCabe, Prutton.

Ipswich: Loach, Stearman (Kisnorbo 68), Chambers, Smith, Cresswell, Edwards, N’Daw, Hyam, Tabb (Wordsworth 82), Murphy (Emmanuel-Thomas 80), Nouble. Unused substitutes: Lee-Barrett, Hewitt, Chopra, Drury.

Referee: G Eltringham (Tyne & Wear).