The Brian Laws era started in perfect fashion as Wednesday showed both attacking quality and defensive resilience to give the new boss a winning start at Portman Road.
Laws saw Marcus Tudgay and Madjid Bougherra hit the target either side of the break to lift the Owls above Ipswich in the Championship table and give Wednesday a points tally of 13 from their last five outings.
Tudgay produced a sharp early finish to set SWFC on their way - his sixth goal in five matches - and Bougherra netted his first for the club in the late stages to get Laws off to a winning start as gaffer.
The Owls announced their intentions from the off as Tudgay forced Shane Supple to save a left-footed shot from a Deon Burton lay-off, before Chris Brunt swung over two dangerous deliveries with the latter missed by everyone in a crowded box after the first was headed clear by Jason De Vos.
With 11 minutes played, Tudgay maintained his recent hot streak but it was a superb break that gave Wednesday the lead. When an Ipswich attack broke down, Burton carried the ball way into the home half before sliding it into the path of Wade Small on his right. The wideman produced a low centre for Tudgay to sidefoot firmly in at the near post.
Bougherra lashed over the top after Kenny Lunt's low free-kick found its way to him when Tudgay miscued. But Town had started to pose more of an attacking threat and Lee Bullen had to make a great interception to clear Alan Lee's centre before the ex-Rotherham frontman spurned a great opportunity just past the half-hour when he somehow sidefooted Matt Richards' pass wide from six yards. Lee displayed his powerful running with a right-wing surge and resultant cross which John Hills managed to hook over his own bar.
With Ipswich starting to look increasingly dangerous, Richards left the home fans cursing his wild blast over from the corner of the six-yard box from Gary Roberts' pullback. Tudgay was off target with a 30-yarder before the half-time whistle saw Wednesday return to the dressing room with the advantage.
Brunt had a bobbling right-foot attempt comfortably saved soon after the resumption while Jon Macken drove into Mark Crossley's sidenetting. With the home crowd beginning to vent their frustration at the officials, the Owls caused Ipswich to panic when Brunt floated over a left-flank cross which was aimed at Small but dropped just wide of the far post.
Tudgay had an overhead effort caught by Supple from Burton's flick-on then the Owls number seven failed to pick out his strike partner after seizing on a poor kick from Supple, as Wednesday began to push Town back into their own half. Crossley grabbed De Vos' header from substitute Darren Currie's cross at the second attempt and got behind Richards' 25-yard deadball while Bullen intervened twice in a matter of seconds to scramble Wednesday out of danger.
Macken flicked Roberts' centre past the post with Lee better placed behind him before the Owls struck a killer second eight minutes from time. Lunt swung over a left-wing corner and Bougherra powered it through Supple's hands to open his SWFC account.
It should really have been three for the Owls when Tudgay's ten-yard shot was blocked by Supple and Burton O'Brien sent the rebound wide, before a let off at the opposite end when Bullen headed against his own post. Crossley tipped Lee's header over and Richards was inches wide with a low shot but it was Wednesday's day as Laws got off to a flyer.
Ipswich: Supple; Wilnis, De Vos, Bruce, Harding (Naylor 84); Roberts, Legwinski, Noble (Currie 64), Richards; Lee, Haynes (Macken 24).
Subs: Drobny, Naylor, Currie, Peters, Macken.
Wednesday: Crossley; Simek, Bullen, Bougherra, Hills; Small (Whelan 81), Lunt, Folly, Brunt (O'Brien 72); Tudgay, Burton (MacLean 89).
Subs: Adamson, Coughlan, Whelan, O'Brien, MacLean.
