The Blues returned to the top of the Championship following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. Conor Chaplin netted the game’s only goal in the ninth minute but the Blues were forced to defend resolutely to see out the three points in the second half as struggling Rovers, who felt wronged by referee Stuart Attwell after three goals were ruled out, put them under the cosh, while Town ought to have been awarded an early penalty.
Boss Mick McCarthy has made five changes to his side for this evening’s game against Sheffield Wednesday with Freddie Sears, as expected, handed his full debut.
Kieran Lee’s 20th minute goal, the result of a mix-up between Bartosz Bialkowski and Christophe Berra, has given Sheffield Wednesday a 1-0 lead over the Blues at half-time. Town have been pushing for an equaliser with Daryl Murphy hitting the post shortly before the break.
Former Blues loanee Richard Stearman headed a first-half own goal but Benik Afobe equalised five minutes after the break as Town and Wolves drew 1-1 in the clash of the play-off chasers at Molineux.
Jay Tabb replaces Stephen Hunt at left midfield in an otherwise unchanged Town side taking on Wolves in this lunchtime’s crucial play-off clash (Sky Sports 12 noon, KO 12.15pm).
Town boss Mick McCarthy has made two changes to his side for this evening’s game at Brighton with Ryan Fraser and Kevin Bru in for Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who is injured, and Brett Pitman, who drops to the bench.
Daryl Murphy netted his seventh goal of the season to see the Blues to a 1-0 victory at Brighton, their fifth successive away victory which equals a club record set in 1976. Murphy seized on an error by Seagulls defender Lewis Dunk in the 32nd minute.