The Steve Bruce era is up and running following his first game in charge as Wednesday posted a last-gasp victory against Ipswich.

Substitute Lucas Joao was the man of the moment, sweeping home in the 90th minute to give Bruce’s men a fully deserved three points on a freezing afternoon at Portman Road.

From the early exchanges when Fernando Forestieri lashed over the bar, Wednesday were in command.

They almost got their reward 18 minutes in when Steven Fletcher took a fine ball from Michael Hector into his stride on the edge of the six-yard box but Bartosz Bialkowski saved.

Toto Nsiala blocked Barry Bannan from the rebound and the Tractor Boys emerged unscathed.

Ipswich gradually played themselves into contention but had to wait beyond the half-hour mark for a shot on goal when Freddie Sears dragged wide of the target.

But it was Wednesday that had the best chance of the first half seven minutes before the break when Morgan Fox scuffed across goal and Adam Reach hit over the bar from close range.

Possession was relatively even for a brief spell after the resumption as both sides struggled to make an impression in the final third.

That was until the 61st minute when the Owls missed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock.

A defensive mix-up allowed Forestieri to get in behind the Town defence but the livewire forward thumped high over the crossbar.

Forestieri prodded wide ten minutes later having found space in the box on the angle and if there was going to be a winner, the odds favoured Wednesday.

With 15 minutes remaining, though, Ipswich went close with Alan Judge firing wide from a clever three-man move.

Substitute Trevoh Chalobah then forced Keiren Westwood into action for the first time from a Judge corner as the hosts upped the ante near the end.

But Wednesday had the final word in the last minute when Reach beat his marker down the right and advanced to feed Joao, who gave Bialkowski no chance from eight yards.

Wednesday: Westwood, Palmer, Hector, Lees, Fox, Boyd (Onomah 65), Hutchinson, Bannan, Reach, Forestieri (Aarons 85), Fletcher (Joao 81)