GIVEN their current plight, it seems slightly cruel harking back to happier times in Ipswich Town’s history.

The Blues are rock bottom of the Championship and in dire need of a pick-me-up, heading into Saturday’s match at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

However, it hasn’t always been so grim and the mood was altogether different following one particularly memorable clash with the Owls on the opening day of the 2007-08 season.

Embarking on his second term as manager, Jim Magilton and his players got their campaign off to the perfect start with a swashbuckling victory at Portman Road.

That summer heralded the return of two former favourites – Tommy Miller and Pablo Counago – and the Spaniard signalled his return with the final goal in a 4-1 success.

Town could barely have dreamed of a better start to the season, in which they eventually finished eighth.

Alan Lee slotted home a second-minute penalty, Gary Roberts soon doubled the lead and Irishman Lee notched again to give his side a 3-0 cushion.

Counago then netted on the hour-mark before Leon Clarke grabbed a late consolation for Wednesday.

Town had another debutant in their line-up in the shape of goalkeeper Neil Alexander.

The Scot had signed on a free transfer the previous month, joining from Cardiff City, but it proved only a short-lived stay in East Anglian as he was snapped up by Rangers in the January.

Alex Bruce, whose dad, Steve, is now Wednesday manager and will be taking charge for the first time this weekend, was in the Ipswich defence that day, alongside Jason De Vos and full-backs David Wright and Dan Harding.

Miller and Roberts were joined in midfield by Owen Garvan and Jon Walters, with strikers Lee and Counago proving a constant menace for the shell-shocked Wednesday defence.

Despite making a strong challenge for promotion, Town missed out on the play-offs on the final day of the season.

The final two places were filled by Crystal Palace and Watford instead.

Town and the Owls have met eight times since, with the former enjoying three straight 2-1 wins.

Three ended all-square, with Wednesday taking maximum points back to Yorkshire on two occasions, including a 3-0 success in October 2012.