Wednesday lost points to a late goal for the third successive game after matching league leaders West Brom for much of the 90 minutes at the Hawthorns this afternoon.
Steven Fletcher made it 1-1 from the penalty spot on 58 minutes when Kieran Lee was hauled down by Filip Krovinovic and we had the better of the second half, before the home side ended hopes of at least a well-earned point with an 88th minute penalty of their own
Charlie Austin had just seen a header come back off the woodwork and the Wednesday defence were caught flat-footed seconds later, Keiren Westwood bringing down Matheus Pereira as he ran onto a through ball and Austin slotting home the resulting spot kick.
It was tough on Wednesday, particularly on our second-half showing, but we were also left to reflect on a failure to make the most of our possession and chances in the second 45 minutes and paid for a late moment of defensive hesitancy that allowed Albion to gain the penalty and all three points.
Both sides had early chances in a high tempo opening to the game, Steven Fletcher was inches way from turning home Jacob Murphy’s low cross and Julian Borner and Kadeem Harris both went close to putting us ahead.
However, it was West Brom who took the lead on 10 minutes, Hal Robson-Kanu breaking clear to steer the ball through the legs of the advancing Westwood. After that, the home side had more of the play in the rest of the half but neither keeper was really tested again before the break.
We began the second period in aggressive fashion again, deserving Fletcher’s penalty equaliser, and looked the more likely side to score again for much of the half. Morgan Fox saw his effort hit the bar and home keeper Sam Johnstone pulled off an excellent tipover save from Fletcher, only for the Owls striker to be penalised for a dubious handball.
Other opportunities were blocked in the box and we paid for a lack of a killer touch in front of goal – the overall statistics showing only two Wednesday shots on target from 15 efforts.
That left the door open for the league leaders to snatch the winner and there was more late drama, with Liam Palmer given a straight red card in added time for a reckless challenge on Grady Diangana.
The defeat sees Wednesday slip to ninth spot and four points away from the play-offs.
Westwood, Palmer, Iorfa, Börner, Fox, Harris (Reach 58), Lee (Luongo 70), Hutchinson (Nuhiu 89), Bannan, Murphy, Fletcher. Unused subs. Dawson, Odubajo, Lees, Forestieri.