Wednesday’s play-off challenge remains a strong one despite finding ourselves on the wrong end of a 4-1 scoreline at Bristol City today.
With rivals Ipswich and Cardiff both also losing, there was little damage done with regard to the teams just outside the play-offs, although Birmingham kept alive their slim hopes with victory at Reading.
We remain five points ahead of Cardiff, eight clear of Ipswich and nine in front of Birmingham, who have a game in hand.
With Derby winning, we slip back to sixth place while Hull join the Rams on 70 points – two points ahead of us – after a last-gasp equaliser at Huddersfield.
There was no hint of what was to unfold in the early minutes at Bristol, with the Owls dominating and going close through Aiden McGeady and Barry Bannan.
However, the home side took an 11th minute lead in fortunate circumstances, Michael Turner clearing off the line, only for the ball to rebound off Liam Palmer and into the net.
The home side then took charge for the rest of the half and were three-up by the interval, with further efforts from Bobby Reid three minutes later and a Lee Tomlin penalty just before half-time after Palmer had fouled Tomlin.
Worse followed on 52 minutes when City scored a second penalty through Kodjia after Joe Wildsmith – a late replacement for sickness victim Keiren Westwood – was adjudged to have pulled down Reid.
Ross Wallace’s free kick hit a post and went in off ex-Owls keeper Richard O’Donnell to see us pull one goal back just after the hour … but there was to be no Wednesday fightback.