Wednesday had to settle for a point in a frustrating and disappointing 1-1 draw with Cardiff at a rain-lashed and windswept Hillsborough this afternoon.
The end-of-match stats showed we had 16 efforts on goal – eight blocked but just three on target – and that lack of a cutting edge in the opposition penalty area left us with just a point to show after largely dominating against a struggling Cardiff side.
Ike Ugbo thought he’d got his first league goal of the season inside the first minute, running through and shooting low past keeper Jak Alnwick, only to be ruled offside.
James Beadle had to push away an effort from Ollie Tanner before Wednesday were inches away from going ahead on 26 minutes, a lovely ball from Barry Bannan sent Josh Windass clear but his lob over the onrushing Alnwick was just too high and landed on the roof of the net.
Cardiff then grabbed the lead on 33 minutes when, not for the first time this season at S6, we were caught on the break.
Callum Robinson broke clear down the left, skipped past the challenge of Shea Charles and when his angled effort was parried by Beadle, Tanner turned the loose ball home from close in.
However, Wednesday were level inside two minutes, Josh Windass sending in a low cross from the right and there was Di’Shon Bernard at the far post to slide the ball home for a quickfire equaliser.
And we almost went ahead just before the break when Michael Smith turned Windass’ centre back across goal but Ugbo was thwarted by the legs of Alnwick inside the six-yard box.
With Wednesday attacking our favoured Kop end in the second half, there were hopes of Wednesday driving on to three points after the break … but it just didn’t materialise.
It was the hour-mark before we threatened again with Windass sending a swerving long-ranger wide.
And with the Owls struggling to find much attacking momentum, we had to wait until the last five minutes of normal time for any further threat on goal.
First, Anthony Musaba brought a diving save out of Alnwick from the edge of the box, then Pol Valentin’s excellent run and pull back set up a great chance for ex-Cardiff man Callum Paterson inside the box but his shot was blocked for a corner.
And it was Cardiff who went close to snatching an unlikely winner in added time when Beadle’s save denied Tanner.
Beadle, Valery (Palmer 75), Bernard, M Lowe, Johnson, S Charles, Bannan, Gassama (J Lowe 82), Windass (Musaba 82), Ugbo (Valentin 75), Smith (Paterson 82). Unused subs: P. Charles, Iorfa, Ingelsson, McNeill. Att: 23,974.