Wednesday’s hopes of a first away win of the season ended in a 2-1 defeat after taking the lead at Birmingham this afternoon.
We were the better side in the first half and deservedly went ahead in the 45th minute, our first away goal since August, but then conceded a crucial equaliser within two minutes and eventually went down to a late home winner.
It leaves us 10 points from safety and with nine games now up until January 1 – starting with a home clash against league leaders Leicester on Wednesday evening – we desperately need to find some winning form to give us any hope of survival in the New Year.
Wednesday began in promising fashion with George Byers going close after being set up by Mallik Wilks.
Then Wilks blocked a delayed clearance by home keeper John Ruddy and fired just wide from his resulting run, although he probably should have crossed the ball into the box for a waiting team-mate instead.
Birmingham were struggling to get a foothold in the game and the Owls missed a great chance on 34 minutes when Barry Bannan sent in a trademark curling cross but Josh Windass steered it wide from 10 yards.
Bambo Diaby blocked well from the dangerous Jay Stansfield but Wednesday took a deserved lead in the 45th minute when Windass sent an excellent 25-yard free kick against an upright and Byers was on hand to turn home the rebound from six yards.
However, the lead lasted just two minutes, a headed clearance from a corner falling to Juninho Bacuna on the edge of the box and his strong volley found its way through a crowded goalmouth and into the net, with Cameron Dawson possibly unsighted.
That equaliser was arguably the catalyst for a reversal of roles in the second period, with Birmingham carrying much the greater threat in the opening 30 minutes of the half.
Diaby blocked another attempt from Stansfield and then Siriki Dembele volleyed just wide from 20 yards.
Wednesday had failed to match their first-half display but sub Djeidi Gassama began to cause the Birmingham defence some problems when he came on midway through the second 45.
At the same time, Ruddy was rarely troubled and it was the home side who grabbed the winner nine minutes from time. Stansfield beat the offside trap down the right-hand side before picking out Jordan James in the box and, although Dawson was able to parry his first effort, the youngster turned home the rebound to signal a sixth successive away defeat for the Owls.
Dawson, Iorfa, Diaby, Ihiekwe, Famewo, Vaulks, Byers (Fletcher 81), Bannan, Wilks (Johnson 63), Musaba (Gussama 63), Windass (Cadamarteri 81). Unused subs: Vasquez, Charles, Palmer, James, Bernard.