Wednesday found themselves hanging on for a point against Bristol City at Hillsborough tonight after twice taking the lead.
We led 2-1 soon after half-time but thoughts of moving to within two points of the Championship play-off places disappeared as we totally lost our way in the last half-hour, Bristol City finally grabbing a deserved equaliser in the 87th minute in a 2-2 draw.
Loanee Shea Charles was subbed at half time, on what was thought to be his last appearance for the Owls before returning to Southampton, although manager Danny Rohl apparently did say after the game that there is still a chance he will stay at S6.
Whatever happens, Charles’ influence in our midfield this season was there for all to see as Wednesday without him were totally second best in the final 30 minutes.
The point leaves us in 11th place on 38 points, four behind sixth-placed Blackburn, with a tough trip to in-form QPR on Saturday.
This evening’s game had started well for us, man-of-the-match Djeidi Gassama taking Yan Valery’s excellent right-wing cross in his stride and sweeping home a low first-timer from 12 yards.
We then twice went close to extending our lead shortly before the break, Ike Ugbo seeing his shot blocked after an excellent run by Gassama and then the latter bringing a flying save out of keeper Max O’Leary.
Bristol City had posed few threats in the first half but they were level within six minutes of the restart, Wednesday failing to cut out a cross from Mark Sykes and the unmarked Nahki Wells heading home from six yards.
We were back in front just two minutes later, Di’Shon Bernard taking a pass from Bannan on the edge of the box and turning a defender before shooting past O’Leary and via a deflection off a City defender.
Minutes later, we went close to making it 3-1 when Josh Windass saw his fierce long-ranger just clear the bar and, at this stage, we were still looking good for the three points.
However, the game changed alarmingly in the last half-hour with Wednesday seemingly running out of energy, conceding the midfield and looking nervy to say the least at the back.
It was the visitors who began to deliver all the attacking danger, with ourselves unable to mount any moves of note and it was little surprise when City’s dominance was rewarded on 86 minutes when more sloppy defending allowed Sykes to centre again from the right and when the ball was headed back across goal Ross McCrorie was left free to nod home the equaliser.
And they almost grabbed a 90th minute winner when Sam Bell hammered against the crossbar from close range, leaving Wednesday clinging on for the draw after an evening that had started so well for us.
Beadle, Valery (Valentin 69), Ihiekwe, Bernard, M Lowe, S Charles (Palmer 46), Bannan, Gassama (Musaba 69), Johnson, Windass (Ingelsson 79), Ugbo (Paterson 88). Unused subs: P. Charles, Otegbayo, Smith, Kobacki. Attendance: 22,774.