A spirited second-half Wednesday fightback ended in the eighth minute of added time when Cardiff scored from a dubious penalty to take all three points in a 2-1 win over the Owls this afternoon.
We looked set to move off the bottom of the table with a first point of the season, only for Will Vaulks to be judged to have handled a low cross into the box and Ryan Wintle fired home from the spot.
After a first half of no shots on target for either side, but with Wednesday showing some more encouraging signs going forward, we once again paid for sloppy defending at the start of the second half.
We allowed the home side to move forward under little pressure and Ike Ugbo was then given time and space to shoot home from eight yards.
Cardiff looked set to take charge at this stage and only the outstretched foot of Devis Vasquez prevented them from doubling their lead through Callum O’Dowda.
However, Wednesday finally found their feet again and launched a fightback in the closing quarter that could have brought a long-awaited point.
The catalyst came when sub Will Vaulks’ excellent clipped ball found Josh Windass but his flicked header – our first effort on target – was tipped over the bar by home keeper Jack Alnwick.
Minutes later we caused another scare for the home side, Aaron Ramsey just getting ahead of Windass as the Owls striker looked ready to pounce.
We were dominant at this stage and grabbed a deserved equaliser in spectacular fashion with 15 minutes left, the ball worked along the edge of the penalty area to Barry Bannan and he sent an exquisite curling 20-yarder into the top corner of net.
Windass then missed an excellent chance to make it 2-1 when he ran at the home defence, only to fire wide from 15 yards.
The home side began to look dangerous again in the closing stages – particularly with nine added minutes on the clock – and with seven of those gone we were dealt the biggest of blows with Cardiff grabbing all three points from the disputed penalty.
It leaves us rooted to the bottom of the table, without a point from our first four games, and a tough trip to Leeds ahead next Saturday.
Vasquez, Paterson, Palmer, M Diaby, Bernard, Delgado (86), Bannan, Byers (Vaulks 62), Windass, Gregory (Bakinson 90+2), Smith (Fletcher 62). Unused subs: Dawson, Ihiekwe, Iorfa, Valentin, Musaba.