Wednesday paid for missed chances in our Championship survival bid and had to settle for a Good Friday 1-1 draw with Swansea at Hillsborough.
The point keeps us in 23rd place and now level with nearest rivals Huddersfield and Birmingham on 39 points, after they were both beaten. Just five points also separate ourselves from Millwall in 16th, with seven games remaining.
With Ian Poveda ruled out through injury and Barry Bannan only fit enough for the bench we struggled to create many openings in the first half, Will Vaulks wasting a clear opening when he sent the ball wide from 12 yards out after being set up by Ike Ugbo.
Then, just as it looked set for a goalless first half, we grabbed the lead on 41 minutes, Bailey Cadamarteri turning the ball home at the far post from Bambo Diaby’s header.
Swansea were close to an equaliser soon after half time, James Beadle producing a fine tipover save to deny Jamie Paterson, but Wednesday quickly began to show more aggression than they did in the first half.
Just after the hour, good work from Pol Valentin set up Djeidi Gassama in the box but keeper Carl Rushworth blocked the effort, with the Owls then claiming for a penalty in the ensuing scramble when Ugbo went down as he challenged for the loose ball.
Soon afterwards, Liam Palmer sent Anthony Musaba clear but he shot just wide of the far post before the linesman’s flag was raised.
Then followed, two moments of action at either end of the pitch which ultimately decided the game.
First, Ugbo was desperately unlucky not to double our lead on 75 minutes, taking Musaba’s pull back in excellent style, slipping a defender and seeing his drive from 10 yards come back off the bar with Rushworth beaten.
Then, a minute later, Swansea were level when Harry Darling was left unmarked to head for goal and Jamal Lowe turned the ball home from close-range, with Wednesday defenders appealing for offside and handball.
With Barry Bannan providing much-needed inspiration after coming on as a sub during the second half, we rallied well in the closing stages but, not for the first time this season, lacked the cutting edge in front of goal to take all three points.
Valentin dragged across goal and wide when well placed, Marvin Johnson sent an effort straight at the keeper and then saw a last-gasp strike blocked while Vaulks’ strike deflected off a defender and straight into Rushworth’s hands, leaving us reflecting on an end-of-match stat which showed only four shots on target from 14 efforts.
Beadle, Valentin, Ihiekwe, Famewo, Diaby (Iorfa 71), Johnson, Vaulks, Palmer (Bannan 71), Musaba (Wilks 81), Cadamarteri (Gassama 56), Ugbo (Smith 81). Unused subs: Dawson, Hendrick, James, Charles. Att: 28,301.