Three goals in 12 second-half minutes saw Wednesday stage a remarkable comeback from two-down to take the points in a 3-2 win at Norwich this evening.
We found ourselves trailing 2-0 at the break in a very poor first-half display but quickfire goals from Michael Ihiekwe, Josh Windass and Djeidi Gassama turned the game on its head, also moving us back up to 10th place and five points adrift of the play-off places.
The chances of a first victory at Carrow Road since 2009 looked to have disappeared after a first 45 minutes in which Wednesday lacked the commitment, belief and desire displayed in Saturday’s win at Plymouth and the 2-0 scoreline could have been worse than it was.
James Beadle made an early block from Emiliano Marcondes, who was left in space on the right, while Wednesday hit back on seven minutes with Shea Charles heading just over from Svante Ingelsson’s long throw.
That was a rare attack from the Owls, who looked sluggish all over the pitch, and it was little surprise when the home side took the lead on 16 minutes, Borja Sainz running onto Anis Ben Slimane’s ball into the box and slipping his low shot past Beadle.
The situation got worse 10 minutes before half time when Norwich passed their way though our defence at ease, Slimane pulling the ball back to the unmarked Ante Crnac and he slotted home from close range.
However, Wednesday looked brighter almost from the start of the second half, with Gassama soon testing keeper Vicente Reyes with our first shot on target.
With the Owls continuing to look a different side, Gassama curled another effort just over the bar from the edge of the box after being set up by Windass and Callum Paterson went close with a header before we reduced the arrears on 64 minutes.
Ihiekwe sent in a header from Barry Bannan’s left-wing corner and the ball somehow found its way past a clutch of defenders and keeper Reyes before nestling in the corner of the net.
Wednesday continued to press forward and 11 minutes later we were back on level terms, Windass scoring his first goal since New Year’s Day when he slammed the loose ball home from 10 yards after a scramble in the Norwich penalty area.
And two minutes later the fightback was completed with Windass this time the creator, sending a teasing low cross into the six-yard box and there was Gassama to tap home.
Norwich looked shell-shocked at that stage and Wednesday played out the closing stages with few threats of an equaliser from a largely subdued home side as we chalked up our ninth away win of the season.
Beadle, Valentin, S. Charles (Smith 45), Ihiekwe, M. Lowe, Johnson, Windass (Iorfa 84), Bannan (Palmer 81), Ingelsson (Chalobah 45), Gassama (Kobacki 91), Paterson. Unused subs: P. Charles, Ugbo, Cissoko, Hatsuse.