Honours even at Hillsborough
The Owls and local rivals Leeds played out a fiery derby draw in front of the live television cameras at Hillsborough on Friday night.
Wednesday turned in arguably their best display of the season and struck first through man of the match Jay Bothroyd on the stroke of half time.
But Leeds replied with a late Michael Tongue strike to take a share of the spoils from a fiercely contested White Rose clash.
Dave Jones handed a maiden league start to Paul Corry and the young Irishman was at the heart of the first opening, picking out Michail Antonio with a crossfield ball that in turn found its way to Chris O’Grady, whose header was saved by Paddy Kenny.
On nine minutes, though, the Owls came within a whisker of taking the lead.
Bothroyd drilled in a super strike from distance that took a slight deflection and foxed Kenny, who could only tip the ball onto the crossbar – and straight back into the arms of the relieved Whites’ keeper.
Moments later, Bothroyd turned provider, this time picking out Antonio at the back post with an accurate free kick but the winger’s header sailed wide.
It was promising stuff from Wednesday but Leeds had armoury of their own, evidenced by a Tonge set piece that brought the best out of the diving Chris Kirkland.
Midway through the first half saw a big moment of controversy when a stray Leeds hand in the penalty area appeared to get contact on a Bothroyd corner but the Owls’ appeals for a spot-kick were denied.
Wednesday stuck at it and Corry sent a curling shot goalwards that Kenny dealt with comfortably before the deserved breakthrough arrived a minute before half time.
Antonio delivered a looping throw-in straight into the danger zone and Bothroyd climbed the highest to nod past Kenny and into the far corner.
Having been bossed for most of the first half, Leeds started brightly after the break, with Tonge firing a free kick inches over the crossbar.
The Owls hit back with Bothroyd screwing off target following good work down the flank by Antonio before Anthony Gardner saw a snapshot deflected over.
Antonio then went close as his back stick shot was knocked wide for a corner but just as Wednesday were looking likely to double their lead, the visitors drew level on 76 minutes.
A loose ball found its way to Tonge 25 yards from goal and the midfielder smashed a wicked drive that positively flew past Kirkland and into the net.
A handful of visiting supporters entered the pitch in celebration behind Kirkland’s goal but suddenly the keeper went down, requiring treatment before the game could continue.
Once the contest was back and underway, the Owls threw on Gary Madine and Danny Mayor in pursuit of a winner and the latter had a half chance in the closing stages but was thwarted by some dogged Leeds defending.
Owls: Kirkland, Buxton, Llera, Gardner, Jones, Antonio, Semedo, Corry (Mayor 83), Bothroyd, Barkley, O’Grady (Madine 83)
Unused substitutes: Bywater, Taylor, Johnson, Pecnik, Rodri
Leeds: Kenny, Peltier (Varney 68), Lees, Pearce, Austin (46) Becchio, White, Brown, Tonge, Diouf, Byran
Unused substitutes: Ashdown, Drury, Green, Gray, Hall