REPORT: Birmingham 1-2 Owls
Sheffield Wednesday came from a goal down to complete a magnificent 2-1 victory against Birmingham at St Andrew’s.
Blues forward Clayton Donaldson netted deep into first half stoppage time, tucking home from six yards after the ball ricocheted into his path.
On 77 minutes Gary Hooper levelled with a superb strike that beat Tomasz Kuszczak all ends up via the crossbar.
And just three minutes later Hooper got his second of the afternoon after Fernando Forestieri put the ball on the plate for the frontman to turn home from close range.
Carlos Carvalhal made three changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Burnley at Hillsborough on Tuesday.
After making a late cameo appearance against the Clarets, Irish winger Aiden McGeady was handed his first start and having come through a Development Squad game against Nottingham Forest unscathed, Tom Lees made his return to the Wednesday back-line.
Kieran Lee picked up an injury in the warm-up, with Sam Hutchinson moving forward into midfield and Vincent Sasso starting at the heart of the defence.
A bright start by the visitors was marred when both Keiren Westwood and Sam Hutchinson were forced off with injury - Lewis Price and Lewis McGugan entered the fray.
The Owls’ first major chance came through January Player of the Month Hooper who rolled the ball past veteran defender Paul Robinson before lashing goalwards.
Hooper was quick to pounce on the rebound after keeper Kuszczak fumbled but Michael Morrison was back in time to put the ball into touch.
At the other end Blues Donaldson beat the offside trap before going one on one with Price, but the substitute keeper made a superb reaction save down low to his left.
With a few minutes to go before the interval Hooper collected a reverse pass from Barry Bannan and just missed the target after being closed down.
But right on the stroke of half time, Birmingham took the lead through Donaldson. The forward was fortunate when the ball cannoned back off team mate Morrison and into his path to calmly stroke home from six yards.
Wednesday burst out of the traps after the break and it was Forestieri who fired the first warning shot with a low drive skipping off the turf and into Kuszczak.
The Blues then had a chance to extend their lead when Donaldson saw his shot parried by Price before Will Buckley flicked the rebound over the bar.
Atdhe Nuhiu was the Owls' third and final substitution, and he did well to shield the ball before teeing up Ross Wallace whose looping strike was finger-tipped over the bar.
With 77 minutes on the clock, Wednesday found themselves level after a sumptuous strike from Hooper.
The striker picked up possession on the edge of the area and unleashed a bullet of a shot which slammed against the underside of the crossbar and into the net.
With the away end in full voice, the visitors completed their comeback as Hooper once again got his name on the scoresheet on the 80th minute.
Forestieri found the unmarked hitman at the back post and the 28-year-old applied the calmest of finishes to grab his ninth goal in ten games.
It could have even been three for the Owls as Forestieri recovered from a slip before turning his man and his powerful low drive was tipped past the post by Kuszczak.
Wednesday saw the game out to maintain their unbeaten run in the Championship for 2016 to rise to sixth place in the table.
Wednesday: Westwood (Price 18), Hutchinson (McGugan 22), Hooper, Lees, Sasso, Hunt, Wallace, Pudil, McGeady (Nuhiu 61), Bannan, Forestieri