Sheffield Wednesday lost 2-1 to a late winner from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake after a scrappy encounter at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday night.

Marcus Tudgay equalised on 20 minutes after Andy Keogh had put the home team in front but Wednesday were lacking in their attempts to take control of the match and Wolves grabbed their win at the death.

Brian Laws made one change from the team that lost on penalties to Derby County in the FA Cup a week earlier. Ronnie Wallwork returned to the starting eleven after being cup tied, replacing the injured Steve Watson in midfield.

Wolves came into the game on the back of a comprehensive 4-1 victory over promotion hopefuls Watford and it did not take the home side long to threaten the Owls' goal.

Forward Andy Keogh came into the match on the back of a brace against the Hornets and was buzzing from the start against Wednesday. The Irishman twice hit the crossbar from close range in the opening three minutes, finding himself offside first time around before Karl Henry followed up by firing wide from the second rebound.

The Owls could consider themselves fortunate not to be behind so early on but they had a good chance to take the lead themselves on six minutes when Wade Small shot wide from Jermaine Johnson's cross after Marcus Tudgay and Akpo Sodje had let the ball run through the penalty area.

Just 11 minutes were on the clock though when Keogh punished the visitors for allowing him space once more. The sprightly attacker darted towards the penalty area, drew Hinds for a challenge and played a neat one-two with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake to coolly slot beyond the hopeless Lee Grant.

The Owls were looking less sure than usual defensively but were not going to pass up an opportunity to draw level if it was gifted to them. And duly it was; approaching the 20-minute mark as a defensive mix-up gave Marcus Tudgay clear sight of goal from Glenn Whelan's pass.

Finishing low and hard from 15 yards, the 24-year-old gleefully netted his sixth strike of the season.

The goal took the wind out of the hosts' sails and should have spurred the Owls on as Laws' men looked to gain a grip on the game.

But Wolves remained dangerous in attack and Grant had to hold on to David Edwards' shot from Henry's long pass before recovering well, as a shot slipped out of his grasp, to repel Edwards again in the 35th minute.

Wednesdays' favoured passing game was letting them down but they were not lacking any bite in the tackle as the back four, accompanied by Glenn Whelan and Ronnie Wallwork, just managed to cut out most of Wolves' final balls into the box.

Brian Laws would have felt relieved to take his side into the dressing room at half time with the scores level though. Wolves had been allowed too many chances and Wednesday had lost possession too easily during the first half.

In a bid to shore up the midfield, Burton O'Brien was brought on to replace Johnson for the second half but it turned out to be a jittery period after the break.

A scrappy first 15 minutes after half time was perhaps summed up when Sodje eventually latched onto Small's through-ball on 59 minutes. He powered away from hosts back line, nicked the ball past Hennessey but somehow lost his footing, allowing the goalkeeper to recover and smother the striker's weak effort.

Moments later Hinds headed wide from a Whelan corner but Wolves could have scored when David Edwards went through only to shoot straight at Grant.

Matters worsened for Laws moments later when his top scorer crashed to the ground in significant pain. The forward was left clutching his ankle and had to be stretchered off as Wednesday struggled on.

Matt Jarvis shot straight at Grant after substitute, Daniel Jones, had fired just wide from 20 yards in the closing stages and the hosts looked like they would rue their missed chances early in the match.

Small forced Hennessey into a save in the 90th minute but with five minutes of added time Sylvan Ebanks-Blake smashed home a winner form close range after Jay Bothroyd headed back across goal from Michael Gray's cross.

Laws would leave with the headache of Tommy Spurr's one-match suspension following a fifth booking of the season and a worrying wait on the extent of Sodje's injury.

Wednesday: Grant; Bullen, Hinds, Beevers, Spurr; Johnson (O'Brien 46), Whelan, Wallwork, Small; Sodje (Burton 65), Tudgay.

Subs not used: Gilbert, Wood, Boden.

Booked: Spurr 44 (foul)

Wolves: Hennessey; Foley, Ward, Collins (Rob Edwards 10), Gray; Henry, Elliott (Jones 73), David Edwards, Jarvis; Keogh (Bothroyd 81), Ebanks-Blake.

Subs not used: Stack, Potter.

Referee: P Joslin.

Attendance: 22,746