Sheffield Wednesday extended their promising start to the new season with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough.

Brian Laws' side had to come from behind to post a point after Dexter Blackstock gave Forest an early lead.

But Marcus Tudgay fired his fourth goal of the season just before half time to hand the Owls a deserved share of the spoils.

Wednesday made one change from the side that won in convincing style at Plymouth last time out, with Tommy Miller coming replacing James O'Connor in midfield. Miller was making his first Championship start for the Owls since moving to Hillsborough in the summer transfer window.

But Miller and his team mates almost found themselves a goal down inside the first minute of the game. Forest midfielder Paul Anderson broke free down the left and cut inside to find Joe Garner, whose shot across Lee Grant was expertly diverted by the Wednesday keeper.

But Grant could do little moments later as Forest burst into the lead, with Anderson again instrumental. The former Liverpool youngster swung over an accurate cross right into the heart of the danger zone where Blackstock was waiting to glance into the bottom corner and give the Midlanders the perfect start.

The Owls rallied and Tudgay saw two efforts sail narrowly over the bar in as many minutes before Luke Varney went close following good work from Miller and Jermaine Johnson.

But Wednesday could and should have been two goals behind on 17 minutes but for a glaring miss by Blackstock. Dangerman Anderson again made great strides down the left and darted into the box to pull back for Blackstock, who sliced his close-range shot wide with the Kop goal gaping.

That miss did little for Forest's confidence and play moved more and more into their half as the first half unfolded. Darren Potter was finding his range for the Owls, moving the ball comfortably in the engine room as Wednesday looked far more likely as the interval approached.

And their enterprise was reward on 39 minutes when Forest failed to clear a hanging cross and the ball fell kindly two yards into the penalty area to Tudgay, who drove a hard, low shot past the despairing Lee Camp.

Wednesday started the second half with zest and Varney forced a vital clearance from Luke Chambers almost from the defender's goal line straight from the kick-off.

Then a desperate scramble in the six-yard box saw Varney denied a minute later as the Owls continued to show their intent.

But Forest soaked up the pressure before countering with that man Anderson, who covered half the length of the pitch to roll a teasing ball across the area that just evaded the on-rushing Blackstock at the back post.

The Forest goalscorer went close just after the hour - albeit fortuitously - when he almost deflected Anderson's cross past Grant but the keeper was alert to smother the danger.

Anderson forced an athletic save from Grant and Blackstock missed with a clear header from the resulting corner as Forest carved most of the chances despite Wednesday enjoying the lion's share of possession.

The hosts introduced Akpo Sodje from the bench while Forest brought on their own big man up front in the shape of Dele Adebola.

But neither striker had a real sniff of goal and little separated the sides in the closing stages, with honours even about the right result.

Owls: Grant, Buxton, Purse, Wood (Beevers 74), Spurr, Johnson, Potter, Miller (McAllister 69), Gray, Varney, Tudgay (Sodje 69)

Unused substitutes: O'Donnell, Hinds, Esajas, Clarke

Forest: Camp, Chambers, Morgan, Anderson, Garner McCleary (46), Cohen, Gunter, McGoldrick (Adebola 77), McKenna, Blackstock (McGugan 89), Lynch

Unused substitutes: Smith, Wilson, Moussi, Earnshaw

Referee: Steve Tanner

Attendance: 25,270