The Sheffield Wednesday reserves came from behind to beat rivals Sheffield United at Hillsborough on Tuesday night.

Quickfire goals after the break from Akpo Sodje and Francis Jeffers tipped the scales in the hosts' favour after Glen Little had given United a first half advantage.

Richard O'Donnell saved a late Kyel Reid penalty to seal the reserves' first win of the season.

The Owls fielded a strong attacking line-up to take on the Blades, with strikers Sodje and Leon Clarke joined by senior derby goalscorer at Bramall Lane, Etienne Esajas. Jeffers also started following the completion of his three-match suspension.

Other experienced pros in the second string included Frank Simek, Tommy Miller and Sean McAllister with the remainder of the team made up of academy players and young professionals.

After a cagey opening to the game, Clarke struck a curling effort wide on the 20-minute mark, which was the first real attempt on goal from either side.

United responded with Fabrice Pancrate thumping a powerful header wide before the visitors stole into the lead on 35 minutes. Kyle Reid picked out Little at the far post with an accurate feed and the latter headed back across O'Donnell to open the scoring.

United almost doubled their advantage right on the half time whistle but O'Donnell showed good reflexes to parry Pancrate's drive to safety.

The Owls came out for the second period in determined mood and were rewarded with two goals in as many minutes. First Sodje broke free of the United defence to slide past Ian Bennett and then Jeffers showed nifty footwork to beat Harry Maguire and fire Wednesday into the lead from ten yards.

Jeffers came close to scoring a second after some good work down the left flank by Clarke and SUFC trialist Henri Camara flashed an angled drive narrowly wide at the other end.

O'Donnell pulled off a cracking save from Maguire's header before United threw away a golden opportunity to earn a point.

Nick Wood felled Pancrate in the area and the referee pointed to the spot but O'Donnell leapt to his right to save Reid's well struck effort and earn his side a fully merited win.

Owls: O'Donnell, Simek, N Wood, Wragg, Wilde, Jeffers, McAllister, Miller (Harrison 63), Esajas (Palmer 46), Clarke (Modest 72), Sodje

Unused substitutes: Jameson, Tunnard

Blades: Bennett, Omozusi, Stewart, James, Fortune, Maguire, Little, Zampa (Pennycooke-Morgan 71), Camara, Pancrate, Reid

Unused substitutes: Billard, Foster, Pomares, Darlow