Owls pegged back
Wednesday posted a useful point at The Riverside Stadium, sharing the spoils with Middlesbrough.
Michail Antonio struck in the first half but the Owls were pegged back just after the interval by Mustapha Carayol.
And although the Teessiders went on to edge the possession and opportunities, Dave Jones’ side held on to pick up their third successive Championship draw.
Seeking their first home win of the season, Boro applied the early pressure, with George Friend and Lukas Jutkiewicz chancing their luck to no avail in the early throes.
The dangerous looking Friend went close, though, on 12 minutes, cutting in from the left to unleash a fierce drive that flew narrowly over the crossbar.
Wednesday grew into the game and pushed the hosts back towards their own goal. Reda Johnson rampaged down the flank and sent an inviting cross that just evaded the onrushing Antonio before
Justin Hoyte denied the same player with a brave last-ditch block.
Jutkiewicz threatened again at the other end but saw an angled shot deflected wide and Chris Kirkland diverted Grant Leadbitter’s effort from the resulting corner.
Then on 35 minutes, Wednesday stole into the lead.
Jeremy Helan’s corner was headed goalwards by Kamil Zayatte and Antonio was on hand to hook home into the roof of the net from close range.
But the Owls suffered a blow moments after the resumption. Skipper Anthony Gardner fell awkwardly from an aerial challenge and left the field on a stretcher – Miguel Llera came on for his first league action of the new campaign.
Wednesday were undeterred by the setback, as was evidenced by a thunderous Antonio strike that just evaded Jason Steele’s left post.
Leadbitter warmed the hands of Kirkland on the stroke of half time before Liam Palmer went close for the Owls, who were good value for their advantage at the break.
But alas for Wednesday, that lead lasted only three minutes into the second half.
Jutkiewicz found space down the left and placed an accurate feed right into the mix to leave Carayol with the simple task of converting from three yards.
That gave Boro the initiative and they went within a whisker of making it count on the hour when Jutkiewicz smashed against the crossbar.
Kirkland then had to perform a swift recovery to save after a Leadbitter free kick took a wicked deflection off the defensive wall as Middlesbrough sought to get their noses in front.
Substitute Andy Halliday almost marked his entrance with a goal but was thwarted by a superb Kirkland save and Dean Whitehead’s piledriver from distance also went close.
Albert Adomah and Halliday had chances to seal victory near the end but a combination of excellent goalkeeping and sound defending ensured a point for Wednesday.
Middlesbrough: Steele, Hoyte, Friend, R Williams, Leadbitter, Varga (Emnes 72), Jutkiewicz, Whitehead, Carayol (Halliday 72), Adomah, Woodgate
Owls: Kirkland, Spence, Gardner (Llera 39), Zayatte, R Johnson, Palmer, Coke (Nuhiu 77), Prutton, Helan, Antonio, J Johnson (Semedo 61)