The Owls Under-23s posted a point away at Watford on Monday afternoon, which on another day could have been all three given the level of performance from the visitors.
Neil Thompson’s men largely dominated from the off, created a barrage of chances, hit the woodwork three times but in the end had to settle for a point.
Connor Kirby was the man on target for Wednesday after the break to cancel out Dion Pereira’s first half free kick.
A sense of frustration with the result but a big positive for the Owls was the inclusion of returning defender Joost van Aken, who played the full 90 minutes.
During a strong start to the game, Fraser Preston and Preslav Borukov both saw good chances go begging inside the first ten minutes and the former went closer still when he struck the post midway through the first half.
Kirby then hit the upright with a low angled drive from Joe West’s cutback and all that was missing for Wednesday was the all-important breakthrough.
But against the run of play on 35 minutes, in fortuitous circumstances, Watford went ahead as Pereira’s free kick deceived Dan Wallis and crept over the line.
That was more than harsh on the Owls and it almost got worse before the break but for Wallis denying Dennon Lewis from point blank range from the very next attack.
In-form striker Borukov went close with a curling effort just wide of the mark on 60 minutes, moments before the leveller arrived.
Ashley Baker’s well-hit strike cannoned off the crossbar and Kirby was on hand to smash home on the rebound.
The Owls created one final opening in an attempt to complete the comeback three minutes from time but Borukov’s header was stopped by Nathan Gartside in the last action of note.
Owls: Wallis, Baker, Van Aken, Nielsen, O’Grady (O’Brien 87), Dawodu (Hughes 62), West, J Lee (Brennan 72), Kirby, Preston, Borukov