The Owls’ Under-23s went down to a narrow 1-0 defeat at Hull as the Tigers surged to the top of the Professional Development League with all three points.
Max Sheaf scored the only goal of the game and to compound Wednesday’s frustration, new recruit Korede Adedoyin saw red in stoppage time.
Lee Bullen fielded an inexperienced team given the graduation of young players into the senior squad and the Owls were on the back foot for much of the first half.
James Berry went close with a set piece before Thomas Meyer hit the post as the pressure piled.
Wednesday responded with Isaac Rice seeing a fierce shot blocked and Adedoyin flashed a low shot wide.
But it was Hull that claimed the decisive moment of the contest on 35 minutes. Lewie Coyle sent a deep cross to the back post where Sheaf was the man on the spot to slam home from close range.
Josh Render prevented a quickfire double moments after the restart to deny Callum Jones and the Owls went close to a leveller when Charles Hagan pulled a snapshot inches wide.
The Tigers continued in the ascendancy through much of the second period and Render thwarted James Berry before the latter curled just the wrong side of the post.
Wednesday pressed for the equaliser and thought they had exactly that on 65 minutes when substitute Manuel Hidalgo’s hit beat George Long but smashed against the upright.
It was not to be for the Owls on Humberside, exacerbated by the late dismissal of Adedoyin, who received his marching orders for a high foot on Jacob Greaves.
Wednesday: Render, Hughes, Penney, Galvin, Rice, Urhoghide (Farmer 71), Hagan (Hidalgo 46), McGregor, Adedoyin (S/O 90+1), Waldock, Blair (Reaney 76)