The proverbial game of two halves unfolded at Hillsborough as Wednesday and Middlesbrough played out a 1-1 draw.
The opening 45 belonged to the Owls, who went down the tunnel in the ascendancy thanks to substitute Anthony Musaba’s second goal of the season.
But Boro turned up the heat after the break and levelled through Darragh Lenihan to take a point back to Teesside.
Xisco called for an improved first half performance and the players obliged. Right from the start Wednesday attacked with real intent and ex-Boro striker Ashley Fletcher was a whisker away from diverting Pol Valentin’s long ranger into the back of the net.
The Owls continued to dominate but were almost caught cold on the half-hour. Josh Coburn made headway down the left and teed up the advancing Sammy Silvera but Akin Famewo executed a perfect block from six yards.
Wednesday suffered a blow when Josh Windass limped out of the action after tangling with Hayden Hackney – but his replacement had an immediate impact on 37 minutes.
Di’Shon Bernard cut into the box from the right and pulled back perfectly for Musaba to calmly slot past Seny Dieng and put his side into the lead.
Valentin continued what he had been doing throughout the opening period right up to the break, giving Lukas Engel a torrid time, and twice it needed the swift intervention of Dieng to rescue dangerous crosses from the Spaniard.
Middlesbrough were much brighter in the second half, though, and Devis Vasquez had to be alert to thwart Silvera as he bore down on goal from a fine Hackney through-ball.
But the Colombian keeper could do little to prevent the equaliser on 53 minutes. Lewis O’Brien delivered an inviting corner right into the mix and skipper Lenihan stabbed his volley into the roof of the net.
Now Wednesday were on the back foot and were given a double scare by the visitors, who were by now a far better proposition.
First, Matt Crooks thought he had overturned the deficit when he nodded in from close range only to see a raised flag cut short the celebrations.
Then, just moments later, Coburn flashed a wicked angled drive across Vasquez that missed the top corner by inches.
The pace of the game waned from that juncture, although Boro looked the more likely to snatch a winner.
The Owls saw more of the ball in the closing stages but failed to call Dieng into action – although the keeper was relieved to see a George Byers hit whistle wide - while Vasquez remained untroubled at the other end and a draw was probably the right result.
Wednesday: Vasquez, Valentin, Diaby, Bernard, Famewo, Bannan, Delgado (Palmer 68), Buckley (Bakinson 68), Hendrick (Byers 60), Windass (Musaba 34), Fletcher (Gregory 60)