By Steve Pearce
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Waghorn strikes again but Town denied by last gasp equaliser
Martyn Waghorn’s ninth goal of the season looked to have won it for Town until Atdhe Nuhiu’s last gasp equaliser.
Waghorn, an August signing from Rangers headed home 20 minutes from time after his former Ibrox team-mate Joe Garner had put Blues in front early in the second-half.
Gary Hooper levelled the scores for Wednesday from the spot before Emyr Huws arrived from the bench for his first game since signing a permanent deal in the summer and it was from the midfielder’s cross that Waghorn found the net.
Blues were a minute way from victory when Nuhiu got on the end of Adam Reach’s cross to find the net with a close range header.
Town made one change from the draw against Hull at the weekend, Myles Kenlock coming in for the suspended Jonas Knudsen.
David McGoldrick fired over in the game’s first opening after Blues countered, Waghorn then forced out as he tried to make in-roads down the right.
Former Blue, Jordan Rhodes, was inches away from giving the Owls the lead soon after, his header from Morgan Fox’s cross drifting just wide of the post.
Callum Connolly exploded a 25 yarder that proved too hot to handle for Keiren Westwood, the Republic of Ireland international happy to beat out the shot, then holding firm from Bersant Celina’s effort as chances remained at a premium.
Westwood was in action again as Town started to find a way through the Owls’ rearguard, the ‘keeper saving from Celina’s diving header after Cole Skuse and Garner had linked up, then denying McGoldrick low down.
Ross Wallace responded for Wednesday with a left foot effort that Bart Bialkowski watched go harmlessly wide, the midfielder then curling a free-kick over the bar.
McGoldrick forced a corner from Kenlock’s driven cross, Adam Webster and Luke Chambers combining well at the other end to thwart Rhodes after he looked to get on the end of Wallace’s probing pass, before Waghorn was presented with a chance after Fox’s poor clearance -
Westwood making a comfortable save in an evenly contested first-half.
Freddie Sears replaced McGoldrick - who was on the end of a heavy Glenn Loovens challenge early on - at the break. The striker was immediately in the action, setting up Waghorn whose shot was deflected wide. It was from the corner that Town got the breakthrough on 48 minutes, Jordan Spence heading on and Garner volleying into the net.
Chambers headed over from Waghorn’s free-kick, Waghorn then showing good vision to try and chip Westwood from 40 yards - his radar slightly off before Wednesday made a change with Steven Fletcher on for Fox on the hour.
Celina then sent Sears in on goal with a slide-rule pass, the striker rounding Westwood but forced wide and his shot was blocked.
Kieran Lee replaced Wallace in a second change on 62 minutes and Wednesday were level within a minute, Spence penalised for handball and Hooper finished in style from the penalty spot.
Hooper diverted the influential Barry Bannan’s shot wide as Wednesday threatened a second, Blues then introducing Huws for his first game of the season after recovering from an achilles injury, Celina making way.
The Wales international’s first significant touch paved the way for Town to go back in front on 70 minutes, he hooked the ball inside for Waghorn to head home.
Grant Ward entered the fray for the closing stages, replacing Waghorn. Spence almost made it three for Town after good work by Sears but Town looked to have held on until Nuhiu’s header salvaged a point for the visitors.
Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Chambers, Webster, Kenlock, Waghorn (Ward 77), Skuse, Connolly, Celina (Huws 68), McGoldrick (Sears 46) Garner. Subs not used: Gerken, Iorfa, Nydam, Bru. Booked: Skuse.
Sheff Wed: Westwood, Hunt, Fox (Fletcher 60), Rhodes (Nuhiu 85), Butterfield, Bannan, Loovens, Hooper, Lees, Reach, Wallace (Lee 62). Subs not used: Wildsmith, Jones, Van Aken, Palmer. Booked: Lee, Hunt.
Att:15,702