A dominant Hillsborough display from the Owls Under-21s ended in a 1-0 defeat to Swansea on Monday lunchtime.
An early red card for the Welsh side’s captain Filip Lissah saw Wednesday spend much of the game in control, but the visitors capitalised on our profligacy in the dying embers.
Substitute Malik Cadogan delivered the knockout blow on 88 minutes as the Swans caught the hosts on the break.
A 45-minute runout for long-term absentee Juan Delgado was the biggest positive from the contest that all but ended the young Owls’ slim title hopes.
The first chance of note fell to the ever-busy Favour Onukwuli, who stung the hands of Evan Watts after cutting inside from the left.
At the other end, Pierce Charles made a strong save to deny Ben Lloyd from the edge of the area before Aimar Govea’s header bounced wide.
The Swans were reduced to 10 men on 17 minutes when last defender Lissah felled Bruno Fernandes as the forward was closing in on goal.
Despite the setback, Swansea had two chances to take the lead in quick succession.
Mitchell Bates’ shot from range was comfortably held by Charles, before Kygell Wilson weaved his way into the box but dragged wide of the far post.
Wednesday started to make their numerical advantage count and were dominating possession, but the final ball was lacking as the Swans stood firm.
The Owls were almost punished at the other end when Wilson came close to giving his side the lead against the run of play.
The forward found space in the area after being picked out with a high ball but mishit his effort wide.
Andy Holdsworth’s side continued their momentum in the second half as the hosts searched for the breakthrough.
Substitute Sean Fusire forced an excellent save from Watts after spinning on the edge of the area.
Gabriel Otegbayo found himself in the opposition area and was neatly laid off by Fernandes, but the big defender’s shot was scuffed into the hands of Watts.
Onukwuli struck powerfully at the near post but the Swans stopper was equal to it once more.
Then, the decisive moment came two minutes from time as Wednesday piled bodies forward in the final stages.
The ball was cleared and Swansea found themselves in a three on one situation, Cadogan was played through into the area, stabbing the ball into an empty net after his initial shot was well saved by Charles.
Wednesday will wonder how they left without victory in a rare disappointing day for our 21s this campaign.
But the first team will certainly find solace in a positive return to action for Chile international Delgado.
Wednesday | Charles, Siqueira, Adetoro, Otegbayo, Reed (Flannery 81), Thornton, Brennan, Delgado (Phuthi 45), Buchan (Fusire 58), Onukwuli, Fernandes
