Wednesday snatch point with late comeback

Norwich City had to settle for a share of the spoils at Hillsborough as a late Sheffield Wednesday comeback rescued a point for the hosts.

Norwich City had to settle for a share of the spoils at Hillsborough as a late Sheffield Wednesday comeback rescued a point for the hosts.

The Canaries had built up a 2-0 lead by half-time but two goals in the final 12 minutes would bring Wednesday back level.

Josh Sargent added another to his tally, with Borja Sainz grabbing the second after just 16 minutes.

Michael Ihiekwe and Michael Smith would both score headers as the Owls clawed their way back.

The Norwich City lineup contained one change from the starting 11 that had beaten Ipswich over the weekend.

Danny Batth came in to replace Shane Duffy who had only recently returned from injury and completed his first 90 minutes in the East Anglian derby win.

The hosts started strongly and almost caught City out early on - Bambo Diaby's header sailing over after Ashley Barnes got a vital touch.

Barnes could have had the opener himself in the ninth minute when he half-volleyed his effort off-target after Marcelino Núñez had won possession and tested the palms of James Beadle.

City weren't waiting too long after that though, Barnes flicking a throw-in towards Sargent who fired to the net.

Sainz almost made it two immediately but Beadle got down well to turn it away for a corner-kick.

His goal did arrive in the 16th minute when City's high press paid dividends again, and this time Beadle was no match to the strike at his near post.

That early flurry of activity soon settled into a pattern of both teams willing to try and test each other out wide but just one opening created.

When that arrived, Batth would make a good recovering tackle on Michael Smith.

After his goal at the weekend, Núñez would almost make it three late in the half but his first-time effort from 25 yards flew agonisingly wide of the post.

The Chilean then found space in the penalty area to shoot again but saw this one fly over the crossbar.

Four changes at the interval gave the hosts renewed energy and they looked to start the second half with pace.

Barry Bannan curled an effort from outside the box, which was comfortably saved by Angus Gunn.

Jack Stacey had a big chance to add another for City after being found by Kenny McLean but he was unable to get the better of Beadle.

As City managed to fend off a series of set-pieces at one end, they looked threatening on the break.

Gabriel Sara was next to get free but his low shot couldn't find the bottom corner.

Callum Paterson was presented with a good opportunity after a mix-up between Ben Gibson and Batth but Gunn wast there to make a vital stop.

Ihiekwe pulled one back after rising highest to meet a corner with just over 10 minutes remaining, ensuring there would be a nervous finish.

And when the leveller arrived, it was again from a corner, this time Smith getting on the end of it.

From there, it would end all square and the Canaries will look to bounce back when they travel to Deepdale on Saturday.

Sheffield Wednesday: Beadle; Iorfa, B Diaby (Paterson h-t), Ihiekwe, Famewo; Palmer (Vaulks h-t), Bannan; Windass (Pedersen h-t), Musaba (Cadamarteri 75), Gassama (Valentin h-t); Smith

Unused subs: Dawson, James, Hendrick, Fletcher

Goals: Ihiekwe (78), Smith (85)

Bookings: Vaulks (76), Bannan (81)

Norwich City: Gunn; Stacey, Batth, Gibson, McCallum; McLean (C), Núñez; Sainz (Duffy 90), Sara, Barnes; Sargent (Gibbs 61 (Fassnacht 64)).

Unused subs: Long, van Hooijdonk, Fisher, Welch, Aboh, Montóia

Goals: Sargent (11), Sainz (16)

Bookings: Barnes (38)

HT: 0-2

FT: 2-2

Referee: Chris Kavanagh

Venue: Hillsborough

Attendance: 28,516