Sheffield Wednesday's winless start to the season continued on Saturday lunchtime as they played out at 1-1 draw with Barnsley, their eighth draw from twelve matches.
Dave Jones' side got off to a slow start at Oakwell and fell behind when captain Reda Johnson was caught into possession. Striker Marcus Pederson capitalised, firing his first effort against the post before taking full advantage when the ball found its way back to him by volleying in past a helpless Chris Kirkland.
Further chances were few and far between for either side in a first half during which Wednesday struggled to get going and striker Matt Fryatt barely got a touch of the ball.
Shortly after half-time Wednesday replaced Jermaine Johnson with Atdhe Nuhiu and the presence of the tall striker alongside Fryatt gave the Owls a route back into the game. The visitors were denied a clear penalty when a ball into the box was taken off Nuhiu's head by the hand of Tykes defender M'Voto but Wednesday were soon back on level terms.
Barnsley cleared a corner to the halfway line but Helan returned the ball into the danger where Reda Johnson nodded down to Fryatt who unleashed an unstoppable volley to match Pederson's first half strike to restore parity.
Within moments the Owls almost had the lead when Roger Johnson headed across goal to find Antonio six yards out but he struck his shot straight at Butland in the Barnsley goal and Fryatt fired the rebound into the crowd.
Nuhiu headed just wide in the closing stages and in the end a draw seemed a fair result but not one which will do either side a great deal of good.
As it transpired Yeovil's victory over Nottingham Forest in the afternoon kick-off meant that Wednesday slipped to the bottom of the Championship table with Barnsley just one place above them.
A quarter of the season has now passed without a solitary victory and with Reading, a revitalised Derby County, the visit of Huddersfield, who have a good recent record at Hillsborough, and high flying Blackpool, Leicester, Forest and Watford next up on the horizon, even the most positive Owls fan would be hard pressed to seeing a winning run coming together any time soon.
Source: Owls-Mad
Source: FOOTYMAD
