Sheffield Wednesday produced a resilient performance away to Cardiff City on Sunday but ultimately couldn’t stop the Welsh club from picking up their 10th home win on the trot to regain top spot in the Championship.
Dave Jones made a number of changes to his starting line-up after Tuesday 4-1 home defeat to Watford. Antony Gardner and Jay Bothroyd missed out due to injury with Martin Taylor and Chris O’Grady coming in. Danny Mayor and David Prutton replaced Rhys McCabe and Paul Corry.
Cardiff had the territorial advantage for much of the first half and forced a number of corners from their attacking play but they were unable to find a breakthrough. Opportunities for the Owls were few and far between and they were dealt a blow just after the half-hour mark when on-loan Stoke striker Mamady Sidibe limped off injured to be replaced by Gary Madine.
The second half continued in pretty much the same pattern but when Cardiff did find a way past the Owls defence Chris Kirkland was on hand to keep them out.
Wednesday had a gilt-edged chance to stun the home side after about an hour when Michail Antonio put Gary Madine through on goal but the striker saw his effort saved.
That was about as good as it got in an attacking sense for the Owls but it did look like they could be rewarded by becoming the first away side to take a point at the Cardiff City Stadium this season until Craig Conway’s low strike from the edge of the penalty area with 10 minutes to go broke their resistance.
The Owls sent on Rodri as they searched for an equaliser and the Spaniard was only denied by some alert defending late on. Keeper Chris Kirkland was thrown up into the mix as the Owls forced late corners but it wasn’t be as they slumped to a 6th successive defeat which leaves them next to bottom in the league table.