Owls suffer first summer setback

Last updated : 23 July 2014 By C. Morris

After two positive warm up match results in England, against York and Bury, Sheffield Wednesday succumbed to their first defeat of the summer, losing 2-1 to Russian top flight side FC Arsenal Tula.

The match was played in searing heat in Maribor, Slovenia where the Owls are spending a week as part of their preparations ahead of the new season.

It was Wednesday who got off to a flying start when Michail Antonio put them in front inside five minutes, cutting inside in typical robust fashion before firing a low shot home.

The lead was to last barely 5 minutes however as Bazanov lobbed a cool strike over advancing Owls keeper Westwood to level the scores.

A lively first-half came to a close with Nuhiu striking the bar when well placed having been set up by Antonio.

The second half was a more sedate affair with both sides making use of their squads via the substitutes bench.

It was the Russians who managed the decisive moment with 5 minutes remaining when Ryzhkov fired past young substitute Joe Wildsmith in the Owls goal.

Wednesday's next test ahead of the Championship kick-off comes at League One side Doncaster Rovers on Sunday.