Sheffield Wednesday vs Leicester City. Sky Bet Championship.
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Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City at Hillsborough on Wednesday | Abdul Fatawu's first half strike cancelled out by Jeff Hendrick's dramatic late equaliser
Wednesday 29 November 2023 23:04, UK
Struggling Sheffield Wednesday snatched a stoppage-time equaliser against Championship leaders Leicester in a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough.
Jeff Hendrick netted in the third minute of injury time to earn bottom side Wednesday a deserved point after a spirited performance following Abdul Fatawu's 23rd-minute opener for the Foxes.
Wednesday skipper Barry Bannan spurned a golden opportunity inside the opening 30 seconds, dragging his shot wide after finding himself through on goal following a mistake from Ricardo Pereira.
Callum Paterson threatened to punish another defensive lapse minutes later, with Bannan again involved before the striker saw his effort blocked.
Another chance came Wednesday's way when a Will Vaulks free-kick was met by Bambo Diaby, whose header was comfortably saved by Mads Hermansen.
Leicester's lead came when Stephy Mavididi sent over a cross from the left which went all the way to the unmarked Fatawu at the far post and he chested the ball down before firing past keeper Cameron Dawson.
Bailey Cadamarteri had a chance in the latter stages of the half when the ball fell to him but his well-struck shot was blocked.
Wednesday's George Byers then had a tame effort easily saved by Hermansen after the break as the hosts continued to threaten.
Kasey McAteer had a chance to extend Leicester's lead late on but he poked the ball wide after receiving a pass from Jamie Vardy.
Wednesday's Marvin Johnson then fired in a low shot but it was straight at Hermansen.
But the equaliser came in the third minute of time added on when the ball was lofted into the area and Paterson's cushioned header fell perfectly into the path of Hendrick who finished with ease.
Jannik Vestergaard threatened to score with a header at the death, forcing Dawson to make an important save to preserve an impressive point for Danny Rohl's side.
Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Rohl:
"Our players did so very well today. When you look how we played against the first of the table, how we pressed and how we played football. We had two big chances after five minutes to go in the lead. We believed in our match-plan and we did well. It's a good feeling at the end that we had a happy end. It's important that everybody is believing in us, supporting us and sometimes being a little bit patient. I know that sometimes it looks a little bit calm but we need this calmness to prepare the next action.
"My players did very well. It was good energy. It's not easy when you play a team with so much quality. It's a Premier League team. We fight for everything. It is massive for us. I believe in my players and I believe in the club. I'm in the right place and I enjoy every single day. I'm looking to Saturday to do it again. We deserved it. We pressed at the right moment and prepared good actions. At the end, I take the point for sure. I think it was deserved and it is great to see how we can work as a team together."
Leicester's Enzo Maresca:
"Championship games, they never finish. Sometimes we can concede, like tonight. That's been a shame because the game was almost finished. At the end we concede. We try always but we know it's not easy because sometimes, even if you see the table tonight, the first against the last, but it's complicated. This team draw away against Leeds so you never know. I think we controlled the game but at the end we then concede the draw.
"For sure we could do something better, no doubt, on the ball and off the ball, but it is what it is. Still top but this is a long race. In less than 72 hours, we have one more game. Now it is a matter of recovery. The most important thing is to recover the energy. We could do many things better. We create some chances where we need to be a bit more clinical. I think at two-nil the game is finished - we kill the game. The idea was to allow players to recover for the next game. You need to refresh."
