With both teams in desperate need for the points it comes as no surprise with the fast paced start to the game, within moments of a Leroy Lita shot missing from a Jeremy Hélan cross, Chris Burke rifles a shot wide. Looking to make home advantage count, City start to impose themselves - particularly Marlon King who after 5mins fires an effort over the crossbar and within a minute forces Chris Kirkland into a save when he tries to chip the Owls keeper. Next to test the visiting number 1 is Wade Elliot but again finds the stopper equal to his effort as The Blues press for the opening goal. In a fast paced attack Wednesday fashion a chance of their own when Lewis Buxton swings in a cross that Hélan smashes into the side-netting. The best chance of the opening 15mins comes from a Danny Pugh in-swinging corner and Miguel Llera heads at goal only for Jack Butland to produce a magnificent save and deny the Spaniard. When Nikola Zigic is felled by Giles Coke, the Wednesday midfielder receives the first yellow card of the match. Following a foul by Zigic on David Prutton, the Serbian international is fouled by Pugh who sees the games second yellow. Birmingham's goalkeeper has been under criticism lately but seems inspired in this opening 20mins and when a whipped Michail Antonio cross is delivered, the young keeper comes and claims. A pinpoint cross by Burke into the Owls box is met by Zigic but the towering forward can only head wide. A long range Elliot strike goes the same way as Birmingham's accuracy seems wayward. When Owls loanee Connor Wickham is fouled by Steven Caldwell, Antonio smashes a 30yard free kick well over the bar. On the 28th minute, Wednesday concede their third free-kick when Wickham fouls Paul Caddis and Elliot's cross is again met by Zigic who heads wide. Keen to make amends, Sunderland loanee Wickham fires an effort wide from distance as the defenders stand off the forward. Antonio tries his luck moments later - again from distance and again unable to test Butland. Jonathan Spector swings an accurate cross in at the other end and Elliot sees his shot well blocked by Buxton before Burkes cross is dealt with by the solid Llera. The last chance of the half falls to the visitors when the ever-improving Buxton crosses a deep ball onto the head of Leroy Lita who can only manage to head wide.
HT. Not the greatest of 45mins football ever seen but going into the break with a clean sheet and a solid back line is encouraging. Stoke City won the race to sign Jack Butland and in the previous encounter he was the weak link, he seems a different player this time out - confident and solid. After an Apple Tango and a KitKat Chunky I'm ready for the second half! 
The opening exchanges are quickly taken by Wednesday, forcing 2 corners that The Blues clear easily and an Antonio cross that Martin Taylor meets causes no alarm at the back. Birmingham's forward Zigic is lucky to escape the referees book when he commits his fourth foul of the game, this time on Coke in the 49th minute. The game is sparked into life and the Owls see a Pugh corner cleared by Steven Caldwell before Buxton clears a dangerous Burke cross at the other end. When Caddis fouls Hélan it seems the Blues players can do nothing to get into the book but when Antonio fouls Mitch Hancox minutes later, the third Wednesday player sees yellow making it four fouls but three yellows to City's 8 fouls and no bookings. On the hour mark, great technique by Wickham sees the youngster turn and fire a shot goal-ward but the ball flies wide as the stalemate continues. Again the game sparks to life - Hancox seeing Taylor clear his cross before Pugh fires a long distance effort harmlessly wide and a quick attack by City has Buxton clearing Burkes ball in. When Spector fouls Coke it provides the break in play for Jermaine Johnson to replace Wickham on the 65th minute. Having been publicly slated and dropped for a lacklustre training session, Zigic has a point to prove and in the 67th minute he almost makes it, firing wide from 6 yards when it looked easier to score. Kirkland is forced into a great save by a King shot and Wednesday counter - resulting in a 35 yard strike by Lita going harmlessly wide when he had the support of J.Johnson. When the Jamaican gets his chance to run at the defence he does moments later, earning a corner that Pugh delivers straight to the impressive Butland. Sheffield Wednesday are turning up the pressure on Lee Clarke's men and Elliot is forced into a clearance from Antonio's corner and Burke courageously blocks J.Johnsons shot just before Antonio fires his shot over the crossbar. On the 75th minute Zigic has another good chance as his close range header flies over the bar to the frustration of the Blues fans. Just a minute later and J.Johnson is found by Hélan and fires a shot well saved by Butland again. Gary Madine comes on to replace Lita in the 77th minute and Rhys McCabe replace Coke minutes later for the Owls final substitution. With 9mins left J.Johnson is fouled by Burke and Antonio's ball in is met by Madine who from close range manages to put the ball wide. With that break in play, Birmingham replace King with Peter Lovenkrands. True to form for the referee, when Llera is judged to have fouled Burke he rushes to his pocket to flash yet another yellow card. As City advance Burke crosses the ball but is taken out by Hélan as he does so and when the free-kick is awarded McCabe sees yellow (no surprise!) for dissent. A brilliant pitch-length run by J.Johnson culminates in him skipping past the last man but firing over Butlands bar. Deep into injury time and Burke floats a ball into the box which is cleared and the final whistle is blown.
FT. It feels more like 2 points dropped than 1 gained - especially with the second half performance. The Owls were not content with settling for a point, fighting until the last which is good to see. Birmingham had the better first half, winning every second ball and looked very dangerous on the attack. Wednesdays back line has improved dramatically over the last few weeks, just what we need in the relegation battle we find ourselves in. Attendance: 15,738 (1,953 Owls)
Owls Man of the Match: Llera (solid and dependable, would have scored too but for that amazing Butland save)
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