Rewind back to the opening day of the current campaign and Sheffield Wednesday, fresh from promotion, claw back a 2-0 deficit at Pride Park to claim a point. Since then County have been pushing for a play-off position whilst Wednesday battle against relegation back to League One. Mid-week coup Connor Wickham starts on the Owls bench as the home side look to continue the recent run of form that saw Brighton humbled 3-1 last time out, whilst the Rams were hoping to build on the 3-0 mauling of Huddersfield Town. 
As the music comes to an end, the road of the Hillsborough crowd greets the 2 teams as the match gets underway and with 30 seconds on the watch, Derby come close to opening the scoring. A low driven shot by former Sheffield United hit-man Jamie Ward has Chris Kirkland sprawling down low and swiping the ball to keep the scores level. After the near miss, Wednesday go on the offensive and a Lewis Buxton cross is met by Kieran Lee whose shot is comfortably saved by Adam Legzdins. A wasted Ward corner is followed by a Michail Antonio cross that John Brayford blocks well and Antonio's corner is cleared as far as Jeremy Hélan who sees his cross cleared by Paul Coutts. The travelling side are having the majority of the ball and look more dangerous with it in the early stages, but have keeper Legzdins to thank for claiming two Owls corners, first by Antonio and then loanee Danny Pugh. The first booking of the game comes on the 20th minute following a foul by Hélan on the lively Conor Sammon - the Owls winger seeing yellow. Just 2mins later and the net is rippling, a brilliant sweeping attack by Derby cut through the home defence and Jeff Hendrick fires into the bottom right-hand corner to give Derby a 0-1 lead. A man that has come back from his loan spell a much better player, then has a shot from distance as David Prutton fires over from 25yards. When Kirkland claims a Coutts cross, Wednesday follow up with Hélan crossing into a packed Derby box but the referees whistle stops play as a 50/50 collision goes the away sides way and a free-kick is awarded. Just past the half hour mark and loanee Connor Wickham enters the fray for his debut, replacing Kieran Lee. The offside flag prevents Ward being through on goal and a quick attack by Wednesday results in a 25yard driven shot by Antonio that is well saved by Legzdins. The loanee combination of Lita & Wickham link up well and a dangerous ball across goal by the Sunderland man evades everybody in the box as Wednesday see another chance go begging. Derby goal scorer Hendrick then sees yellow for a foul on Antonio as the Owls struggle to build any momentum against the well-drilled Rams side. The half ends following a scrappy period culminating in Lita being flagged offside and a Pugh corner cleared by Brayford.
Just as Derby started the first half at lightening pace, Wednesday start the second the same way - a 25yard shot blasted over by Antonio as the Owls hope to get back into the game quickly. Heeding the warning, the Rams launch the next attack with a cross by Hendrick into the box and when Llera and Ward clash, the referee is quick to blow his whistle and award Derby a penalty. Somewhat harsh on the Spanish defender but Ward capitalises on the chance, picking himself up to slot past Kirkland and double the advantage. The goal galvanises the home side, roared on by loud support and Lita fires an effort over the bar from inside the area before Richard Keogh blocks another of his goal-ward shots. On the 50th minute a swinging corner causes panic in the Derby box and Antonio prods the ball over the line to give the Owls a morale boosting goal which has Hillsborough rocking and the home team momentum. A few minutes later and Brayford enters the referees book - seeing yellow for fouling Hélan. 6 minutes after Wednesdays first goal comes the second, Antonio beating his man out wide and crossing perfectly for an onrushing Llera to make amends and head home the equaliser - his fifth of the season and send the stadium into raptures. The game becomes more open as both teams search for a winning goal and Kirkland claims two Ward corners before Antonio fizzes his shot against Jake Buxton at the other end. With 74mins gone, Derby manager Nigel Clough replaces midfielder Coutts with Ben Davies and a few minutes later Ward for Theo Robinson. Debutant Wickham almost puts the Owls in the lead following good midfield play which results in the England U21 player volleying an effort that Legzdins saves well. The resulting corner is taken by Antonio as Wednesday look to finish on too but Brayford reacts first and clears. When the defender is fouled by Hélan, it proves to be the last contribution of the pacey winger and he is replaced by Jermaine Johnson in the 86th minute. When the Owls captain, Anthony Gardner fouls Will Hughes on the edge of the box - Derby fail to capitalise as Davies' set-piece hits the wall. The Rams make their final change when Michael Jacobs replaces the influential Will Hughes. In the 93rd minute J.Johnson embarks on a trademark run - beating 2 men before firing a low shot that is saved by Legzdins. Just before the final whistle, Wickham is shown yellow for unsporting behaviour and both teams settle for a share of the points.
FT. Another good comeback but mistakes are getting costlier. I am a Llera fan but the mistakes he makes are punished 9 times out of 10 and he needs to cut them out. The decision was harsh but as Ward was facing away from goal he could have stood off. It was definitely a game of 2 halves as Derby dominated the first, Wednesday the second. Wickham looks a good acquisition and a partnership with Lita looks one that could blossom. Attendance: 25,765
Owls Man of the Match: Wickham (tireless, good work-rate, link-up play and some Premiership class)
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