Wanderers missed the chance to face Premier League opposition in the second round of the Carabao Cup after a disappointing penalty shoot-out exit, writes Pete Oliver.
Both sides knew before kick-off that a visit from Leeds United awaited the winner and it was Sheffield Wednesday who will now host their Yorkshire neighbours after a morale-boosting victory.
The Owls have had their struggles this summer but with an inexperienced side recovered from the disappointment of losing a lead three times – including to a stunning injury-time equaliser from Wanderers’ substitute Amario Cozier-Duberry – to hold their nerve from the spot.
The Whites – down to 10 men for more than an hour after the dismissal of Sam Inwood – saw efforts from Aaron Morley and Max Conway saved and with Wednesday converting their first four attempts booked their passage through to the delight of a fantastic away support who championed their cause throughout.
Both sides made 10 changes to their starting line-ups from the weekend’s league action, which meant game time for more of Wanderers’ squad and a very youthful Wednesday team in light of the problems of recruitment and retention they have endured over a troubled few months.
Despite that, the Championship side – who gave five senior debuts in an Academy-loaded line-up – went ahead after just eight minutes. Josh Dacres-Cogley looked to have been fouled in the build-up but that’s to take nothing away from the quality of the long-range strike from Gil Siqueira which flew past Tyler Miller.
The Wanderers’ new signing had barely touched the ball up to that point as one of four players making their first starts for the Whites, alongside summer signings Ethan Erhahon and Charlie Warren and teenager Daeshon Lawrence.
Unfortunately for Lawrence, his big night was to last just half an hour as he was the one to make way in an enforced change which saw George Johnston brought on to fill the defensive gap left by the loss of Inwood.
The teenage defender was left as the last man as Wednesday launched another of their counter-attacks and when he made contact with Charlie McNeill rather than the ball just outside the box, the red card duly followed.
Wanderers had enjoyed most of the possession up to that point without really threatening but having been reduced to 10 men they equalised 10 minutes before half-time through Osei-Tutu.
The full-back was the only one of Saturday’s winning side against Plymouth who started again and he timed a far-post run perfectly to nod in an excellent cross from Dacres-Cogley on the opposite flank.
But if that deflated the Owls’ youngsters it didn’t show and two minutes later they were back in front, Wanderers failing to deal with a ball into the box and then allowing captain Ike Ugbo too much space in the penalty area to pick his spot and curl the ball past Miller.
Wanderers therefore had to try and hit back again and just before the break they almost did. Again Osei-Tutu was involved with a low cross touched back by Carlos Mendes Gomes to Erhahon, whose shot was parried by Wednesday keeper Pierce Charles, who was also able to block the follow-up from Warren and deny the youngster his first goal in professional football.
Wednesday were the ones that came quicker out the blocks at the start of the second half, though, and it needed a sharp save from Miller to prevent Olaf Kobacki from adding another with a strike that was bound for the far corner.
And with just over an hour gone Schumacher made a double change to try and increase the goal threat at the other end as Mason Burstow and Gale were thrown into the mix, followed not long afterwards by Cozier-Duberry who immediately created a spark and forced Owls’ defender Ernie Weaver into a block in front of goal.
The Whites suddenly looked like they had a cutting edge and with Wednesday’s youngsters tiring their defence was finally breached with 13 minutes to go.
The visitors were stretched down their right-hand side and when Conway’s cross wasn’t cleared, Gale pounced on the loose ball and after twisting and turning buried a low right-footed shot into the bottom corner.
That should have given the momentum to Wanderers but, remarkably, they again handed in straight back to the visitors who with 10 minutes to go got themselves back in front.
The lively McNeill had already missed one chance when Reece Johnson was given another he didn’t pass up, rolling the ball home to put his side within touching distance of a famous win.
That was briefly denied them when Cozier-Duberry further endeared himself to the fans and showed more of his magic with a magnificent goal, cutting inside onto his left foot and thumping the ball into the back of the net from almost 30 yards.
Cozier-Duberry was on target again with his effort in the shoot-out, when Burstow also converted. But with Wednesday keeper Pierce Charles twice guessing right to deny Morley and Conway, the comeback was in vain.
Wanderers: Miller; Osei-Tutu (Conway HT), Forino, Inwood, Dacres-Cogley; Morley, Erhahon; Warren (Gale 62), McAtee (Burstow 62), Mendes Gomes (Cozier-Duberry 74); Lawrence (Johnston 30). Substitutes: Broome, Simons, Sheehan, Randall.
Booked: Forino
Sent off: Inwood
Sheffield Wednesday: Charles; Emery (M Lowe 69), Weaver, Johnson; Siqueira (Palmer HT), Thornton, Shipston, Kobacki (Alao 81); McNeill; Ugbo (J Lowe 81), Fernandes (Fusire 45+3). Substitutes: Stretch, Grainger, Kamwa.
Booked: Thornton
Referee: Oliver Langford
Attendance: 8,208 (3,148)