Norwich end six-match losing run with draw at Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich battled to a 1-1 draw in a lively game which saw plenty of second-half goalmouth action but did little to improve the struggling sides’ fortunes.

After Barry Bannan found the net with a fine individual goal early on, Norwich rallied after the break, with substitute Mathias Kvistgaarden equalising to end the Canaries’ six-match losing run.

Norwich boss Liam Manning, who admitted he was “hurting” and apologised to fans after his side’s 2-0 defeat at home to Hull at the weekend, must have feared the worst after conceding in the opening minutes.

The Owls had survived a scare in the first 60 seconds when Josh Sargent fired wide after being put through on goal by Jovon Makama.

Bannan struck in the fourth minute with a superb effort on the run from around 30 yards, the ball arrowing into the top left-hand corner of Vladan Kovacevic’s net.

Bannan threatened again with another shot from distance shortly afterwards, but this time the goalkeeper was equal to it, getting down to his right to beat the ball away.

There were chances at either end in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.

Wednesday’s Svante Ingelsson advanced into the area after being sent clear by Ike Ugbo but Kovacevic was alert to the danger and got down smartly to make an important save.

At the other end, Oscar Schwartau dragged his shot wide from the left-hand side of the area.

Jamal Lowe spurned a great opportunity for the hosts, firing wide at the far post.

Moments later, the Sheffield Wednesday defence was caught out by an incisive pass through the middle from Kenny McLean to Sargent and he slipped the ball to Kvistgaarden who slotted into the unguarded net for a 61st-minute equaliser.

It proved to be an action-packed second half with chances at either end in the final half an hour.

Jeffrey Schlupp fired wide for Norwich while Ingelsson and Sean Fusire both threatened for the home side. The former shot wide from just inside the Norwich half after Kovacevic’s mis-placed clearance from outside his area left his net exposed, while Fusire’s low shot was well saved by the keeper.

Kovacevic again came to his side’s rescue in the closing stages with a fine reflex save to keep out Bailey Cadamarteri’s thumping shot from inside the area.

Norwich went close to snatching a winner in time added on when Kvistgaarden’s downward header forced a fine save from Ethan Horvath down to his right.