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Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Leicester: Jeff Hendrick’s 93rd minute equaliser STUNS Enzo Maresca’s side at the death, after Abdul Fatawu gave the visitors an early lead… but the Foxes will stay top of the Championship table

  • Jeff Hendrick scored a last-gasp equaliser to rescue a draw for Wednesday 
  • Despite that Leicester maintained their lead at the top of the Championship
  • Gary Neville in a heated gilet at Goodison! He used to be a tough defender… what’s going on? Listen to It’s All Kicking Off

As the final whistle sounded, Danny Rohl strode onto the pitch and punched the air manically. With good reason.

His Sheffield Wednesday side, who have won just once this season and remain rock-bottom, had just dramatically denied Championship leaders Leicester maximum points.

After Owls substitute Jeff Hendrick blasted home at the Kop end from close range in the third minute of added time, sparking wild scenes, it almost felt like a victory.

Bonhomie was everywhere at a club who have looked too bad to stay up for much of this season.

Tonight they showed the kind of desire and resilience which provided a glimmer of hope in their battle against the drop.

Jeff Hendrick's 93rd minute goal saw Sheffield Wednesday seal a 1-1 victory against Leicester

Jeff Hendrick’s 93rd minute goal saw Sheffield Wednesday seal a 1-1 victory against Leicester 

While the Foxes dropped points, they'll stay top of the Championship table above Ipswich by one point

While the Foxes dropped points, they’ll stay top of the Championship table above Ipswich by one point

Abdul Fatawu put the visitors a goal up in the first half, hammering a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Cameron Dawson

Abdul Fatawu put the visitors a goal up in the first half, hammering a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Cameron Dawson

Leicester boss Enzo Maresca made six changes but his side, who led through Abdul Fatawu’s 23rd-minute opener, could not put the game to bed.

The Owls battled gamely and were finally rewarded when Hendrick struck, leaving Rohl delighted.

The German, who succeeded the sacked Xisco Munoz last month, said: “It was a massive point for us and we deserved it.

“Leicester have so much quality – they’re a Premier League team – but we kept fighting and I’m proud of my players. I believe in them and in the club.

“This did not look like a bottom placed team playing the top side.”

Foxes counrerpart Maresca reflected: “Championship games are never finished and sometimes you can concede late on.

“No doubt we could have done some things better, but we’re still top. It’s a long race.”

Rohl boasts a CV which has included stints as assistant manager at Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Southampton and the Germany national team.

The gusto with which the home faithful belted out their anthemic ‘Hi Ho Sheffield Wednesday’ song before kick-off served as a reminder of the potential of this fallen giant.

That energy transmitted to the pitch and, remarkably, Wednesday should have led inside the opening 20 seconds.

But the late goal sparked a big celebration from Wednesday boss Danny Rohl who walked onto the pitch and delivered a big fist-pump at full-time

But the late goal sparked a big celebration from Wednesday boss Danny Rohl who walked onto the pitch and delivered a big fist-pump at full-time

Enzo Maresca's side have now dropped points in four matches this season, having also recently lost to Middlesbrough and Leeds

Enzo Maresca’s side have now dropped points in four matches this season, having also recently lost to Middlesbrough and Leeds

Fatawu's goal was their 32nd of the season, and the Leicester players ran to the touchline to celebrate

Fatawu’s goal was their 32nd of the season, and the Leicester players ran to the touchline to celebrate

Match Facts 

Sheffield Wednesday (4-4-1): Dawson; Iorfa, Diaby (Palmer 62′), Bernard, Famewo; Vaulks (Fletcher 79′); Paterson, Byers (Buckley 72′), Bannan (Hendrick 79′), Johnson; Cadamarteri (Musaba 61′).

Subs: Gassama, Ihiekwe, James, Vasquez Llach. 

Goals

Bookings: Famewo, Bannan 

Manager: Danny Rohl

Leicester (4-3-3): Hermansen; Pereira (Choudhury 83′), Coady, Vestergaard, Faes; Winks, Casadei (Dewsbury-Hall 61′), Akgun (Ndidi 61′); Fatawu (McAteer 60′), Vardy, Mavididi.

Subs: Stolarczyk, Souttar, Justin, Iheanacho, Cannon.

Goals: Fatawu 23′

Bookings: Vestergaard, 

Manager: Enzo Maresca

Referee: Samuel Barrott 

Attendance: 39,732 

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Skipper Barry Bannan caught Ricardo in possession on the edge of the Foxes’ 18-yard box before advancing towards goal.

Time almost seemed to stand still and Hillsborough held its breath as the mercurial midfielder steadied himself before dragging a low, left-foot shot wide of Mads Hermansen’s far post.

It was a golden opportunity spurned and Bannan held his head in his hands, but the Scot was instrumental in another big chance for the home side inside the fifth minute.

He won possession and found Callum Paterson, whose shot was blocked, but on a bitterly cold night Leicester gradually warmed to their task.

They began to probe and it came as no surprise when they broke the deadlock in the 18th minute.

Mavididi crossed dangerously from the left flank and at the ball dropped to the unmarked Fatawu at the far post.

He had time and space to control the ball and lash a low left-foot shot past Cameron Dawson.

It was another knife in the side of a team struggling for confidence but Wednesday, who handed a first league start to highly-rated 18-year-old striker Bailey Cadamarteri.

The son of former Everton forward Danny Cadamarteri, who memorably scored in a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in October 1997 as a teenager, caused Leicester problems.

But there was heartache in injury time for Leicester, with Hendrick blasting home in front of the Kop end

But there was heartache in injury time for Leicester, with Hendrick blasting home in front of the Kop end

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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He narrowly failed to connect with a low cross in the 27th minute and then, as the interval approached, he hit a fierce right-foot shot which drew a vital block from a Foxes defender.

Chances grew scarce after the break as Leicester held on comfortably, with captain and boyhood Wednesday supporter Jamie Vardy a lingering threat up front.

The Foxes should have made the game safe in the closing stages but substitute Kasey McAteer could only prod the ball wide from the edge of the six-yard box.

And they were soon punished when Hendrick scored to level the scores, yet there was still time for Leicester to pilfer the points only for Jannik Vestergaard’s header was superbly kept out by Dawson.

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