Sheffield Wednesday twice took the lead but could not quite finish the job as Hull City battled back for a 2-2 draw in an absorbing Boxing Day contest at Hillsborough. Bottom of the Championship and hampered by hefty points deductions, the Owls produced one of their most spirited displays of the season, only for Mohamed Belloumi and Matt Crooks to cancel out goals from Svante Ingelsson and Bailey Cadamarteri.
For Hull, the point preserved their place in the top six but felt like a missed opportunity. A win would have lifted Sergej Jakirovic’s side to third, yet a flat first-half display and a failure to find a late winner meant their three-game winning run came to an end. Wednesday, who move to minus eight points and remain some 30 adrift after financial penalties, are still without a home league victory this season, but this tenacious performance suggested there is at least some fight left in their survival bid.
Wednesday’s Bright Start Rewarded by Ingelsson’s Composed Finish
The afternoon began with an unexpected wave of optimism for the home support. Sheffield Wednesday, playing their first home Boxing Day fixture since the 2015/16 campaign, started on the front foot against opponents used to dictating games. Young full-back Harry Amass set the early tone, driving aggressively down the left and combining neatly with Barry Bannan before flashing a byline cross across the face of goal that only just eluded Jamal Lowe at the far post.