Big-match verdict: Sheffield Wednesday toil but mark is placed in debit column

Chasing a fifth straight win for the first time in a decade and knowing that three points would ensure the weekend trip to Leeds United would be made sitting above their Yorkshire rivals in the table, the Owls blew it.

Despite dominating possession and having 19 of the 31 chances created at a cold Hillsborough, Carlos Carvalhal’s men were left frustrated by a combination of their own profligacy and some inspired goalkeeping by Daniel Bentley to suffer a first home defeat since November.

Fernando Forestieri did curl in an exquisite tenth goal of the season in stoppage-time, but it was too little, too late after goals from defensive duo John Egan and Harlee Dean had earlier done the damage for the Bees, whose chairman Matthew Benham bought the London club after making his fortune with gambling firm Smartodds.

The smart money still suggests Wednesday – along with their Yorkshire neighbours Leeds and Huddersfield Town – will finish in the play-offs.

Last night, however, was very much a missed opportunity for the Owls in terms of ensuring seventh-placed Norwich City are kept at arm’s length during the run in.

It was not for the want of trying, particularly in a second half largely played out deep in Brentford territory.

On another night, Wednesday could have had three or even four goals as they laid siege to Bentley’s goal during a second-half onslaught.

However, as the final whistle blew to appreciative applause from the home supporters, there was no mistaking the dejection felt by everyone in a blue shirt.

The damage had been done towards the end of a first half that had been something of a slow burner before exploding into life around the half-hour mark.

Two set-pieces, the bane of any manager’s life, were what ultimately undid the Owls.

The first came 10 minutes before the interval, Ryan Woods curling a 40-yard free-kick to see John Egan rise highest amid a scrum of players before beating Kieren Westwood with a looping header.

Wednesday’s goalkeeper was left similarly exposed on the stroke of half-time when a corner from Jota from the left flank caught his defence flat-footed and Dean headed in unchallenged from close range.

Both goals came from decisions that the 25,014 crowd vehemently felt referee Darren Bond had got wrong.

The Hillsborough faithful were also left incensed by Bond failing to award a penalty after Forestieri had tumbled to the ground under pressure from Dean shortly before Brentford had gone ahead.

It was, therefore, no surprise when the officials left the field to a cacophony of boos at the interval as the locals vented their fury.

Part of this, though, will have been down to frustration surely at how their side had failed to capitalise on their own openings in those opening 45 minutes.

Jordan Rhodes was unable to take three chances that a striker of his calibre invariably buries.

First, the Middlesbrough loanee made a total hash of converting a Liam Palmer cross.

His next two spurned opportunities, though, were rather more unfortunate as Dean pulled off a quiet brilliant last-gasp block before a stooping header skimmed the top of the crossbar.

It was a similar story for the Owls after the restart, as Forestieri’s cross just evaded Sam Winnall and Rhodes before Ross Wallace dragged a shot wide from the edge of the area.

Forestieri was the next to go close with a header that flew agonisingly wide before the Argentinian went closer with a shot that Bentley blocked.

As the game moved into the final quarter, Brentford were struggling to get out of their own half and Bentley again came to the rescue with a flying save to keep out Forestieri’s curled free-kick.

A goalmouth scramble then saw Rhodes have a shot blocked on the line before Steven Fletcher contrived to hit a post from just two yards out with a header.

Bentley was at it again moments later to keep out Wallace and then Vincent Sasso shot wide with the goal at his mercy after Winnall’s shot had been parried.

Forestieri finally broke Brentford’s resistance three minutes into stoppage-time, but it was insufficient as the Owls lost for the first time on home soil since Ipswich Town had triumphed by the same scoreline on November 5.

Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood; Palmer, Sasso, Loovens (Fletcher 81), Reach’ Wallace, Hutchinson, Abdi (McManaman 66), Bannan (Winnall 46); Forestieri, Rhodes. Unused substitutes: Wildsmith, Pudil, Semedo, Jones.

Brentford: Bentley; Colin, Dean, Egan, Henry (Field 86); Jota, Yennaris, McEachran (Kerschbaumer 45), Woods, Canos (Jozefzoon 63); Sawyers. Unused substitutes: Bonham, Bjelland, Clarke, Shaibu.

Referee: D Bond (Lancashire).