Henrik Pedersen admitted the timing of Hull City's goal hurt his Sheffield Wednesday side after they competed well against the Championship play-off chasers.

The Owls took the lead through Jamal Lowe in East Yorkshire, only to surrender it 94 seconds later to a Matt Crooks equaliser.

Still, they were on course to go in level at half-time only for Dominic Iorfa to put through his own net with one of the last touches of the first half.

And Kyle Joseph's finish to a sweeping move started when Tayo Adaramola gave up possession left the result in no doubt with 58 minutes gone.

The game ended 3-1.

Pedersen called it a "top first half".

"I think we competed on a high level in the first half," he continued.

"We knew one of the reasons why Hull is at the top of the league is they are a strong pressing team, so strong on the transition, and physically very competitive.

MIXED FEELINGS: Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen (Image: Steve Ellis)

placeholder image — MIXED FEELINGS: Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen (Image: Steve Ellis)

"We handled this (in) the first half in a very good way. We handled the pressing well and we handled the second balls well because we know they are a little bit more direct at home.

"We went 1-0 up but in the next attack we conceded. Beside this we had two big chances.

"After the goal we came back strong again, it was an equal game.

"But to conceded an own goal from the last ball of the first half, it was tough for the boys.

OWN GOAL: Dominic Iorfa (Image: Ed Sykes/Getty Images)

"But the first four or five minutes they were on top of the game then we had 10 minutes where we were on top of the game and we had more pressing situations from transitions and more phases in possession.

"We lost the ball on the left side and they scored a transition goal.

"At 3-1 we all know it's difficult but the boys kept on trying.

"We showed we can compete in many ways but we also showed we have a lot to learn."

But when the goals came was hugely important, and all three were poor from an Owls perspective.

"Of course we are all frustrated when we score and how much we have invested to score and then we speak a lot about our reaction when we score or concede a goal to be compact and do all the simple things," said Pedersen.

"That they came so easily through, of course it was not good enough.

"It hurt but the reaction of the boys, how we took this punishment and punished them back, how we came back in the game, it shows me the boys never give up.

"We hut ourselves with an own goal but we came strong in the game again.

"They put everything on the pitch they were able to. Big respect for them."