Sheffield Wednesday 2 Chesterfield 2 Sheffield Wednesday win 8-7 on penalties: Weaver saves and scores in Owls' shoot-out

Goalkeeper Nicky Weaver was ultimately the Sheffield Wednesday hero – making three stunning saves in a penalty shoot-out before stepping up to score the winner.

But there was despair for Chesterfield manager John Sheridan on his return to the club where he is regarded as a legend.

Sheridan, who spent seven years with the Owls and scored the winning goal in the 1991 League Cup final, watched in disbelief as his players blew two opportunities to win this Northern section second-round tie in the shoot-out.

Just to add to the intrigue, former Owls manager Chris Turner was again in the directors' box ahead of the proposed 15m takeover deal he is fronting on behalf of a Norwegian oil company.

Insiders say the deal is now virtually signed and sealed and, when it happens, will mark the start of a bright new era for the cash-strapped Owls. Time will tell.

Former Owls chairman Dave Allen, now the major backer at Chesterfield but still owed money, did not attend due to a prior engagement.

For the second consecutive round, the Owls had attracted the biggest gate in the competition and, although Hillsborough was nowhere near its 38,000 capacity, there was still a buzz around the famous old stadium for this local derby.

Chesterfield, riding high in League Two, had sold their full allocation of 3,500 tickets and could have sold more.

All three stands for home supporters were open – taking the attendance beyond the 15,000 mark.

Winger Jermaine Johnson was again absent as Owls manager Alan Irvine made six changes to his side. The Jamaican international had undergone knee surgery in the summer but resumed full training in the build-up to last night's game. Midfielders James O'Connor and Tommy Miller and defender Tommy Spurr were rested while Jon Otsemobor, Paul Heffernan, and Marcus Tudgay dropped to the bench.

Lewis Buxton and Daniel Jones returned in the Owls' defence, Gary Teale and Chris Sedgwick in midfield, Clinton Morrison and Neil Mellor in attack.

Sheridan made two changes, dropping Jack Lester and Ian Breckin to the bench and recalling Jordan Bowery and former Owls striker Drew Talbot.

The visitors took the lead on 11 minutes, winger Dean Morgan getting ahead of Darren Purse to convert a cross from Talbot.

But the Owls hit back almost immediately as striker Neil Mellor scored his first goal at Hillsborough since arriving on loan from Preston North End.

Clinton Morrison deserved just as much praise as Mellor for the goal, the striker twisting his way past Simon Ford only for goalkeeper Tommy Lee to block his run. Ford wasted an opportunity to clear and diverted the ball straight into the path of Mellor who passed the ball through Chesterfield's shredded defence and into the net

The Owls breathed a sigh of relief when Jordan Bowery's header beat Weaver and was ruled out for offside. Weaver also had to produce a good save to deny Craig Davies.

Chesterfield's players were intent on proving a point with Sheridan orchestrating proceedings from the technical area. However, as the first half wore on, the Owls grew in confidence. Sedgwick drilled inches wide and goalkeeper Lee twice foiled Morrison.

At the back, Mark Beevers was playing with an assurance sometimes lacking from his game.

Mellor might have scored in first-half stoppage time after running onto a through ball but his shot got stuck between the goalkeeper's legs.

Chesterfield had lost only one game this season and enjoyed frequent spells of pressure.

But the Owls always looked dangerous on the counter attack and were unlucky not to take the lead after 63 minutes when Teale's cross was smashed against the bar by Mellor. The Sheffield-born striker looked disappointed when substituted by Irvine a short time later.

As the game entered its final 20 minutes, the Owls had gained the edge and Purse's header from a corner was cleared off the line.

Chesterfield looked to have snatched victory five minutes from the end when Davies scored following a mix-up between Purse and Buxton.

However, substitute Marcus Tudgay grabbed an 88th-minute equaliser from the spot as a result of Derek Niven's foul on Giles Coke to force penalties.

Tudgay, Coke, Purse, Teale, Otsemobor, Jones, Buxton and Weaver scored for the Owls. Heffernan, Potter, and Sedgwick failed with their kicks.

But it was Weaver's stunning saves from Dwayne Mattis and Simon Ford that kept the Owls in the competition. Chesterfield goalkeeper Tommy Lee missed the target with the final kick.

Sheffield Wednesday: Weaver; Buxton, Purse, Beevers (Otsemobor 90), Jones; Sedgwick, Potter, Coke, Teale; Morrison (Tudgay 78), Mellor (Heffernan 67). Unused substitutes: Jameson, Palmer.

Chesterfield: Lee; Hunt, Ford, Mattis, Griffiths; Bowery; Talbot, Niven, Whitaker, Morgan (Clay 67); Bowery (Lester 79), Davies. Unused substitutes: Redmond, Breckin, Morris.

Referee: S Tanner (Somerset).