At The Hawthorns in November, Albion went down to 10 men because of injuries and were hit by a Steve Watson equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Their manager Tony Mowbray raged against the referee over several decisions and ended up on an FA charge.

Last night it was the Owls' turn to suffer through Jermaine Johnson's sending-off and a Kevin Phillips' winner after five added minutes.

Johnson's red card - given after ref Andy D'Urso consulted a linesmen - so upset Brian Laws that he advanced 10 yards down the touchline in an attempt to protest to the assistant referee and was held back by the fourth official. He then had words with Mr D'Urso on the pitch.

Emotions had been stirred by a running battle between Johnson and Jonathan Greening and by its outcome.

Laws and Mowbray were close to the incident and saw little wrong but were speaking before reviewing the video.

What it showed was that, with Greening niggling him from behind, the Wednesday winger flung up his left arm around three times and once seemed to catch the Albion captain in the face.

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Johnson may have been acting instinctively in an attempt to shake off an opponent and not intending to hurt Greening but players know that anyone who raises an arm risks dismissal.

The Owls winger was lucky to escape a sending-off for the same offence in a clash with Charlton left back Kelly Youga last month, when Laws felt that both players should have gone.

There was a case for Greening to get the red card too for it seems that he grabbed Johnson by the throat in retaliation - but a mere yellow for the midfielder only increased Wednesday's frustration.

The 10-man Owls battled away - as the team had done all evening - but the real sickener came when one Albion sub, James Morrison, crossed to another and Phillips headed his 18th goal of the season.

Then Wednesday learned that Preston had won with a last-gasp goal and left them three points adrift from the safety zone. What a night.

Much of the match was mediocre, with Wednesday doing well to nullify decent opposition but without looking much like scoring.

The Owls did make the first chance: Adam Bolder chipped the ball forward from the position where he crossed for the winner against Cardiff, and this time Richard Wood sent a mistimed header at the keeper from 10 yards.

Lee Grant made a spectacular save in the 24th minute. He flung himself to his right to beat away with one hand a Robert Koren volley from the edge of the box which was hurtling towards the top corner.

In a humdrum first half West Brom should have taken the lead when they were handed a great 37th minute chance.

It came after Chris Brunt, as he walked to take a right-side corner, was first booed by some fans then applauded by others for service rendered, before delivering a typical kick to the far post.

Enoch Showunmi unintentionally headed the ball back into the path of Paul Robinson and the left back shot wide from 10 yards.

Wednesday once again worked hard throughout the 90 minutes and mostly were defensively sound but they lacked creativity and firepower.

A measured ball by Brunt looked as if it was going to put striker Luke Moore in on goal until Tommy Spurr arrived with a brilliant covering tackle.

Then Dean Kiely made a brave save from Showunmi as the striker charged forward after good work from Marcus Tudgay and Graham Kavanagh.

Showunmi followed that with two surging runs at the West Brom defence and looked Wednesday's best bet to force a breakthrough.

But there was a clear chance for Koren in the 70th minute: a long-range shot by Brunt turned into pass when it was laid back to Koren who fired over the top from 14 yards. Laws sought to use Showunmi's running by switching him to the left flank after Ben Sahar replaced Burton O'Brien and partnered Tudgay, just before the sending-off.

Blunt was applauded by many Owls fans when he was taken off; with Wednesday by then down to 10 men, the home crowd's wrath was falling on Greening.

Laws put Showunmi on his own up front, moved Sahar to the left and gave Tudgay a right-side role.

Wednesday could have gone ahead: a cross from Kavanagh saw Sahar sneaking in between two defenders and snaking out a left foot - a true volley could have buried the ball in the net but the striker could not quote make proper contact, in the 88th minute.

Even later, West Brom sub James Morrison sent a tame, free header straight at Grant.

Morrison nearly had a winner in injury time but Grant made a sound block and the impressive Mark Beevers made a vital challenge on the Albion sub when he tried to pounce on the rebound.

The Owls were nearly there - but not quite.

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