Barry Bannan's class, the controversial penalty and well-worked set plays - Four talking points after Sheffield Wednesday's battling victory over Bristol City

The midfielder's 85th minute spot-kick proved decisive as the Owls moved up to third in the Championship at the halfway stage of the season.

Here are Wednesday writer Dom Howson's four talking points.

The penalty

Was referee Tony Harrington right to point to the spot after Tommy Rowe tangled with Atdhe Nuhiu on the edge of the area? Garry Monk thought so, but Bristol boss Lee Johnson was left fuming with the call.

It was a contentious decision. Some observers felt it was soft.

But I thought it was a clumsy challenge and a naive piece of defending from Rowe. He got too tight to Nuhiu and gave Harrington a decision to make.

Barry Bannan loves playing against Bristol City

The diminutive midfielder has now scored in the last two meetings with Robins and three times in the last four years.

In the absence of Steven Fletcher, Bannan stepped up to take Wednesday's 85th minute penalty and confidently sent Daniel Bentley the wrong way.

Bannan, a class act at this level, drove the Owls on throughout. His energy and ability to dictate play with his passing played an integral part in Wednesday's side getting the job done.

Steven Fletcher was a big miss

Fletcher has been the leader of Wednesday's attack this season, hitting 12 goals in 21 league outings this season.

But illness kept him out of this Championship fixture and Fletcher's presence in attack was sorely missed. Nuhiu, Fletcher's replacement, put himself about but Wednesday could have done with Fletcher's physicality and ability to link the midfield and forward line.

Set piece improvement

There were several corner routines straight from the training ground that nearly caught Bristol out either side of the break.

Not only did Bannan run the show in the centre, but his delivery from dead ball situations was exceptional at times. He found Liam Palmer with a well-flighted corner in the first peiod only for the full-back's strike to be blocked and cleared away by Korey Smith.

Winger Adam Reach also blazed over after the break after another good pick out by Bannan.