The Owls put on a committed display on a pitch showing wear and tear, earning their way back into the match through Josh Windass' fourth goal of the season in the 68th minute. The defeat was Wednesday's second in succession against promotion-challenging sides but registered no embarrassment in a 2-1 defeat.
Danny Rohl used every inch of his options from the bench, making a quadruple substitution on the hour, and his side perhaps had the better of the second half. But Ben Sheaf's opener was perhaps a microcosm of the quality the Owls are up against this season, his slick twist and finish leaving debutant goalkeeper James Beadle with no answer.
The result leaves Wednesday five points short of the survival line and a place further back in the pack - in 23rd place. Here are our ratings from a frustrating afternoon at S6.
5. Marvin Johnson - 7
Went about his business calmly. Took the ball up the pitch a couple of times and made one scrambling interception that could well have been goal-saving. Has heaps of quality and burst about to put in a couple of excellent crosses. | UGC / Steve Ellis
6. Liam Palmer - 6
Tidy if not spectacular. Put a huge shift in as he usually does and used the ball well. Off in the last minutes for Wilks. | UGC / Steve Ellis
7. Will Vaulks - 6
Positioning was great, there to stop a couple of attacks and make important interventions. Made more tackles than anyone else while he was on the field. Waned a little. Off in a search for energy in the hour. | UGC / Getty
8. Barry Bannan - 6
His customary moments of quality were there. Battled hard in the middle of midfield. Got sent with a bit of quality by Sheaf for the goal in his desperation to block. | UGC / Steve Ellis