SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1 (Bothroyd 43), LEEDS 1 (Tonge 76)

Sheffield Wednesday: Kirkland, Buxton, Gardner, Corry (Mayor 84) Llera, Semedo, Antonio, Jones, Barkley, O'Grady (Madine 84), Bothroyd. Subs: Bywater, Taylor, Pecnik, Johnson, Rodri

Leeds: Kenny, Peltier (Varney 68), Lees, Pearce, White, Austin (Norris 46), Brown,Tonge, Byram, Becchio, Diouf. Subs: Ashdown, Drury, Green, Gray, Hall

Referee:  E Ilderton

Booked: Jones, Gardner (Weds)

Att: 28,582 (5,300 Leeds)

Manager Neil Warnock was able to name an unchanged side for the televised trip to Sheffield Wednesday as United returned to league action after the international break. New loan signing Ryan Hall was on the subs bench.

It was a disjointed opening 10 minutes or so, but Wenesday had the first proper sight on goal when Paddy Kenny appeared to flap at a shot from distance -  but the ball came back off the bar and into the United keeper's hands.

The Owls, who were enduring a barren run, appeared to take heart from the early moments and a well crafted chance was wasted with a poor finish.

Home goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was called into action on 20 minutes, though, when he had to be alert to claw away a well struck free-kick from Michael Tonge.

But the hosts felt aggrieved before the half-hour when their appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears after claims that Luciano Becchio had handled a corner.

The home side were having the better of things, but when Tonge almost picked out Becchio with a cross, Wednesday goalkeeper Kirkland was all at sea, and you sensed a vulnerability at the back for Wednesday.

The first half was petering out into something of a stop-start affair with little fluency and the home side were clearly getting frustrated that they had not had the chance to build some momentum given their bright start.

But they did get their breakthrough two minutes before the interval when Jay Bothroyd  converted a set piece with a well-placed header to beat the outstretched Kenny.

Warnock made a change at half-time with Rodolplh Austin, who had returned after the lengthy trip to represent Jamaica, being replaced by David Norris in the midfield.

There were a couple of early bookings for the home side as their physical approach continued and Tonge sent a free-kick just over Kirkland's bar after one foul on the edge of the box.

As the game passed the hour mark there was little in the way of entertainment as the clash was shaping up to be a real scrappy affair, but Bothroyd did fluff a half-chance for the home side. Anthony Gardner also won a corner after his shot was turned over the bar.

On 65 minutes, it was United who went on the front foot and after Michael Brown had a shot blocked there were appeals for a handball after Norris had an effort blocked.

United made an enforced change moments later when skipper Lee Peltier, who appeared to have picked up a knock, was replaced by Luke Varney.

And United were level with less than 15 minutes on the clock when Michael Tonge lashed home an equaliser. The celebrations were marred as Wednesday goalkeeper Kirkland received treatment following an apparent incident in the aftermath of the goal.

There were little in the way of further chances for either side as the game headed towards the five additional minutes of stoppage time.