Sheff Wed slipped into the relegation zone after Nicky Maynard's late goal earned Bristol City a 1-0 win.
Maynard strikes winner as Wednesday waste chances
Sheffield Wednesday slipped into the relegation zone after Nicky Maynard's late goal earned Bristol City a 1-0 win at Hillsborough.
Maynard struck nine minutes from time to ensure caretaker manager Keith Millen extended his unbeaten run to five matches since replacing Gary Johnson.
For the Owls, it was a first defeat in seven Championship fixtures, but was enough to send Alan Irvine's men back into the bottom three after relegation rivals Watford drew and Crystal Palace won.
Defeat will be difficult to take for Irvine's men as they wasted a string of second-half chances, with City keeper Stephen Henderson in inspired form.
It was a bright start and both sides had opportunities to go ahead in a chance-laden first 15 minutes.
Tom Soares and Marcus Tudgay both fired over for Wednesday - Tudgay's was a particularly guilty miss as he was unmarked at the far post - while home goalkeeper Lee Grant produced a miraculous save to deny Lewin Nyatanga's prodded effort.
Wednesday had Grant to thank again shortly after as he denied Maynard with another fine stop.
Danny Haynes had pace to burn down the right, beating Mark Beevers before pulling back for his strike partner Maynard, whose low effort was parried by Grant when it should have been converted.
The chances kept flowing and it was Wednesday's turn to create an opening when Leon Clarke closed in on goal, but from an acute angle he chose to shoot rather than square for Tudgay and his effort sailed over the crossbar.
Home pressure
The hosts made an attacking start to the second period and Henderson twice kept his side on level terms.
First he got down well to save Luke Varney's low effort after his surging run into the box and then he had to acrobatically tip Darren Potter's curling free-kick over the crossbar.
And after a concerted spell of home pressure, Henderson produced another fine save as he rushed out to deny the dangerous Varney as Wednesday stepped up their search for an opening goal.
City could not find any momentum and Wednesday continued their dominance and wasted further chances to go ahead when Darren Purse headed over and Clarke hooked wide.
The Owls onslaught continued and after Soares had curled just wide, they were denied a clear penalty when Purse was felled in the box.
But then the hosts were hit with the sucker-punch in the 81st minute when Maynard collected the ball outside the area and went on a weaving run, which saw him beat several defenders, before coolly slotting home for his 17th of the season.
Wednesday were stunned and it could have been even worse but David Clarkson's low shot hit the post and went to safety in the closing stages.
