Sheffield Wednesday 2 Wolves 2
Just how crucial this point proves in the end of season shake-up remains to be seen.
But it was a point Wolverhampton Wanderers did not look like getting with less than 60 seconds to go. And Andy Keogh's nervelessly taken last-minute equaliser may just have got Mick McCarthy's men back on course for promotion after Tuesday night's stumble at Coventry City.
Up against another totally committed, pressure-free performance from another mid-table team playing only for next season, Wolves still just about deserved their reward for showing the spirit to keep battling to the end.
Not only was it another humdinger of a Championship match that once again encapsulated all the best about football at this level, it also ensured that one horror moment which illustrated the worst about the game too was properly punished.
Wolves took advantage of the extra man created by Frankie Simek's late sending-off, scoring with a goal carved down the left side by Darren Potter, Michael McIndoe and Jay Bothroyd, right where the Sheffield Wednesday right back would have been.
Wednesday manager Brian Laws had the cheek to suggest Simek had played the ball when he steamed in to take out Wolves winger McIndoe right under McCarthy's nose just inside the touchline in front of the visitors' bench.
Laws also hinted that McCarthy's explosive reaction, which triggered a furious gathering of bodies all wanting their twopenn'orth, had helped get Simek sent off. But referee Jon Moss did not need anyone to influence|this|decision.
It was worthy of a straight red. And, at a time when a lot of other, weaker officials have been missing similar such bloodcurdling challenges, it was a good, brave decision.
McCarthy was just as angry at Molineux last Sunday when he saw West Bromwich Albion defender Paul Robinson take out Michael Kightly with a challenge every bit as bad. But, although perhaps privately regretting his own involvement, in the cold light of day, a much calmer McCarthy made a valid point.
"Had it not been the other way round Lawsy would have reacted the same way as I did," said McCarthy. "We ended with a handshake, so there's no problem, but it was a straight red, simple as that."
Nursing a badly-bruised shin, a still angry McIndoe, who had earlier headed the first of Wolves' two equalisers to open his account for the club to cancel out former Walsall striker Deon Burton's early opener, was slightly more fulsome with his opinion.
"It was a horrendous challenge," said McIndoe. "And it deserved a red card. He's come straight through me and, if I hadn't seen it coming and just got my leg off the ground, he'd have snapped my fibula in half.
"He knew exactly what he was doing. I don't like challenges like that. They can ruin people's careers."
If that was the flashpoint of the afternoon, the low point for Wolves was the half-time loss of keeper Matt Murray with a recurrence of the midweek knee problem that had almost kept him out.
On-loan Dane Jan Budtz had to recover from the shock of having to pick the ball out of the back of his net with his first touch in Wolves colours to make a great save with his legs from the highly-rated Chris Brunt.
And that kept Wolves alive to ensure that Keogh's last-minute strike counted for something.
It was also a triumph for those who oppose the ugly pastime of corner-flagging. Down to ten men with a lead still to protect, Brunt once again made for the safe pastures of the flagstick.
But Potter robbed him, found McIndoe, who pinged a decent ball forward to substitute Bothroyd. And Wolves' supposedly "rubbish" striker, denied just minutes earlier by a brilliant block tackle from on-loan Albion defender Steve Watson, sent Keogh away down the inside left channel.
Hard working, talented and unselfish though he is, the odd question has begun to be asked in recent weeks about Keogh's reluctance to shoot. But this time the Irishman knew exactly what needed doing, transferring the ball on to his right foot before exploding a low shot just inside Owls keeper Iain Turner's left upright.
"I didn't pay #600,000 just for him to run around and set things up for people," said McCarthy. "It's goals we need from him too."
Scorers: Burton (21) 1-0; McIndoe (35) 1-1; MacLean (46) 2-1; Keogh (90) 2-2.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (4-4-2): Turner; Simek, Bullen, Wood, Gilbert (Spurr, 72), Tudgay, Watson, Whelan, Brunt; Burton, MacLean (Lunt, 81). Substitutes: Adamson (gk), Lekaj, Folly.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (4-4-2): Murray (Budtz ht); Edwards (Craddock, 70), Breen, N Collins, Clapham; Kightly, Potter, Olofinjana, McIndoe; Ward (Bothroyd, 71), Keogh. Substitutes: M Davies, C Davies.
Referee: J Moss (West Yorkshire).
Bookings: Wednesday — Burton (timewasting), Brunt (dissent); Wolves — Clapham (foul), Keogh (ungentlemanly conduct).
Sending-off: Sheffield Wednesday — Simek (serious foul play).
Attendance: 24,181.
