Late heartbreak struck Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough as Queens Park Rangers managed to sneak in an injury-time equalizer on Saturday afternoon.

Coming back from the international break, the Owls seemed destined for a frustrating result as the final minutes approached with the scoreline deadlocked at 0-0 against Queens Park Rangers. Fans might have expected a share of the points until Barry Bannan’s moment of brilliance saw him net a stunning goal in the 93rd minute, seemingly securing a 1-0 victory for Wednesday.

However, fate had a cruel twist in store as a chaotic goalmouth scramble during a late QPR corner allowed Alfie Lloyd to find the net, dashing Wednesday’s hopes for a win and leaving them to rue missed opportunities in front of goal.

Manager Danny Rohl acknowledged the ongoing issues with defending set pieces, highlighting that six out of 10 goals conceded by Wednesday have come from such situations. Despite improvements in defense against QPR, the late setback emphasized the pressing need for the team to address this vulnerability.

Looking ahead, Wednesday will face Blackpool in the EFL Cup, led by former Owls boss Steve Bruce, known for exploiting set-piece opportunities. Rohl emphasized the importance of showing progress in upcoming matches against various challenging opponents before the next international break. Addressing the set-piece frailty will be a key focus for Wednesday as they strive for better performances in the games to come.

Luton and West Brom, among a dozen Championship teams, are still searching for their first set-piece goals this season. In contrast, Bristol City has managed one such goal, highlighting the pressing need for improvement before their match against Coventry City, already with two set-piece goals to their name. Rohl, despite QPR’s equalizer, remains focused on Wednesday’s necessary improvements, a crucial aspect fans will be scrutinizing in the upcoming fixtures.