REPORT: Cardiff 1-1 Owls
Wednesday came from behind to post a 1-1 draw at Cardiff, ensuring a climb into the Championship top six.
The goals came early either side of half time as Daniel Pudil cancelled out a Peter Whittingham set piece to give the Owls a deserved share of the spoils.
Both sides had half chances to take maximum points but overall on the balance of play, a stalemate was arguably a fair result.
Rewind to the start and the Bluebirds almost had a dream start, inches away from probably the fastest goal in Football League history.
Straight from the whistle, Lambert tried a speculative punt from the first kick of the game that Keiren Westwood had to tip over the crossbar.
The keeper, though, was powerless to prevent Cardiff taking the lead nine minutes in. The Owls conceded a free kick right on the edge of the area and Whittingham stroked a delicious shot into the top corner.
From there, the hosts asked more of the questions as the first half developed and Lambert went close with a clever swivel and volley.
Wednesday then suffered a blow on 32 minutes when Westwood was forced off through injury and Cameron Dawson made his second senior appearance from the bench.
The action moved to the other end, though, where Gary Hooper tested the reflexes of Ben Amos after finding room to turn and shoot.
The Owls went closer two minutes before the break when Adam Reach unleased from 20 yards but Amos sprung to his left and parried to safety.
Then there was drama in the Wednesday box as a teasing cross from Craig Noone was deflected onto the woodwork and thankfully for the visitors, away from danger.
Wednesday introduced Fernando Forestieri for the second period but it was defender Pudil who made a telling impact as the Owls levelled on 55 minutes.
Reach found Hooper down the right, who sent a low feed to the back post, where Pudil slotted past the despairing Amos.
That sparked a period of dominance for Wednesday – Ross Wallace fired just over the bar – and the Bluebirds were on the back foot.
Wednesday continued to press but Cardiff regained their composure and the closing stages spawned few, if any, real openings.
The Owls certainly saw more of the ball but the revitalised Bluebirds under Neil Warnock held firm and the points were shared.
Wednesday: Westwood (Dawson 32), Palmer, Lees, Hutchinson, Pudil, Wallace (Buckley 75), Lee, Jones, Abdi (Forestieri 46), Reach, Hooper