It's been a good week for Paul Jewell's men, with wins over Birmingham and QPR consolidated by a hard-earned point against Jean Tigana's promotion favourites.

The result will be all the more special for the Owls given that they trailed twice and fought back despite having Alan Quinn sent off with almost half an hour still to play.

But the battling qualities which proved so elusive in the opening two months of the season were evident as Wednesday matched their much-fancied visitors stride for stride.

The first goal didn't arrive until the 40th minute, but both sides had already threatened. Lee Clark was denied by a fine Kevin Pressman save as early as the fifth minute, while at the other end Terry Cooke's 12 yard blast was brilliantly touched over by Maik Taylor.

Much-maligned Dutch striker Gerald Sibon was the man who put the Owls in front, planting a firm header beyond Taylor from an Owen Morrison cross.

But the supporters had barely settled into their seats after the interval when Barry Hayles put the equaliser on a plate for strike partner Louis Saha.

Worse followed ten minutes later for the home side as Hayles dribbled into the penalty area and fired a low shot beyond Pressman into the far corner.

Quinn was then dismissed for receiving two yellow cards in quick succession. His sliding tackles were far from malicious, but were perhaps foolish on the rain-drenched surface.

Even so, Wednesday soon drew level for the first time. Ian Hendon launched a free-kick into the Cottagers' penalty area, Westwood headed across goal where the ball was met by a brave diving header from Morrison.

Tigana's response was to throw on Bjarne Goldbaek, Luis Boa Morte and Paul Trollope in a treble substitution. Immediately, Clark's mis-cued cross forced Pressman to tip over for a corner.

Moments later Fulham were ahead, as Andy Melville applied the slightest of touches to Boa Morte's driven cross and the ball dribbled slowly over the line.

But Wednesday were not beaten, and in injury time a free-kick from the left skidded off the forehead of Chris Coleman and looped up perfectly for Westwood to arch a header over the stranded Taylor.

Sheff Wed:
Pressman, Haslam, Harkness, Walker, Quinn, Sibon (Lescott 68), Hendon, Westwood, Ekoku, Cooke, Morrison (Hamshaw 87).

Subs Not Used:Stringer, Humphreys, Crane.

Sent Off: Quinn (64).

Booked: Westwood, Sibon, Quinn.

Goals: Sibon 41, Morrison 72, Westwood 90.

Fulham:
Taylor, Finnan, Brevett (Trollope 76), Melville, Coleman, Clark, J. Collins, Hayles (Boa Morte 77), Saha, Davis, Fernandes (Goldbaek 77).

Subs Not Used: Hahnemann, Symons.

Booked: Coleman, Finnan, Hayles.

Goals: Saha 47, Hayles 55, Melville 82.

Att: 17,559

Ref: G Laws (Whitley Bay).