On a lively Saturday afternoon at Hillsborough, Sheffield Wednesday and Queens Park Rangers played out a dramatic 1-1 draw that left both sides with plenty to ponder as the Championship campaign continues to gather pace. The result, coming on September 27, 2025, extended QPR’s unbeaten run to four matches and denied troubled Sheffield Wednesday a much-needed back-to-back league victory.
For the Owls, the match was more than just another fixture. Against the backdrop of ongoing protests against owner Dejphon Chansiri and a third separate transfer embargo, the club’s loyal supporters turned out in force, hoping to see their team build on last week’s morale-boosting win over Portsmouth. Instead, they witnessed a contest brimming with intensity, missed opportunities, and a fresh injury concern for a promising young defender.
The opening stages saw both teams probing for weaknesses, but it was QPR who threatened first. Sheffield Wednesday’s keeper, Ethan Horvath, was called into action early, making a couple of crucial saves to keep the visitors at bay. Yet, as the half wore on, the hosts began to assert themselves, with captain Barry Bannan once again orchestrating play from midfield—a rare constant amid the club’s recent turbulence.
The breakthrough arrived in the first half, and it was a moment to savor for the home faithful. Barry Bannan, ever the creative force, delivered a beautifully flighted free-kick into the penalty area. Dominic Iorfa rose highest to meet it, powering a close-range header past QPR’s Paul Nardi. The goal marked Sheffield Wednesday’s first home goal of the season, a symbolic milestone in a campaign that has been anything but straightforward.
“Defensively we were very solid, with good discipline, and we showed the next step on the ball and created chances,” said Wednesday head coach Henrik Pedersen to BBC Radio Sheffield. “The second half we had a difficult 10 minutes at the start but we worked back. Altogether, it was a strong home game. We have showed we can compete with teams. The boys showed a big, big mentality. But we cannot have 14 shots and create five big chances and have only one goal.”
As the first half closed, Wednesday’s Liam Palmer and Bailey Cadamarteri both came close to doubling the lead, but Nardi stood firm, and Cadamarteri’s subsequent header sailed over the bar. The Owls entered the break with a deserved advantage, but QPR’s response after halftime was swift and decisive.
QPR manager Julien Stéphan, dissatisfied with his team’s lackluster first-half showing, made three changes at the interval. The impact was immediate. “We were completely different in the second half. It was too poor for us in the first half. We decided to change some things and to fix some problems at half-time and we had more quality and intensity,” Stéphan told BBC Radio London. “We scored very quickly and had some good chances. I enjoyed the fact that in the second half we were able to fight in the last 15 minutes.”
The equalizer came in controversial fashion. QPR’s Richard Kone directed a header toward goal, and the ball struck Bailey Cadamarteri’s hand inside the box. The referee pointed to the spot, and Danish midfielder Nicolas Madsen stepped up to calmly slot home the penalty, leveling the match and silencing the home crowd.
With the scores tied, the match opened up considerably. Karamoko Dembele, one of QPR’s halftime substitutes, hammered a shot just wide, while at the other end, Palmer and Cadamarteri both missed good chances to restore Wednesday’s lead. Richard Kone also fired over for Rangers as both teams chased a winner in the closing stages.
But the drama didn’t end there for Sheffield Wednesday. With under 15 minutes left to play, teenage centre-back Ernie Weaver, who had been rewarded with another start after impressing in the win over Portsmouth, went down injured. Weaver, who has struggled with foot problems in the past, was replaced by Gabriel Otegbayo, raising fresh concerns for Pedersen’s already threadbare squad. “I don’t know,” Pedersen explained afterwards when asked about Weaver’s injury. “I heard it was his foot again, where he had some problems, but I have not heard anything yet.”
The injury adds to a growing list of casualties for the Owls, though there was some positive news as Nathaniel Chalobah and Reece Johnson both returned to training during the week. With crucial matches against Birmingham City and Coventry City looming before the next international break, Pedersen will be hoping for a swift recovery for Weaver and a chance to finally field a settled lineup.
For QPR, the result may have halted their winning streak, but it did extend their unbeaten run to four games—three wins and a draw—leaving them with 10 points from the last 12 available. “It’s a point and in the end we have to be happy with this point because, credit to Sheffield Wednesday, they played very well,” Stéphan reflected post-match. “We had chances to score the second goal. But OK, it’s a draw, a good point, and 10 points in from the last 12. So it’s a good average.”
Looking ahead, QPR’s focus shifts to their upcoming home clash with Oxford United, where they’ll aim to continue their impressive run. For Sheffield Wednesday, the wait for a home league win extends beyond five months—their last coming on April 23, 2025, against Middlesbrough. Yet, despite the off-field turmoil and the mounting injury list, there were signs of resilience and quality on display, particularly in the disciplined defensive performance and the creative spark provided by Bannan.
As the final whistle blew, both sets of supporters were left to reflect on a contest that had just about everything—goals, controversy, injuries, and a sense that both teams are still searching for consistency in a fiercely competitive Championship. The Owls’ faithful, though frustrated by the result, will take heart from a performance that showcased grit and a willingness to fight for every point, even as uncertainty continues to swirl around the club’s future.
For now, the Hillsborough faithful can only hope that the coming weeks bring clarity off the pitch and a reversal of fortunes on it. With the Championship season still in its early stages, both Sheffield Wednesday and QPR know there’s everything to play for—and plenty of drama yet to unfold.
