Sheffield Wednesday 2 West Brom 2 - Report and pictures
Albion roared back with two late goals in the space of two minutes to rescue a point in a crazy finish at Hillsborough that extended their unbeaten run in the league to six games.
The Baggies spent most of the second half 2-0 down thanks to Adam Reach's second wonderstrike in the space of six days and a Fernando Forestieri goal that capitalised on some miscommunication at the back.
It looked like the Owls would comfortably take home all three points until the 86th minute, when Joey Pelupussy turned a Chris Brunt cross into his own net under pressure from Harvey Barnes.
And a minute later, Barnes levelled the tie up with a superb solo dribble from the halfway line that saw him hold off pressure from three Wednesday defenders before firing past Cameron Dawson.
Albion had already had two goals disallowed and penalty appeal turned down on a night that looked like it would never go their way, but the league's top scorers were eventually rewarded for their efforts.
Darren Moore made one change from the side that beat Preston at the weekend, reinstating Chris Brunt to the line-up against his former club as he continued to rotate the club captain with Gareth Barry in central midfield.
Jos Luhukay made four changes to the side that drew with Leeds last Friday, moving star man Reach inside to accomodate the suspension of Owls talisman Barry Bannan.
The first time Reach got the ball, the home crowd urged him to shoot, and he did manage to get one away on from his weaker right boot, but it sailed over the bar.
Wednesday made the early running, but seven minutes in the Baggies had the ball in the net when Jay Rodriguez fired home Craig Dawson's knock-down from a Brunt free-kick.
However, it was disallowed by referee Oliver Langford, who had already blown for a foul from Albion's defender that looked harsh.
Both sides were trying to play expansive open football with three at the back, and it was creating an end-to-end spectacle w ith space in the middle of the park.
Albion nearly worked a glorious opening when Dawson, who was starting all of their moves, snuck the ball inside to Jake Livermore before the midfielder clipped it forward to Dwight Gayle.
Gayle's first-time lay-off nearly put Harvey Barnes through, but he couldn't quite get it under control.
Albion's striker wanted a penalty soon after, when he went down under Michael Hector's challenge in the box but it was a theatrical fall and Langford gave a free-kick the other way instead, although oddly, he failed to book Gayle.
The game was even, and 18 minutes in Pelupessy tested Sam Johnstone from range, but the Baggies keeper grabbed his shot at the second attempt.
There was nothing he could do about the next one though. Just as the visitors were starting to gain the upper hand, Reach plucked another screamer out of his back pocket.
He did it last season against Johnstone at Villa Park, he did it last Friday against Leeds, and 24 minutes into this match he did it again, driving an unstoppable shot into the top corner from more than 25 yards out.
Albion should have closed him down quicker, particularly giving his history from long-range, and they shouldn't have let Josh Onomah wriggle free from the corner to pass him the ball. But it was still a goal worthy of the lead.
Reach was causing havoc by now. A few minutes later he got in behind Kyle Bartley before firing narrowly over with his weaker foot, and every time he picked the ball up the home crowd urged him to shoot.
The Baggies rallied though, and they nearly drew level after 40 minutes when Tyrone Mears caught a first-time shot flush. It looked destined for the bottom corner before Cameron Dawson stuck out a strong low hand to it.
That brilliant save proved crucial, because seconds later Wednesday had doubled their lead after racing up the other end of the pitch.
Forestieri swept the ball in at the far post, but it was a goal easily avoidable had communication between Kyle Bartley and Craig Dawson been better, because the latter took the cross off the former's head, flicking it on to the striker in space.
There was still time for Gayle to crack the bar with a fierce left-footed shot before the break as Moore walked in for his half-time oranges wondering how his team hadn't scored.
The Baggies have been better after the interval all season, and they started the second period brightly.
After a barrage of corners they had another goal disallowed for a Dawson foul on the Wednesday keeper by the same name, but shortly after Ahmed Hegazi nearly gifted the hosts a third.
For some reason he tried a Cruyff-turn in his own box, but even though Forestieri stole possession, he put his shot wide from 10 yards out.
Moore made a baffling triple substitution shortly after the hour mark, removing both of his in-form strikers, and the away fans showed their discontent at his decision to take Gayle off in particular.
But Albion nearly got back in the game when two of those substitutes combined with 20 minutes to go when Gareth Barry poked his shot wide after Wes Hoolahan's clever dummy.
The game seemed to be drifting to a neat conclusion until Brunt's brilliant cross from the right with his weaker foot was turned into his own net by Pelupussy with four minutes to go.
That sparked Albion into life and within a blink of an eye Barnes had drawn them level with a goal every bit as good as Reach's but for completely different reasons.
Picking up the ball on the half-way line, he drove at the heart of the Wednesday defence before finding just enough space in the box to squeeze a shot past Dawson.
Both sides searched for a winner in the seven minutes of injury time, but neither could find it.
And even though they missed a chance to return to the top of the table, it will be Albion fans who will go away happier with the point, as they serenade Barnes on the journey home.
Key moments
07 Rodriguez has a goal disallowed when Dawson is penalised for a foul as he knocks the ball down to him.
23 Gayle wants a penalty when he goes down under Hector's challenge but nothing given.
24 GOAL WEDNESDAY - Reach drives an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 25 yards out.
41 GOAL WEDNESDAY - Forestieri sweeps the ball home after miscommunication at the back.
44 Gayle smacks the bar with a left-footed strike
53 Albion have another goal disallowed for a Dawson foul on Wednesday keeper, Dawson.
86 GOAL ALBION - Pelupussy turns Brunt's cross into his own net.
87 GOAL ALBION - Barnes scores a superb solo goal from the halfway line.
Albion man of the match
Harvey Barnes - For his superb goal alone.
Position in the table
4th, with 21 points from 11 games.
Teams
Sheffield Wednesday (3-5-2): Dawson; Lees (c), Hector, Pudil; Palmer, Pelupessy, Onomah (Kirby 82), Reach, Penney; Forestieri, Nuhiu (Joao 77)
Unused subs: Wildsmith, Thorniley, Preston, Shaw, Fletcher
Albion (3-4-1-2): Johnstone; Dawson, Hegazi, Bartley; Mears (Barry 64), Brunt (c), Livermore, Gibbs; Barnes; Rodriguez (Robson-Kanu 64), Gayle (Hoolahan 64).
Unused subs: Myhill, Adarabioyo, Field, Edwards.
Referee: Oliver Langford
Attendance: 22,150 (1,100 away)