Young defender heads home his first goal of the season after Matej Vydra misses a penalty

The giant centre-back headed in a 75th minute equaliser after Gary Hooper had given the Owls a 10th minute lead.

Royals striker Matej Vydra also missed penalty for Brian McDermott's hosts and new signing Yann Kermorgant squandered an excellent chance to win it at the death when me missed the target from six yards out.

That, though, may have been harsh on Carlos Carvalhal's visitors who saw Barry Bannan hit the woodwork early on and were a threat all afternoon.

McDermott made two changes to the Reading FC starting line up from Tuesday's FA Cup win against Huddersfield.

He handed George Evans his Royals debut following his move from Manchester City on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old replaced Garath McCleary, ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Fit-again Jordan Obita also returned at left back in place of Andrew Taylor.

Meanwhile, £500,000 Bournemouth signing Kermorgant was named on the bench, but there was no place in the squad for Orlando Sa following rumours of a loan move to AEK Athens.

Wednesday, meanwhile, welcomed the return of Keiren Westwood in goal as they looked to extend their impressive run of six wins in seven matches.

McDermott stressed the importance of a positive start after watching his side go 2-0 down against Huddersfield before recovering to win 5-2.

But there was little evidence of that after Wednesday broke the deadlock with nine minutes gone.

Once again, Royals lost the ball in midfield and when Jack Hunt crossed it in, Hooper was well positioned 10 yards out to take a touch and fire into the bottom corner.

In fact, Royals could have already been behind at that stage after Bannan struck the inside of the post from 25 yards a minute earlier, with Ali Al Habsi well beaten.

It was one way traffic and it needed a superb save by Al Habsi to keep out a Hooper 30-yarder before Sam Hutchinson blazed over from the resulting corner.

But despite another wretched start by McDermott's men, they should have drawn level from the penalty spot midway through the first half.

Vydra showed tremendous pace to nip in and win the ball off Glenn Loovens inside the box before the Wednesday skipper brought him down.

Referee Stephen Martin pointed to the spot, only for Vydra, who scored hat-trick on Tuesday, to drill his penalty against Westwood's left hand post.

Back came Wednesday and a shot from Fernando Forestieri was tipped around the frame by Al Habsi

Royals replied when a grasscutter from Evans bobbled wide of the target with 36 minutes gone and Obita also missed the target after arriving on the overlap.

But the hosts lacked any sort of punch up front and McDermott acted by taking of Lucas Piazon at half time and sending on Kermorgant for the second half.

Yet it was Wednesday who threatened first after the restart when Bannan narrowly missed the target at the end of a dangerous counter attack.

Meanwhile, Kermorgant's first chance of the afternoon saw him blaze a 25-yard free kick miles over the Wednesday bar.

The Owls continued to carve out the better opportunities and it took a vital block from Chris Gunter to deflect a Forestieri effort over the bar with an hour gone.

But Reading began to see more of the ball as the game wore on and they grabbed an equaliser with 15 minutes to go.

Substitute Ola John showed quick feet on the left before delivering a cross that Wednesday could only put out for a corner.

And when Norwood delivered the perfect flag-kick, Cooper used all of his 6ft 7 ins frame to rise about the Owls defence and plant a downward header into the bottom corner for his first goal of the season.

Royals, though, failed to capitalise on a gilt-edge chance to nick an 89th minute winner.

Norwood's cross from the right took a slight deflection, leaving the unmarked Kermorgant with the goal at his mercy.

But the Frenchman flung himself at the ball and failed to get a proper connection from six yards out.

Reading are back in FA Cup action next Saturday when they host League 1 Walsall in the fourth round (3pm ko).

Reading: Al-Habsi, Gunter, Obita, Cooper, Ferdinand, Norwood, Williams, Evans (John 65), Piazon (Kermorgant 46), Robson-Kanu, Vydra. Subs not used: Bond, Taylor, Hector, Cox, Keown.

Sheffield Wed: Westwood, Hunt, Loovens, Sasso, Pudil, Wallace (Helan 77), Hutchinson, Bannan, Lee, Forestieri (Joao 71) Hooper (Nuhiu 85). Subs not used: Price, Palmer, Semedo, Bennett. Booked: Hunt 29.

Referee: Stephen Martin.

Attendance: 18,972 (Sheff Wed 2,533).