AN 84th-minute equaliser from Owls super-sub Lucas Joao denied new Rovers boss Paul Lambert victory in his first home game in charge – and his side their maiden back-to-back wins of the season.

Hope Akpan’s first goal for the club put the Ewood Park outfit in front in the fifth minute before they were pegged back six minutes before the break by Modou Sougou.

However Rovers took a deserved advantage into half-time after Akpan’s centre-midfield partner Corry Evans opened his account for the campaign.

But, with captain Grant Hanley lying injured at the other end of the field, Wednesday levelled late on when Joao, who had climbed off the bench to score twice in his team’s derby win over Huddersfield Town one week earlier, headed in.

The draw extended Rovers’ unbeaten run to five matches and moved them a point closer to the play-offs and a point further away from the relegation places.

But had they been able to hold on they would have closed the gap on the top six to five points.

Rovers, as their manager promised, were on the front from the off.

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And they made the perfect start when Craig Conway’s outswinging corner toward the near post was emphatically headed home by Akpan.

With the rain beginning to thunder down on to the already rain-soaked pitch Rovers threatened again in the 10th minute when former Owls winger Ben Marshall bent a 30-yard free kick past the post.

It was one of a number of fouls the fired-up hosts won in the final third such was their desire to win the ball back from a Wednesday side who arrived in town on the back of a run of just one defeat in their previous 13 outings.

So while Rovers, like their opponents, struggled to create clear-cut openings after taking the lead, it still came against the run of play when Sougou struck.

A long punt downfield from Owls goalkeeper Kieren Westwood was nodded down by Atdhe Nuhiu into the path of Kieran Lee.

The former Manchester United youngster sidestepped Rovers skipper Hanley’s challenge before doing brilliantly to skip past Shane Duffy and then Jason Steele.

But, while Lee could not put a finishing touch to his thrilling run into the box, his shot hit the post and rebounded for the recalled Sougou to score.

But, with the rain having eased off, parity lasted just five minutes.

Again it came from a right-wing corner with Conway’s delivery finding its way to Evans on the edge of the area.

If the Northern Ireland was unfortunate to see an effort from similar range against Preston North End one week earlier come back off the post, this time luck was on his side as his 18-yard drive took a deflection and wrong-footed Westwood.

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Chances were few and far between at the start of the second half, too.

The better openings did fall Rovers’ way, though, with Akpan firing over after a corner drifted to the far side of the area, and Duffy heading a Conway free kick down and wide.

Wednesday were certainly attempting to have more of a go of it with big money loan signing Gary Hooper and highly rated Portugal international Joao thrown on at half-time.

And, after they were joined by ex-Burnley winger Ross Wallace, the half-time substitutes so nearly combined in the 73rd minute.

Joao headed a Daniel Pudil cross from the left down to Hooper who, under pressure from Steele, could only scoop the ball wide. It was good goalkeeping.

Joao, though, was not to be denied.

After Hanley saw a shot from a corner comfortably saved by Westwood, he stayed down injured in the penalty box.

Poor referee Frederick Graham allowed play to continue and the Owls went up the other end and levelled through Joao, who headed home a scuffed cross from Liam Palmer.

Hanley had to be helped off the field and was replaced by Doneil Henry, who came on for his second Rovers debut, against the same opposition as in his first.

But, unlike back at Hillsborough in March, it did not end on a winning note, with Jordan Rhodes heading straight at Westwood with virtually the last kick of the contest.

Rovers: Steele, Henley, Duffy, Hanley (Henry 87), Olsson, Marshall (Lawrence 90), Akpan, Evans, Conway (Guthrie 78), Taylor, Rhodes. Subs not used: Eastwood, Spurr, Delfouneso, Brown.

Booked: Evans.

Goals: Akpan 5, Evans 44.

Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood, Palmer, Lees, Loovens, Pudil, Sougou (Wallace 69), Lee, Semedo, Helan (Joao 46), Forestieri, Nuhiu (Hooper 46). Subs not used: Wildsmith, McGugan, Dielna, Lopez.

Booked: Helan, Lee.

Goals: Sougou 44, Joao 84.

Referee: Frederick Graham.

Attendance: 15,837 (3,407 away).