Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Birmingham City: Garry Monk's Owls rescue draw against Blues

There was no conciliatory handshake before the game for former Birmingham City boss Garry Monk and his old Blues number two Pep Clotet

Garry Monk's Sheffield Wednesday had to come from behind to salvage a draw in his first meeting with Birmingham City since being sacked in the summer.

In a clash dominated by a one-sided war of words between Monk and former number two Pep Clotet, it looked like the current Blues boss might come off best.

Despite the Owls having dominated, Alvaro Gimenez struck on 48 minutes with Blues' first real effort on target for only his second goal for the club.

The seven-figure Spanish summer signing turned in a low ball in from the right from Jeremie Bela for his first goal since 20 August.

But, with nine minutes left, Kadeem Harris ran at the Blues defence, who backed off, allowing the Wednesday man to take a shot at goal.

His low 20-yard effort somehow squeezed past three sets of legs and found visiting keeper Connal Trueman's bottom-right corner.

Birmingham City's Spanish striker Alvaro Gimenez met a low ball in from the right from Jeremy Bela to score the first goal of the night at Hillsborough

Prior to that, the closest Wednesday had gone was when full-back Moses Odubajo, fed by Aston Villa old boy Barry Bannan, cut inside to hit the bar.

Odubajo was one of four changes - two of them enforced - that Monk made following Saturday's late 2-1 loss at West Bromwich Albion, coming in for suspended Owls defender Liam Palmer, who started a three-game ban for his red card at The Hawthorns.

Keeper Cameron Dawson came in for Keiren Westwood, who was ruled out with a shoulder injury, while Adam Reach and Massimo Luongo were also recalled.

But Clotet also made changes following Saturday's 1-1 draw at Huddersfield, recalling Fran Villalba for Jacques Maghoma and Gimenez for Lukas Jutkiewicz. And, although the Owls carried the greater overall threat, they had to settle for a share of the spoils against a well organised Blues team.

Both sides have now picked up just two points from a possible 12, leaving Clotet's Blues in 15th, still trailing Monk's 10th-placed Owls by two points in this tight, competitive Championship table.

Clotet confirmed after the game that he had attempted to shake opposite number Monk's hand before the game, but the Owls boss appeared to turn his back on him.

Owls manager Garry Monk told BBC Radio Sheffield:

On the game: "This group of players are fantastic to work with. We have to take our chances and be more clinical but we're on a rotten run of luck. The ball just won't quite go in, one off the crossbar, one scrambled off the line and another coming off their keeper without him knowing anything about it.

On his previous day's comments about Clotet: "It is what it is. I appreciate not everyone is going to like it. Staying true to myself is the most important thing.

"I understand the reaction. But I got asked the question and, like I've always done, I have to be true to myself. I can take honest criticism.

"I was talking facts. I wish it wasn't facts. I wish it wasn't true. I wish that with every part of my body. But I didn't do it to gain anything. I can't change who I am. Like with every other question I get asked, I was just trying to be open and honest."

Birmingham City boss Pep Clotet told BBC WM:

On Monk's comments the previous day: "I don't have social media on my phone. We were on the bus when I was told about it. But my focus was on the game and getting to Sheffield.

On the absence of a handshake: "At the end of the day, I am representing Birmingham City. Manners are to respected, whatever the situation. If we lose manners, what have we got? I gave my hand but I respect whatever is the outcome."

On the game: "We scored a very good goal and managed to get on top of a very difficult Sheffield Wednesday side, who have a squad made to compete for the top two.

"But we could have done better with the goal. We needed to avoid that shot and defend a little better but, on the other hands, there is no blame attached for the way we played."