An own goal from a Ross Sykes header halted a run of five successive away losses as Accrington Stanley rescued a battling point at Hillsborough.

Callum Paterson put the Owls ahead on 66 minutes and it looked like that would be enough for a side with the second best home record in the league.

But then, in the 83^rd minute, a Sean McConville corner found the head of Sykes. Burnley loan keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell tried to keep the ball out but he palmed it onto his defender Marvin Johnson on the line and the ball rebounded into the goal.

It was a welcome point in a fighting show for the Reds who showed plenty of character to take their first point on their travels in 2022.

Marcel Lewis came into the starting XI for his first Stanley start while Matt Butcher and Ethan Hamilton also returned to the field.

The first real chance fell to the Owls on six minutes when Barry Bannan’s free header was batted away by Toby Savin.

Savin was again in action four minutes later, superbly denying Saido Berahino after the Reds failed to clear their lines.

Stanley then started to press and Hamilton’s free kick tested Peacock-Farrell on 17 minutes.

Lewis couldn’t guide a header on target on 21 minutes and clear-cut chances were then limited with the next real one, Bannan curling a strike wide on 38 minutes.

Paterson had a strike kept out by Savin on the stroke of half-time to leave it goalless at the break.

Wednesday started the second half on the front foot and John Coleman made a switch on 52 minutes with Lewis making way for Yeboah Amankwah.

Chances were at a premium for both sides until the Owls took the lead on 66 minutes.

Jack Hunt got the ball unmarked to the right of the area, he placed his shot and Harvey Rodgers hooked the ball off the line, Hunt headed the loose ball across the area to Paterson and he fired home his sixth goal of the season.

Hunt came close to a second minutes later but rifled his effort over the crossbar and Dominic Iorfa headed over on 75 minutes.

Stanley had a great chance to level on 78 minutes when Michael Nottingham’s ball in found the head of Colby Bishop but his header was just wide.

Then came the late rally by the Reds and, while the Owls pressed at the end, Stanley’s defence stood firm.

Stanley: Savin, Rodgers, Nottingham, Sykes, Longelo (Coyle), Butcher, Hamilton, Pell, McConville, Lewis (Amankwah), Bishop

Subs; Isherwood, Conneely, Morgan, Nolan, Adekoya

Attendance:20,688