West Brom 2 Sheffield Wednesday 1: Drama with Molumby hero and Bartley dismissed in late win

Albion's popular Republic of Ireland international midfielder popped up at the death to turn home a corner at the near post to snatch an incredible winner at The Hawthorns.

Owls substitute Callum Paterson moments earlier had struck for 1-1 as Albion failed to see out their 1-0 lead.

Debut hero Adam Armstrong opened the scoring in the 74th minute with a wonderfully executed finish to cap what had been a very encouraging debut after his statement loan signing.

It looked like it would be enough to snatch all three points but Paterson popped up with a leveller to frustrate all of an Albion persuasion.

Molumby struck, though, from Mikey Johnston's corner for bedlam at The Hawthorns. The bare-chested midfielder celebrated in some style with a deafening roar as loud as the stadium has heard in some years.

There was still time for Wednesday to push but Albion held out. There was carnage at full-time with a coming together in the middle of the pitch and defender Kyle Bartley was sent off for raising an arm and now could face a ban for violent conduct. Molumby celebrated in front of the away end.

Overall it was a huge win for Tony Mowbray's men against a play-off rival - in response to defeat at Plymouth - but the manner of losing a lead late on will not inspire great confidence. The winner, however, will live very long in the memory.

Mowbray had hinted at a number of changes during his pre-match press conference and delivered in making six to the side beaten in Plymouth.

Joe Wildsmith, a former Owls academy graduate, came in between the sticks. Bartley returned to the backline from more than a month sidelined. The midfield featured Molumby and Isaac Price as Mowbray promised more legs in the department.

Statement deadline recruit Adam Armstrong led the line with an immediate debut and was busy in a lively first half, where a few openings came for the direct frontman.

Jed Wallace and John Swift made way while, more surprisingly, neither winger Tom Fellows or Johnston started.

It became apparently early on that Wednesday would be happy to succeed with a point as they packed 10 orange shirts behind the ball and challenged the Baggies to break them down.

The midfield was as packed as it had been at The Hawthorns for some time. Mowbray's three-man midfield also had wingers Grady Diangana and Karlan Grant keen to drift infield on their stronger feet, as well as left-back Callum Styles venturing into the area too.

It took 20 minutes for the hosts to have a first pick of the Wednesday lock. Price's corner - a theme which continued - was on the money and Bartley's prod fell to a spinning Grant in the six yard box but the attacker could only lift over.

Another Price corner saw Albion come within a lick of paint from the opener. Torbjorn Heggem had a header well saved by James Beadle low to his right and with the angle narrowing Armstrong could only smash a rebound against the post.

Armstrong was busy in the box and he turned a first-time effort well wide from Darnell Furlong's cut-back. The right-back provided some rare width.

Grant might have done better before the interval having been played in on goal from the corner of the box after neat work from Price and Armstrong. Grant took a touch too many and the chance went.

Wildsmith was only tested once but he was equal to a sharp Djeidi Gassama strike saved by the keeper at his near post.

A crowded box was Albion's undoing on the stroke of half-time as Molumby's strike from Price's smart free-kick cut-back hit his own man in Diangana.

The Baggies were electric in the opening minutes of the second half and Diangana should have done much better from Grant's cross but his strike was well blocked by substitute Marvin Johnson.

Moments later a deep Grant cross from the left was met plush by Molumby to deliver first-time. His volleyed cross cannoned off Johnson and on to the woodwork.

It was heavy pressure but almost in an instant it turned.

Wednesday livewire Gassama was played through with suspicions of offside. He was allowed to cut in and saw a shot beat Wildsmith across goal.

With bedlam in the away end behind the goal, referee Tom Nield liaised with his assistant and the goal was then ruled out for captain Josh Windass obstructing Wildsmith.

Owls sub Svante Ingelsson blasted miles high and wide but Wednesday showed more intent.

With the clash meandering nowhere fast Mowbray's triple change introduced Fellows, Johnston and debutant Will Lankshear.

Albion improved as Fellows lashed over on his left before Armstrong sent a sharp curled effort a yard or two wide.

The changes had been on just seven minutes when the hosts' big breakthrough arrived.

Identical to Plymouth seven days earlier the deadlock was broken on 74 minutes. This time it came in pure style - with Armstrong worth his weight in gold, or goals.

Lankshear was so strong in his cameo and fed Fellows on the right expertly after good hold-up play.

Fellows' cross, as it often is, was pinpoint. But the delivery was still awkward for Albion's new goal hero. Armstrong had to contort his body and guide a genius left-footed volleyed finish across the goal into the corner. He did well enough to make contact, let alone beat Beadle.

Albion appeared to have done enough but then came the late sting. Wildsmith saved from Ike Ugbo brilliantly but then could only turn a low cross into the path of Paterson. Heggem cleared off the line once and almost twice but the experienced Paterson made no mistake.

The Baggies raged but there was still time. Beadle denied Johnston spectacularly but the winger's follow-up corner was turned in by Molumby for dramatic scenes inside the famous old stadium.

Albion just about held on. Full-time scenes sparked a coming together between players. The bandaged Bartley got involved, raised his arm and saw red in a big late blot - but otherwise it was a finale to remember in the Black Country.

Teams

Albion (4-3-3): Wildsmith; Furlong, Bartley (c), Heggem, Styles; Mowatt (Diakite, 80), Molumby, Price (Lankshear, 67); Diangana (Fellows, 67), Armstrong (Wallace, 80), Grant (Johnston, 67).

Subs not used:  Griffiths, Frabotta, Swift, Cole. 

Wednesday (4-4-1-1): Beadle; Valery (Paterson, 86), Bernard (Johnson, 45+3), Ihiekwe, M Lowe; Armstrong (Valentin, 54), Chalobah (Ingelsson, 54), Charles, Gassama; Windass (c); Smith (Ugbo, 86). 

Subs not used: Charles, J Lowe, Kobacki, Otegbayo.

Attendance: 25,452 (2,515 Wednesday fans)

Referee: Tom Nield