The Owls' League campaign got off to the worst possible start, going down 4-1 to Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Conceding a penalty just 35 seconds into the opening game set the scene for the kind of month Wednesday were to endure, failing to register a point in the Championship.

Lee Bullen's tame challenge on Pablo Counago left the Spaniard sprawling and, to dismay of the Owls' skipper and travelling Wednesdayites, the referee, Mr Beeby, pointed to the spot.

Brian Laws' side found themselves with little chance of a comeback - just 25 minutes on the clock, the score was already at 3-0 after two fine goals from Roberts and a second from Alan Lee, having already converted the penalty.

The disappointing opening offered little for the Hillsborough faithful to cheer, especially after losing a fourth goal, Leon Clarke's late consolation did little to soften the blow.

It was important for the Owls to bounce back from their opening day defeat and the Carling Cup offered them the chance with a South Yorkshire derby away to Rotherham United.

The Sky Sports cameras were there to witness the action at Millmoor and the opening goal came from the home side with a well-struck free kick finding its way past Lee Grant. Things could have got worse but for the Wednesday custodian producing some quality saves to prevent the League Two side extending their lead.

The Owls managed to equalise before the break with Glenn Whelan's low drive from outside the box, followed by two second half with goals from Deon Burton and Wade Small.

Wednesday struggled to find their feet in the Championship, the derby victory over Rotherham failing to give Brian Laws' side the boost they needed to recover from their trip to Ipswich and the first game at Hillsborough ended in defeat against Wolves.

Wade Small registered his first League goal of the campaign to draw the Owls level before the interval but the visitors snatched all three points, retaking the lead just after the break and scoring a third in stoppage time as Wednesday found themselves on the end of a 3-1 defeat.

Fortunes looked to have changed for the Owls as they travelled to the Valley to take on promotion hopefuls Charlton Athletic. The visitors soon found themselves 2-0 up and it looked as though Wednesday were to draw a line under what had been poor start in the League.

O'Brien and Spurr opened the scoring but two second half goals from Reid and Iwelumo restored parity for the home side and the latter grabbed the winner for the Addicks with just minutes left on the clock.

What had been an unfortunate month for the Owls ended on a more positive note, seeing off League One opponents Hartlepool United in the second round of the Carling Cup. Following the victory over Rotherham, a place in the third round was at stake.

The third tier side took the lead in the second period but Deon Burton managed to restore parity 13 minutes later. The game was forced into extra time and Wednesday left it late, with substitute Yoann Folly's 120th minute strike preventing the lottery of penalties coming into play.

August Matches

Ipswich 4-1 Owls (Clarke 89)

Rotherham 1-3 Owls (Whelan 45+1, Burton 49, Small, 55)

Owls 1-3 Wolves (Small 45+4)

Charlton 3-2 Owls (O'Brien 6, Spurr 15)

Owls 2-1 (AET) Hartlepool (Burton 68, Folly 120)