City slipped off the summit of the Championship despite picking up a point in an enthralling 1-1 draw at Hillsborough.

Richard Cresswell fired the Potters in to a first half lead, before on loan Portsmouth winger Franck Songo'o levelled with just eight minutes remaining.

The defeat means Bristol City leapfrog Tony Pulis' side, while Hull City and West Brom close the gap following their victories this afternoon.

Pulis handed debuts to new signings Shola Ameobi and Stephen Pearson ahead of the game following their arrivals from Newcastle United and Derby County on transfer deadline day.

Striker Ameobi came in to replace Mamady Sidibe, after he failed a fitness test, while Scottish international winger Pearson started on the left flank with Cresswell pushing forward.

Carl Dickinson also earned himself a recall to the starting eleven with Danny Pugh dropping down to the bench.

Former Owl's star Glenn Whelan retained his spot in the centre of midfield, while the influential Liam Lawrence returned from his two match suspension.

The game kicked off amidst wet and windy conditions, but that didn't stop the 3,000 plus City supporters from enjoying the occasion with chants of we are going up echoing around the stadium.

City started brightly and clever link up play between the two new signings immediately won the Potters a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. Lawrence stepped up to whip the ball in dangerously but Lee Grant was fastest off the blocks to gather the ball.

Ameobi was too enthusiastic to impress his new manager, and after just five minutes he was shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Tommy Spurr.

Former City loanee Deon Burton almost capitalised on a Rory Delap mistake moments later but he blazed his shot over the bar from 18-yards.

A quick burst of pace down the left from Pearson saw City catch the hosts on a counter attack, however after being played in by Lawrence Cresswell shot straight at Grant from 10-yards.

Brian Laws side came to life after ten minutes, and only an outstanding save from Carlo Nash and the crossbar prevented Sean McAllister from firing the hosts ahead.

City were denied what appeared to have been a clear cut penalty after 12 minutes, when Ameobi was pulled to the ground after turning Mark Beevers.

Minutes later the Potters were 1-0 up. Cresswell latched on to Pearson's dangerous ball and calmly diverted it beyond Grant and in to the far corner.

The former Wednesday trainee could have doubled the advantage shortly after, but after reacting quickest to Steve Watson's poor back-pass, his goal-bound shot was superbly blocked by Beevers.

The hosts pushed forward as the half drew to a close, but were frustrated as Riggott and Nash twice combined to thwart Burton and Franck Songo'o.

The start of the second period should have seen the visitors extend their lead within a minute. Lawrence brilliantly found Cresswell un-marked inside the 6-yard box but he somehow looped his header in to the goalkeeper's arms from four yards.

Graham Kavanagh tried his luck from range but Nash ushered the ball past the post. Another City break away set free substitute Jay Bothroyd, who squared to Ameobi before Beevers brilliantly denied the powerful striker with a last ditch challenge.

The impressive Whelan again cut open the Wednesday defence and despite beating his man Cresswell could only curl the ball the wrong side of the post.

The hosts piled the pressure on in the final 20 minutes and after going close on several occasions they finally got their rewards with less than ten minutes left on the clock.

Pacy winger Songo'o cut inside Andy Griffin and drilled the ball in to the bottom left hand corner from 25-yards to send the Owls supporters wild.

City held on in the final minutes to secure a point; one which could prove crucial come the end of the season.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (4-4-2): Grant; Spurr, Wood (c), Beevers, Hinds (Watson 18); Small (Johnson 64), McAllister, Kavanagh (c), Songo'o; Burton, Sahar (Showunmi 78). Subs: Bolder, Slusarski.

CITY (4-4-2): Nash; Griffin (c), Riggott, Cort, Dickinson; Lawrence, Delap, Whelan, Pearson (Bothroyd 71); Ameobi (Pugh 77), Cresswell. Subs: Simonsen, Buxton, Wilkinson.