It was a day to forget for on-loan Crystal Palace striker Glenn Murray who missed a penalty and was substituted after an hour.

Royals created the better chances with debutant teenage defender Jake Cooper heading against the crossbar.

But the Owls snatched victory through Stevie May's deflected free kick seven minutes from time.

Boss Nigel Adkins will take plenty of positives from the performance, but he will know his side must be sharper in the final third to maintain their push for promotion.

Reading made three changes to the side which beat Millwall 3-2 on Tuesday with Cooper and Mikkel Andersen making their full debuts.

Cooper replaced Michel Hector who picked up a head injury in the win against the Lions. Federici pulled a calf muscle in training allowing Danish keeper Andersen to deputise between the sticks.

The other change saw Jake Taylor given the nod ahead of Jamie Mackie and there was a welcome return to the bench for fit-again Danny Guthrie in a Royals squad that included nine Academy products in all.

Adkins' men may have gone into the clash high on confidence after three straight league wins, but memories of last season's 5-2 humbling at Hillsborough were still very much fresh in the players' minds.

The visitors nearly took an early lead when former Sheffield United forward Nick Blackman pinged a pass to Simon Cox in a dangerous spot, but the striker's touch was too heavy.

Atdhe Nuhiu dragged a shot wide of Andersen's post at the other end but Royals then saw a chance go begging when Cox's cross took enough of a deflection to force Murray to miss from close range.

The visitors' frustrations intensified when Murray missed a 31st penalty.

The on-loan Crystal Palace striker was clipped in the box by Giles Coke as he chased Cox's clever pass.

After wrestling the ball off Blackman, Murray's tame penalty struck Keiran Westwood's legs before his follow-up was easily held by the Owls keeper.

The first half ended in a flurry of yellow cards before Stuart Gray's hosts almost broke the deadlock within a minute of the restart when a corner reached Joe Mattock whose shot was blocked by Owls striker Stevie May on the Reading line.

May then made matters worse by slicing horribly wide after Nuhui had recycled the ball.

Royals were also relieved to see Owls' penalty claims waved away by referee Mark Haywood in the 54th minute when Cooper tangled with Nuhui as he chased a Jacques Maghoma pass.

Cooper then went down the other end and almost put Royals in front three minutes later.

Alex Pearce nodded Oliver Norwood's corner to the giant centre-back, but his header from three yards out failed to beat the alert Westwood.

And on 63 minutes the woodwork came to Wednesday's rescue when Cooper's header rattled the bar from an identical flag-kick routine.

The home side hit back with Nuhui beating Pearce to a cross only to fire wide.

May then whistled a 30-yarder inches past the post, though Royals' debutant keeper had it covered.

Adkins' men were having little luck in front of goal and it continued when Blackman shot wide from a corner.

Then with 12 minutes to go the former Blade almost broke Owls' hearts when his 35-yard free-kick was superbly saved by Westwood.

But Wednesday fans were soon on their feet when May fired them ahead in the 83rd minute.

Cooper was booked for handball just outside the box and May's free-kick took a wicked deflection on its way past a helpless Andersen to end Wednesday's seven-match winless streak at Hillsborough.

Reading now turn their attention to the Capital One Cup and a third-round trip to Derby County on Tuesday (7.45pm ko).

Sheff Wed: Westwood - Mattock, Loovens, Semedo, Palmer, Coke (Hope 63), Maguire (Helan 77), Lees, Maghoma (Dielna 90), Nuhiu, May. Subs not used: Kirkland, Buxton, Zayatte, Madine. Booked: Coke 31, Palmer 39, Maguire 65.

Reading: Andersen - Gunter (c), Cooper, Pearce, Obita - Blackman, Akpan (Guthrie 87), Norwood, Taylor - Cox (Mackie 72), Murray (Pogrebnyak 66). Subs not used: Lincoln, Long, Kuhl, Edwards. Booked: Blackman 37, Akpan 63, Cooper 82.

Referee: Mark Haywood.