Lee Tomlin’s late stunner rescues point for Cardiff and denies dominant Sheffield Wednesday victory

LEE TOMLIN salvaged a point for Cardiff and halted Sheffield Wednesday’s march to the automatic promotion places.

The Bluebirds sub curled home a superb 87th-minute free-kick to leave Garry Monk’s Owls side with a single point from a dominant performance.

Kadeem Harris looked to have come back to haunt Cardiff by creating Julian Borner’s first-half goal.

But Tomlin stopped Wednesday from joining West Brom at the top of the Championship table in controversial fashion.

Keeper Cameron Dawson led the Owls protests after Cardiff’s 6ft 6in central defender Aden Flint stood behind the wall doing star jumps as a distraction.

Monk, who played for and managed Cardiff’s bitter rivals Swansea, had been reaping the rewards of Harris’ summer switch to Wednesday from the Welsh capital.

The winger spent seven seasons with the Bluebirds but got frustrated with a lack of match action and left on a free.

His direct approach had resulted in two goals and an assist and left many Cardiff fans questioning the decision to let his seven-year stay end.

Harris sent his old side an early warning when he latched on to Barry Bannan’s lofted ball and fired a half-volley just over the bar.

But his former employers failed to pay attention and the ex-Bluebird showed them what they were missing by creating the opening goal after 19 minutes.

Ex-Scotland star Bannan laid the ball off to Harris on the angle of the penalty area after his corner was only half-cleared.

The pacy winger stepped on the accelerator to leave Marlon Pack chasing his shadow and sent a curling effort towards the far post.

The ball may have been heading for the back of the net, but as Neil Etheridge dived to his left, Borner stuck out a leg and diverted the shot away from the Cardiff keeper and into the back of the net.

Cardiff looked to be there for the taking as Steven Fletcher tested Etheridge with a dipping shot, prompting Warnock to take drastic action.

The veteran boss sent on striker Danny Ward in place of Leandro Bacuna with only 34 minutes on the clock.

Monk’s men continued to press forward despite Cardiff’s early change and got another opportunity from 20 yards out when Sean Morrison tripped Hutchinson.

Harris lined up the free-kick and smacked the angle of the post and crossbar with a curling effort that had Etheridge beaten all ends up.

Cardiff survived until the interval but were on the back-foot again after the restart.

Some heroic defending from Aden Flint and Morrison ensured the Owls’ lead stayed at a single goal, before the hosts finally started to threaten.

Ward had Cardiff’s first shot in anger after 70 minutes before Josh Murphy’s deflected cross looped over the head of Dawson and flashed just past the post.

But the breakthrough finally came after Tomlin was tripped by Massimo Luongo — a decision that upset the visitors.

Tomlin dusted himself off and sent a bending effort into the corner from 22 yards out.