It was no more than an inch, if that, but it meant all the world to Wolves.

That was the narrowest of margins by which the second-half dramatic and controversial equaliser crossed the line to give the First Division side a deserved replay.

And, while Wednesday manager Danny Wilson must be cursing his luck, in truth it was all Wednesday deserved after a match long on incident but glaringly short on quality.

The controversial equaliser - Steve Sedgley, Ludovic Pollet and Michael Branch each had a turn being credited for it - cancelled out Niclas Alexandersson's first-half strike.

But Wednesday's fans left Hillsborough convinced that the goal should never have been given. Not surprisingly, referee Paul Barber was booed off the pitch at the end.

In truth only the camera angles on Match of the Day could possibly decide for sure whether Sedgley's header had crossed the line. But when you are rock bottom of the Premiership and looking like a side doomed to relegation that is the perhaps the sort of fortune you can expect.

The draw, however, gives Wolves the chance to finish the job in the replay back at Molineux and keep alive millionaire benefactor Sir Jack Hayward's dream of lifting the FA Cup.

And while there may be as much chance of that as Wednesday escaping relegation Wolves at least deserved their second chance in a match that only proved there is not too big a gulf between the bottom of the Premiership and the middle of the First Division.

Wednesday were coming off a festive win over Middlesbrough and a draw with Arsenal, but for too much of this tie they looked as they were suffering from a festive hangover.

"Our problems are psychological," Wilson had admitted before kick-off.

"The Arsenal game proved we can give as good as we get against the very best teams in the country. We have to show the same hunger and desire and the same work ethic against everyone else."

There was no doubting those qualities this afternoon. It is just skill and talent and imagination which is seriously lacking at Hillsborough. Having said that, it was no surprise when the first goal after just nine minutes went to Wednesday, who made much the brighter start.

It was supremely executed. Wim Jonk, the Dutchman who is the brains at the heart of much of Wednesday's creation, pounced on a free-kick and swept a raking cross to the far post. His speed of thought caught the Wolves defence napping and the ball was met at the far post by Wednesday's dependable skipper Peter Atherton, who guided the ball back into the path of Alexandersson.

The Swede pivoted his body perfectly eight yards out and rifled an unstoppable half-volley past Wolves keeper Michael Oakes.

The lead was no more than Wednesday deserved in a first-half in which they dominated proceedings without ever looking like making things comfortable. In the second-half, however, Wolves came out with steelier purpose and at last found some rhythm even if the talent level was still at a premium.

Alexandersson became the first player to go into referee Paul Barber's notebook in the 51st minute for a mis-timed lunge at former Wednesday man Andy Sinton, who was desperate to impress against his former pals. It looked as if Wednesday might hold out, Wolves only efforts restricted to long range, with Lee Naylor blasting a 20-yard free-kick just over the bar after Nolan had fouled Michael Branch, on-loan from Everton, on the edge of the area.

But when the equaliser came in the 68th minute it was thoroughly deserved, if cloaked in confusion and controversy.

Darren Bazeley swung over a looping cross and a posse of white-shirted Wolves raiders rose to meet the ball. It was veteran Sedgely who displayed the most determination, however and his header crashed against the inside of the post.

Goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek palmed it up and away and for a split second it seemed Wednesday had survived. But then referee Barber, after consulting his assistant, deemed that it had crossed the line and Wolves were level.

There will be few narrower decisions this season - but Wolves deserved their fortune if only for their resilience and their never-say-die attitude.

Teams:

Sheff Wed: Srnicek, Haslam, Atherton, Walker, Nolan (Scott 58), Alexandersson, Sonner, Jonk (Donnelly 77), Hinchcliffe, Sibon, De Bilde (Cresswell 46).

Subs Not Used: Pressman, Staniforth.

Booked: Alexandersson, Sibon.

Goals: Alexandersson 9.

Wolverhampton: Oakes, Muscat, Pollet, Robinson, Naylor, Bazeley, Emblen, Sedgley, Sinton, Branch, Akinbiyi (Flo 84).

Subs Not Used: Stowell, Simpson, Corica, Tudor, Tudor.

Goals: Sedgley 68.

Att: 18,506

Ref: G Barber (Tring, Herts).