Sheffield Wednesday moved into the top 6 in the Championship thanks to a 2-1 win against Preston North End at Hillsborough after a second half that can best be described as bizarre.
The owls started brightly and took the lead inside 10 minutes when Preston failed to clear under pressure and Forestieri cleverly diverted Reach's cross-shot into the corner of the goal with his head.
Preston almost hit back when Robinson struck the outside of the post from distance.
The Owls promising start was curtailed somewhat by a series of injuries. First Hutchinson required attention but was able to continue. Wallace then limped off to be replaced by Buckley and before half-time Loovens had to be replaced by Jones with Hutchinson then dropping into centre-back alongside Lees.
Wednesday should have doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when Buckley raced clear but he played a sloppy over-hit pass to Forestieri when the better option would surely have been to take it on himself. Having rescued the poor pass Forestieri then picked out Buckley at the back post with a sublime cross on to see the winger fluff a tame header wide from close range.
More opportunities came and went in the early exchanges of the second half with the final pass letting the Owls down before controversy started to take over.
With 25 minutes to go Forestieri appeared to be fouled near the touchline and as play continued the forward and Preston players became involved in a spat which resulted in Forestieri lashing out. The linesman brought this to the attention of the referee who showed the goal scorer a straight red card but took no action against the visiting instigators, much to the annoyance of the Hillsborough faithful.
Preston then had more of the play with a man advantage but the Owls looked to be keeping them at bay before they were struck by another blow. Lucas Joao, who had worked hard all game up front became the 3rd Wednesday player forced off by injury, with Steven Fletcher coming on in his place.
With 78 minutes gone Buckley beat the North End keeper to a cute ball into the area with the keeper taking him out around the head area. The penalty was awarded but there was no card for the goalkeeper, despite the fact his challenge could easily have been deemed dangerous play and left Buckley unable to continue – forcing the Owls down to 9 men!
Fletcher sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot to give the home side a much needed cushion but Preston gave themselves hope when their substitute Doyle reduced the arrears within 4 minutes.
With Wednesday under the cosh Buckley got his injured shoulder patched up and went back onto the pitch but was clearly in pain and could barely get into a jog.
As time ticked away the visitors frustration at not being able to make their numerical advantage count boiled over and Beckford and Doyle came to blows, resulting in 2 red card.
The Owls are now 3 points behind 3rd place Reading, who they visit next weekend.