Coventry City booked their place in the third round of the Carling Cup but they were given a run for their money by Sheffield Wednesday.
Michael Doyle's 36th minute free-kick was the difference between the sides on a night when the League One side more than matched their opponents, but saw Glenn Whelan sent off for a moment of madness.
Paul Sturrock, who is set to take over as Owls manager on Thursday, will have been encouraged by the way his new side started that match as they passed the Championship side off the park for the opening half an hour.
And the Owls could have taken the lead inside three minutes when Jon Paul McGovern won a free-kick on the edge of the box. The midfielder picked himself up to take the set-piece, but floated it just wide of the post.
At the other end, Stern John broke into the box a moment later from Neil Wood's perfectly weighted pass, but Wednesday keeper David Lucas was quickly off his line to deny the Coventry striker.
Adam Proudlock should have opened the scoring on nine minutes when Lewis McMahon found him unmarked in the box, but he fired his shot straight at Luke Steele who saved with his legs.
Wednesday continued to play the better football, but John almost broke the deadlock for the home side when he powered Bjarni Gudjonsson's cross goalwards but it was straight down the throat of Lucas.
McMahon was denied a goal by a fine last-ditch tackle from Richard Shaw in the 18th minute before Steve MacLean wasted a great chance by firing wide of the target when he was in acres of space.
Coventry began to take control midway through the first period as John shot just wide from the edge of the area, before he and Gudjonsson combined to set up Graham Barrett, whose volley was just off target from close range.
City took the lead in the 36th minute when Barrett was fouled on the right wing. His Irish compatriot Doyle whipped in the free-kick and it eluded everyone and flew directly into the top corner.
Wednesday complained however that John was standing in an offside position and was blocking the view of keeper Lucas.
Lee Bullen earned a booking for his protest, but the visitors' lack of discipline got them in even more trouble just before the break as Whelan was shown the red card for stamping on City centre-back Matthew Mills off the ball.
Wednesday could have hit back within ten minutes of the restart when Bullen was given a free header from McGovern's corner, but he was off target from six yards.
Coventry almost doubled their lead in the 57th minute when Gudjonsson met Louis Carey's cross on the volley, but was just wide of the upright.
Chris Brunt was introduced as a substitute for the visitors and he had a chance to impress straight away from a free-kick 25 yards out but he blasted over the bar and the Sky Blues held on for the win.