Joe Mason scored with his first involvement as a Burton Albion player as the Brewers came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

Gary Hooper slotted a classy opener for the visitors before the break, but substitute Mason made an immediate impression on the Pirelli Stadium faithful with a valuable equaliser.

Nigel Clough stuck with the 4-4-2 formation that had bore victorious fruit in the second half against Birmingham City last week - but there were changes in personnel to come with it.

The most eye-catching switch saw Jackson Irvine out of the squad, Andy Garner confirming before the game that the Australian international had spoken to another club - Hull City - about a possible move.

Kyle McFadzean replaced Irvine in midfield, moving forward from centre-half, where Ben Turner came in for his first start of the campaign as part of a back four.

Damien McCrory was another to earn a start at left-back, while Sean Scannell - making his first league appearance for the Brewers after joining on loan from Huddersfield Town - started as the right winger of that midfield quartet that also included Lloyd Dyer and Luke Murphy.

It was Dyer who provided the first opening of the game against an Owls side beaten 3-1 on the same pitch 12 months earlier.

Marvin Sordell in action for Burton Albion
Marvin Sordell in action for Burton Albion

He got behind Jack Hunt from Lucas Akins' ball and stood up a cross, with McFadzean denied in the air.

Albion would get a header away moments later, but Marvin Sordell was unable to convert a good opportunity from six yards out from McCrory's delivery.

The Owls too were not at their most clinical early doors, George Boyd dragging an effort wide in the box.

Sordell was then involved in two more big first-half moments, turning his man brilliantly in the Wednesday box only to fire a tame effort at Keiren Westwood, before clashing with the Owls keeper as both challenged for a ball.

Westwood got there first and hoofed clear, but his follow-through seemed to catch Sordell and he sustained a game-ending injury from the collision.

Carlos Carvalhal's side quickly got something to lighten the mood, though, as Hooper flicked them into the lead with a fine finish.

The ex-Norwich City man sparked a counter and outmuscled Murphy before feeding the ball out wide. When it came back across from Hunt's low cross, it was Hooper on hand to finish first time with a casual backheel.

Boyd then saw an effort ruled out for offside as Albion kept it at 1-0.

Gary Hooper in action for Burton Albion
Gary Hooper in action for Burton Albion

Albion were unable to respond with the same emphasis after the break as they did in the victory over Birmingham last time out, with Wednesday happy to maintain possession and wait to hit on the counter.

But substitute keeper Joe Wildsmith - on for the injured Westwood - had to be alert when Scannell was slipped in down the right by Sordell, the Huddersfield man cutting inside to fire a left-footed shot towards the near post.

It was Scannell's replacement who would truly make his mark for Burton.

Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Mason had not been on a minute when he latched onto Sordell's flick-on in the Wednesday box, swivelled and arrowed a low shot past Wildsmith.

It will surely go down as one of the quickest - if not the quickest - debut goal by an Albion player.

Joe Mason in action for Burton Albion
Joe Mason in action for Burton Albion

Wednesday looked to hit back, Murphy's positioning from an Owls corner absolutely necessary as Daniel Pudil scooped an effort back across goal - the Leeds United loanee nodding clear from under his own bar.

Carvalhal then wanted a penalty for handball from the ensuing bundle as McFadzean and Jordan Rhodes challenged for the loose ball.

David Jones then wasted a great late opening for the visitors when a bouncing ball in the Burton box came into the direction of his run - but he headed over.