Relegation-threatened Leicester City scored late to rescue a draw at Sheffield Wednesday but remain a point away from Championship safety.

The spirited Owls, already down and still on minus points, looked like they were on their way to a first win in 35 games thanks to an early goal from Jerry Yates.

But substitute Jordan Ayew produced a moment of quality to beat Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles and draw his side level with six minutes to go.

Draws for Oxford, Portsmouth, West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn mean Leicester do not lose any ground on their relegation rivals, with five games left for the 2015-16 Premier League champions to avoid dropping into the third tier.

Striker Yates got the hosts off to the perfect start when he poked in from close range with just two minutes on the clock after Leicester had failed to clear a corner.

Minutes later, Abdul Fatawu should have drawn the Foxes level when Divine Mukasa's corner fell to him unmarked, but his first-time effort sailed wide.

The Foxes went on to create several chances to equalise in the first half, with Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles saving well from Oliver Skipp and Stephy Mavididi.

Boos rung out from the away end at the end of the first period, while the hosts were applauded off following an encouraging opening 45 minutes.

Rowett's side were out early after the break, but a second-half response failed to materialise. A home side growing in confidence almost doubled their lead through skipper Liam Palmer just after the hour mark, but he fired wide from inside the box.

They nearly paid the price for that miss when Ayew glanced a header off the post before Charles pulled off an outstanding double save to deny Daka, then Ricardo Pereira on the follow-up.

It looked like it might at last be Wednesday's day when Leicester's Luke Thomas headed the ball onto the bar from a corner, but their resilience was finally broken in the 84th minute.

Ayew's superbly taken half-volley from the edge of the box brought relief, rather than ecstasy, for the visitors and he almost completed the comeback with a stoppage-time header, only to be denied by another impressive stop from man of the match Charles.

Sheffield Wednesday head coach Henrik Pederson told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"He [Pierce Charles] is a fantastic goalkeeper. Normally we speak about Pierce being top with his feet, today how also showed how mentally strong he is and how strong he is defensively. Top performance from him.

"I think there's nobody that has doubt for his potential. He has a big, big future, that's why we are really, really proud and really happy that he's a part of Sheffield Wednesday. We will do everything we can to keep him for the future."

Leicester City boss Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Leicester:

"We knew it was a game we had to win. Other results mean we are in no different a position in some ways but it's not about that, it's about taking your opportunities.

"We have had three games now where overall we have created lots and lots of chances, lots and lots of efforts at goal, had lots and lots of the ball.

"I don't think we have necessarily had games where structurally, tactically, we have had problems. It's just been we need the quality in those final moments. We keep inviting teams to have a lead then basically sit in on that lead. It means you have got to show that extra quality to open it up.

"It's quite ridiculous [to concede early]. That's what we warned against. That means we have got to score two goals, the problem is we haven't done that many times this season."