Kieran Lee’s fifth goal of the season gave Wednesday a welcome three points and dented Brentford’s play-off hopes at the same time.
Lee’s close-range drive sealed the points with 15 minutes remaining in a match that saw an improved Wednesday performance compared to recent weeks at S6.
Brentford went closest in the first-half when Alan Judge’s shot hit the crossbar while the Owls again lacked a cutting edge up front, despite some encouraging build-up play.
The Bees began the second-half in more aggressive manner and Andre Gray shot narrowly wide as they threatened to take control.
However, the Londoners were sometimes guilty of over-playing when they got in threatening positions and our more direct approach was rewarded when Lee struck on 75 minutes.
Then, with Brentford pushing forward for an equaliser, Sergiu Bus missed a great chance to wrap up the points in the dying minutes when he burst clear, only to fire high into the Kop from the edge of the penalty area.
Stuart Gray said: “I think we’ve played better and lost games. I think we’ve played better and only drawn games. But the most important thing tonight was getting a win.”
He added: “I said before the game that if we got our noses in front, we have to play the game out and we did that. I’m pleased for the players and I’m pleased for the fans because they haven’t seen us win too many times here this season.”
It signalled only our fifth home league win of the season but lifted us to 11th place in the table and means we have also equalled a club record of 17 clean sheets in a league season.