Wednesday’s revival continued with an outstanding 2-1 win at Aston Villa which takes us closer to the play-off places.
This second victory in a row was thoroughly deserved, against a Villa side who had not lost at home in the Championship since April, and lifts us one position into 11th on 23 points. With Middlesbrough moving into fifth after their win over Sunderland on Sunday, we are now three points behind Villa who fill the final play-off spot.
Adam Reach gave us a dream start with a tremendous 25-yard volley inside the first minute – his third goal in the last three games – and we were well worth a second, which came when Jordan Rhodes finished off a slick Wednesday passing movement involving Barry Bannan and Gary Hooper on 23 minutes.
At the other end, Villa rarely troubled Keiren Westwood in the first half and we might have been further ahead by the break.
Not surprisingly, the home side came more into the game after the interval but, again, Villa posed few problems and we might easily have made it three when sub Liam Palmer fired just wide when well placed.
Villa finally pulled a goal back almost on the final whistle when Chris Samba turned the ball home from close range.
Westwood, Hunt, Lees Loovens, Fox, Wallace (Palmer 63), Bannan, Butterfield, Reach, Hooper (Jones 83), Rhodes (Fletcher 72).