Wednesday produced arguably our performance of the season as we completed a Championship double over high-flying Newcastle.
The 2-1 victory was thoroughly deserved and, although a late Jonjo Shelvey goal meant a typical nail-biting finale for Wednesday fans, we ran out worthy winners and might have had more to show for an excellent all-round display.
The three points also took us back into the final play-off spot, Fulham’s win over Ipswich earlier in the day having lifted them temporarily into that position.
Unlike many of the slow tempo Wednesday performances at Hillsborough this season, we began the game in aggressive fashion and remarkably could have been three-up in the opening 20 minutes.
Gary Hooper hit the bar after just two minutes, Steven Fletcher sliced a great opportunity wide when he should have scored and then the same player saw his close-range stab blocked by keeper Karl Darlow.
Newcastle rarely threatened in the first half but almost took an undeserved lead just before the break when Shelvey’s effort from the halfway line beat the retreating Keiren Westwood but came back off the bar.
Wednesday eventually took the lead on 58 minutes when Tom Lees nodded home from Ross Wallace’s free kick and it was 2-0 10 minutes later when Fletcher headed Daniel Pudil’s long throw over Darlow and into the far corner of the net.
It was no more than Wednesday deserved and, although Shelvey pulled a goal back three minutes from time, there was no denying Wednesday an impressive win which keeps us firmly in the play-off shake-up.