Wednesday’s ‘great escape’ bid gained further momentum with a fourth successive Championship win in a 1-0 victory over Plymouth at Hillsborough this evening.
Djeidi Gassama struck the all-important goal on the hour, also signalling a fifth success in our last six games, and while we still sit one off the bottom of the table, we now join three other clubs – Stoke, Huddersfield and QPR – on 38 points.
Added to this, Birmingham are now on 39 points with the trio of Blackburn, Millwall and Plymouth on the 40-mark.
After a slow start from the Owls, we went close to taking the lead on nine minutes. Ian Poveda’s trickery created a close-range chance for Ike Ugbo, his snapshot came back off keeper Conor Hazard and Gassama snatched at the rebound, with Will Vaulks probably better placed to shoot.
With Wednesday beginning to dictate matters we thought we had gone ahead on 19 minutes. Gassama found Pol Valentin with an excellent pass and the latter’s cross from the right was turned home in style by Poveda, only to be ruled out for a tight offside decision.
Barry Bannan was subbed at half time, having taken a knock, and we began the second half in sloppy fashion before Gassama grabbed that vital goal, turning home a low Ugbo cross from eight yards in front of the Kop.
Minutes later, Gassama went close to making it two when he fired just wide from the edge of the box.
The absence of Bannan in midfield was obvious and Plymouth began to pose a growing threat, Morgan Whittaker seeing a fierce effort pushed away by James Beadle.
However, Wednesday struck back and missed two good chances, Di’Shon Bernard heading over from six yards and then Marvin Johnson turning Bailey Cadamarteri’s low cross over the bar from close-range.
With the influential Poveda subbed with 15 minutes left, we started to lose more control of the midfield and Plymouth could sense nervousness in the Wednesday defence.
Mustapha Bundu twice threatened to grab a late equaliser but a combination of wasteful finishing from the visitors and some last-ditch blocks saw us across the line to ensure another three precious points.
Beadle, Valentin (Palmer 87), Iorfa (B.Diaby 76), Ihiekwe, Bernard, Johnson, Vaulks, Bannan (M.Diaby 46), Poveda (Musaba 76), Gassama, Ugbo (Cadamarteri 68). Unused subs: Dawson, Famewo, Wilks, Smith. Attendance: 23,037.