Two goals in two second-half minutes saw Wednesday record a first win at Hillsborough since Boxing Day against promotion-chasing Middlesbrough.
Kenneth Omeruo was adjudged to have handled in the box on 52 minutes and Atdhe Nuhiu fired the resulting penalty past Dimitrios Konstantopoulos … the Hartlepool keeper in our 2005 play-off final who was also beaten from the spot on that day by Steve MacLean.
Then Will Keane bravely headed home from close-in for the second goal after Nuhiu’s header came back off the post.
Keane might have scored a third when he burst clear but his shot was saved by Konstantopoulos and the closest the visitors came to pulling a goal back saw Liam Palmer make a superb block late on as Kike looked certain to score in front of goal.
It had been a low-key first half of few chances for either side but Wednesday improved as the game wore on, displaying more determination, energy and teamwork than in recent home games and they were worthy winners against a Boro side who failed to show the form that has made them one of the promotion favourites.
This second successive Championship victory also saw us record a double over Boro and takes Wednesday up to 10th place with 46 points.