Wednesday closed the gap on leaders Plymouth and second-placed Ipswich after a workmanlike 1-0 win at Accrington this afternoon.
A first-half goal from Alex Mighten takes us onto 37 points, one behind Ipswich who were held to a 1-1 home draw by Cheltenham, while Plymouth finished with the same scoreline at Lincoln and their lead over us is cut to five points.
Immediately below Wednesday, fourth-placed Peterborough were beaten at Exeter and now trail us by six points.
We had much the better of the game against Accrington, particularly in the first half when the home side failed to have a shot on target, but were sloppy in possession at times and didn’t create enough clearcut chances to match our overall domination.
One of Wednesday’s best openings came after just five minutes when Michael Ihiekwe went close to putting us in front, his far post header from Barry Bannan’s corner being headed off the line by Harvey Rodgers.
However, we did get that breakthrough goal on 24 minutes, Michael Smith chesting down Bannan’s drilled cross to Mighten, the loanee then hitting his shot into the ground and over keeper Toby Savin from 15 yards.
We went close to making it two just before half time, Bannan sending Fisayo Dele-Bashiru clear into the box but his lob over Savin was cleared near to the goal line, again by that man Rodgers.
The hour mark saw Josh Windass threatening to double the lead when he fired over the bar from six yards after Ihiekwe headed on Will Vaulks’ long throw before Accrington had their best chance of the game soon afterwards, Shaun Whalley breaking clear but David Stockdale coming to the rescue with a block.
Back at the other end, Savin saved at the feet of sub Lee Gregory and Dele-Bashiru missed an excellent opening when the keeper was left stranded out of his goal but the midfielder shot wide from the edge of the box.
Accrington’s only remaining threats came from distance and Wednesday ran out winners, recording another clean sheet and a sixth way victory of the season.
Stockdale, Iorfa, McGuinness, Ihiekwe, James, Mighten (Paterson 84), Vaulks, Bannan, Dele-Bashiru, Windass (Gregory 73), Smith. Unused subs: Dawson, Hunt, Brown, Johnson, Bakinson. Attendance: 4,938 (2,620 Wednesdayites).