Wednesday’s push for the play-offs continues to stutter after a 2-0 defeat at Villa Park stretched our recent run to just one win in the last five games.
With seventh-placed Fulham winning 3-1 at leaders Newcastle our lead over the Cottagers is now down to two points and they could overtake us on Tuesday evening when they entertain Blackburn in their game in hand.
We dominated the early stages against Villa with Sam Winnall twice going close and then seeing a headed goal from Vincent Sasso ruled out for offside.
However, Villa gradually began to come into the game and took the lead on 34 minutes when slack defending saw Wednesday fail to pick up from a short corner and Jonathan Kodjia headed home the resultant cross from close range.
Ross Wallace missed a great chance to equalise soon afterwards but fired over and worse followed just after half-time. Sasso was red carded for a lunge on Conor Hourihane after miscontrolling the ball and Carlos Carvalhal was also sent to the stands for his protests.
We might have found a way back into the game when Jack Hunt looked to be pulled down in the box but referee Lee Probert waved away the penalty appeals.
The home side then missed further chances to increase their lead before Kodjia stole clear in the box and rounded Keiren Westwood to complete a Villa victory 11 minutes from time.