Ike Ugbo struck his first two goals for the club as Wednesday earnt three precious points in a vital victory over lowly Birmingham at Hillsborough on Friday night.
We remain in 23rd place but with our relegation rivals all playing today, the win takes us onto 26 points, two behind QPR in 22nd and five points from Huddersfield and safety.
After conceding eight goals in our last two games and with four league matches without a win, we began the match tentatively and Birmingham twice went close through Juninho Bacuna and Lee Buchanan.
However, Wednesday grabbed a surprise lead on 15 minutes, Ugbo slotted home from six yards after excellent work and a pinpoint pull back from the impressive Ian Poveda.
Poveda was close to a goal of his own shortly before half time but curled his shot wide from the edge of the penalty area and then Ugbo was just off target when set up by Poveda.
Birmingham threatened again in the closing stages of the first half, Scott Hogan twice going close to an equaliser, first with a close-range stab and then with a flicked header, before a Siriki Dembele shot deflected off Akin Famewo and looked to be heading for the net until the diving Beadle produced a fine save.
However, Wednesday came out looking stronger and more determined in the second half and doubled our lead on 53 minutes.
Barry Bannan sent Marvin Johnson down the left and when he crossed to the far post Ugbo rose to head home in style in front of the Kop.
There were few chances at either end after that until the visitors threatened again in added time. Beadle saved from Paik Seung-ho, Bacuna shot just wide and then Beadle came to the rescue again, diving to save at the feet of Jay Stansfield in a goalmouth scramble.
And it proved to be Wednesday’s night with the vast majority of the Hillsborough crowd saluting Danny Rohl and his squad after a battling and crucial win to keep those Championship survival hopes alive.
Beadle, Valentin, Famewo (Ihiekwe 75), Bernard, Johnson (Pederson 88), Bannan, M Diaby (Vaulks 62), Poveda (Musaba 75), Gassama, Ugbo, Cadamarteri (Smith 75).Unused subs: Charles, Palmer, Wilks, Siquiera.