Lee Gregory’s second half penalty proved the difference as Sheffield Wednesday deservedly overcame already-relegated Crewe Alexandra to move back into the play-offs.
In a frustrating game for the hosts full of missed opportunities, the Owls’ number nine fired his fourth goal in five games to secure a huge win which keeps their hopes of automatic promotion alive.
The victory extended Wednesday’s unbeaten run to eight games on an evening when high-flying rivals Rotherham and MK Dons both lost and Wigan dropped points at Ipswich.
Darren Moore’s side started the far better, yet two shocking misses early on seemed to take the wind out of the Owls’ sails for the rest of the half.
Saido Berahino provided a contender for miss of the season early on, after he somehow sent his effort over the bar in front of an empty net, after being teed up perfectly by Jack Hunt down the right.
Gregory was also wasteful as he could not adjust his body to properly connect with a header from three yards out.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was a constant threat down the left and forced Crewe keeper Dean Richards into a smart save before George Byers also saw a long-range drive pushed away.
The visitors offered very little going forward, with Callum Ainley’s strike from outside the box which was parried behind the closest they came all game, just before the break.
Wednesday finally made their dominance pay just before the hour, as talisman Barry Bannan’s chipped ball found Mendez-Laing who was clumsily brought down by Scott Kashket on the left byline.
Gregory made no mistake from the spot, way to huge relief from the Hillsborough faithful who were beginning to wonder if it was going to be one of those days.
Florian Kamberi should have calmed any remaining nerves in stoppage time as a long ball forward fell kindly for him, but Richards was equal to his point-blank range effort.
Wednesday survived some late Crewe pressure without ever conceding any clear-cut chances, underlining a solid defensive performance.
Manager Darren Moore rued his side’s wasted chances but was content with the level of performance.
“I was scratching my head at some of the chances that went begging tonight”
“We had to keep going, anybody watching that today would have said it was a well-deserved three points.”
The Owls are up to fourth, just four points behind Rotherham with three games remaining.
Sheffield Wednesday: Peacock-Farrell; Palmer, Storey, Johnson; Hunt, Byers, Bannan, Paterson, Mendez-Laing (Dunkley 82’); Berahino (Kamberi 82’), Gregory (Luongo 62’). Unused subs: Wildsmith, Gibson, Dele-Bashiru, Shodipo.
Crewe Alexandra: Richards; Williams, Offord, Sass-Davies, Lundstram (Sambou 74’); Lowery, Harper (Murphy 74’); Long, Ainley, Kashket (Uwakwe 58); Mandron. Unused subs: Jääskeläinen, O’Riordan, Finney, Griffiths.
Bookings: Sheffield Wednesday: Luongo 80’.
Crewe Alexandra: Ainley 45+2, Richards 54’.
Goals: Sheffield Wednesday: Gregory 54’.
Crewe Alexandra: None
Player of the Match: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing
Attendance: 22,566
Referee: Charles Breakspear
