REPORT: Huddersfield 0-1 Owls
A Fernando Forestieri goal seven minutes from time gave the Owls a vital win at Huddersfield on Saturday.
A low-key derby seemed to be heading for a stalemate until the livewire striker slid in at the back post to give the visitors victory.
Prior to that decisive moment, it was a game where opportunities were thin on the ground with few talking points.
But the moment that mattered came once again from the Owls’ in-form striker, who claimed his 14th and arguably most important goal of the season.
The momentum was with Wednesday from the start and Ross Wallace went close with a long ranger inside the first five minutes.
The Scot then fired in a free kick from equal distance that deflected off the wall and into the grateful arms of Jed Steer as the Owls bossed possession.
Huddersfield offered little in the first half, with a daisycutter from Tommy Smith the hosts’ only effort on target.
For all their dominance, though, Wednesday struggled to create any real openings and both teams went down the tunnel looking to up the ante if the points were to be claimed.
The Owls did exactly that and almost took the lead on 56 minutes. Former Town defender Jack Hunt dinked a neat cross that landed kindly for Aiden McGeady to pick his spot but Joel Lynch headed off the line.
Hunt went close himself on 73 minutes, firing inches over the top having taken a clever pull-back from Atdhe Nuhiu.
Forestieri took aim from 25 yards moments later and smashed narrowly wide but went one better with seven minutes to go.
Lucas Joao powered forward down the left channel and delivered a teasing ball to the back stick, where Forestieri was on hand to slot home and cement Wednesday’s place in the coveted top six.
Wednesday: Westwood, Hunt, Loovens, Lees, Bennett, Wallace, Lopez, Lee, McGeady (Joao 76), Forestieri (Matias 88), Hooper (Nuhiu 70)