Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Wycombe Wanderers: Owls move out of drop zone
- Published
Jordan Rhodes' opener was just his third goal of the season for Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday moved out of the Championship drop zone with victory over bottom side Wycombe Wanderers, who remain in deep relegation trouble.
Jordan Rhodes gave the hosts a first-half lead at a snowy Hillsborough with a fine cushioned header from Kadeem Harris' dinked cross.
Adebayo Akinfenwa, captaining Wycombe on his first start since 26 December, spurned their best chance of the game before the break when he headed straight at Keiren Westwood.
The Owls continued to create the better opportunities in the second half but their goal to make it 2-0 had a huge slice of fortune about it.
Harris' blocked shot fell to Adam Reach, whose 25-yard strike took a huge deflection off Anthony Stewart and wrongfooted Wycombe goalkeeper Ryan Allsop.
Wycombe are still 12 points from safety having won one of their past 17 league matches, while Sheffield Wednesday's form under interim boss Neil Thompson continues to give them hope of survival.
Since Tony Pulis was sacked on 28 December, the Owls have won five of their seven Championship fixtures and are now out the relegation zone on goal difference, with Derby falling below them.
Reach's deflected second goal was harsh on Allsop who had kept Wycombe in the game up until then, saving efforts from Barry Bannan, Callum Paterson and Rhodes.
But Wanderers were limited to just two shots on target, one in each half, with Stewart's close-range strike adding to Akinfenwa's header.
Sheffield Wednesday interim manager Neil Thompson told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"First half I thought we were really good. We knew what to expect, we knew they would be direct and they are a handful, deal with Akinfenwa, deal with second balls.
"We knew that when we did get possession the areas we could exploit were the wide areas. That's why I went with two wing backs and they got forward and got the ball in the box.
"If you keep putting the ball in the box you're going to get an opportunity and we did that."
Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"Disappointing again. I thought we looked more aggressive but again we failed to really register anything on the opposition's goal.
"The boys are giving everything. It was tough, it was a tough pitch to play on, a difficult night, but again mistakes have cost us, especially for the second goal.
"I can point fingers at people and we will do behind closed doors."