Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Preston North End: Liam Palmer goal gives Owls vital win
- Published
Liam Palmer's goal was his first since September 2011
Liam Palmer's first goal in more than nine years gave struggling Sheffield Wednesday a vital win against Preston.
Palmer gave the hosts the lead just before the break when he swept in from close range after a long throw was headed back across goal.
The visitors had the better of it after the break but could not create any real chances and needed goalkeeper Daniel Iversen to make a fine save from Barry Bannan to stop the hosts from making it 2-0.
The Owls remain in the Championship relegation zone but are now within four points of safety after a third win in four league games.
Scotland international Palmer was perhaps the unlikeliest of match winners, having scored just once in his entire career prior to Saturday.
The 29-year-old was still a teenager when he came off the bench to score in a 3-1 win over MK Dons in September 2011. But he showed a striker's instinct to calmly finish after Elias Kachunga had headed Callum Paterson's long throw back across goal.
Preston made all five subs as they sought to find a way back into the game in the closing minutes but Scott Sinclair headed their best chance over from Alan Browne's cross.
The Owls, who remain under the management of caretaker Neil Thompson, could close to within a point of safety when they visit out-of-form Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Owls matchwinner Liam Palmer told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"It's been a long time. I'm delighted to score, I was meant to be staying back, but instead I got in the box and got lucky.
"I had a quick look on my phone [after the game] and had quite a few messages because it's a bit of a collectors item."
Owls caretaker manager Neil Thompson told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"We knew it was going to be a dogged game against Preston. They're a good team. The biggest thing for me was getting a reaction from midweek. All the players showed a lot of character.
"Work rate is free. That doesn't cost a penny. That's a given. We have got to have that and we are looking for who has that bit of quality. Everyone worked their socks off. We have got 21 games left and a lot of points to play for."
Preston North End manager Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"We were in control of the game in the first half. The goal is a shocker.
"A long throw, we lose two headers and we lose a runner in the middle of the box.
"From that point of view, that's probably the biggest disappointment.
"We did have two of three opportunities but, at the top end, we didn't do enough. We didn't create enough. You need to go and commit people. You need to beat people."