Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Blackburn Rovers: Owls boost slim survival hopes with win

Josh Windass (second right) took his tally for the season to nine

Sheffield Wednesday boosted their hopes of staying in the Championship with a narrow win over Blackburn Rovers.

A deflected shot from Josh Windass gave the hosts the lead before the break after Kadeem Harris had teed him up.

John Buckley had a great chance to level for the visitors but shot straight at Keiren Westwood and Julian Borner forced a save from Thomas Kaminski in the Rovers goal from Barry Bannan's corner.

The Owls would have been relegated on Tuesday if they had lost and Derby won at Preston but their victory, allied to the Rams' 3-0 reverse at Deepdale, moved them to within four points of safety with three games to play.

Wednesday visit Middlesbrough on Saturday before hosting Nottingham Forest and then ending the season with a home game against Wayne Rooney's side.

Derby have now lost their past four games and face in-form Birmingham City, who have climbed away from trouble, on Saturday.

The hosts just about deserved the vital three points but were perhaps fortunate that Buckley could not make better connection with his shot after being set up by Adam Armstrong.

Blackburn's season is coming to a disappointing end, with defeat at Hillsborough meaning they have won just two of their past 17 matches.

Sheffield Wednesday assistant manager Jamie Smith told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"I thought they were really disciplined throughout the game and scored a good goal against a very good Blackburn team.

"Although they did have a lot of possession in the second half, I thought we were disciplined without the ball.

"It just gives us belief. That's all we keep talking about - belief and being positive. We've got three games to go and we will be doing all we can to win those three games and see where we are."

Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray:

"It's about trying to improve the individuals as we go along so that when we get opportunities, they pick the right pass and turn opportunities into goals.

"We need to keep working hard in training. That's all you can do.

"It's going to be a summer of pretty big change, I think. There are a lot of loan players and players out of contract so we'll see how good recruitment is because that's important."