Rotherham 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday: Yorkshire derby spoils keep Wednesday in survival fight
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Ike Ugbo joined Sheffield Wednesday from French side Troyes in January
Ike Ugbo's sixth goal in five games was enough for Sheffield Wednesday to secure victory over bottom of the Championship Rotherham in the South Yorkshire derby at the New York Stadium.
The visitors dominated throughout but were forced to wait until the second half for their breakthrough thanks to Millers goalkeeper Viktor Johansson's heroics.
Wednesday are in touch with league safety after a third straight victory, but remain 23rd in the Championship.
It was another brave Rotherham showing, but a seventh successive defeat and fifth in a row by one goal as they remain rooted to the foot of the table.
Wednesday's purposeful start almost paid off when Liam Palmer's effort forced Viktor Johansson into action, before Cameron Humphreys-Grant blocked Ugbo's goalbound effort from Anthony Musaba's cut-back.
Moments later, Johansson showed good reactions to push a Will Vaulks free-kick around the post.
Just after the half hour mark, Ugbo and Musaba threatened again, this time in reverse as Hakeem Odoffin deflected the latter's effort away from goal after he met the former's flick on.
The visitors were frustrated to go in level after the break, squandering another chance when Palmer was found by Marvin Johnson, but he couldn't hit the target.
Calls for a Rotherham penalty were waved away on 52 minutes when Tom Eaves believed his shirt was being pulled as he attempted to get on the end of Sam Clucas' cross.
Wednesday remained the more likely to score though and at the other end Johnson combined well with Barry Bannan but, once again, couldn't find the target.
Finally, on 66 minutes Ugbo, who only joined the club om January, broke the deadlock. The striker finished from close range and it was Musaba who got an assist after yet more link-up between the pair.
Wednesday will likely take real heart from their persistence as they continue their push to avoid the drop, but Rotherham's hopes remain distant as they are now 19 points from safety.
Rotherham manager Leam Richardson told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"I'm disappointed, you want a positive result in a local derby. We made it competitive with our honesty, the goal is our doing.
"We started well, then the momentum stayed with them, our lads needed to regroup and take a foothold. They turned our back four more than we did.
"We needed to be more positive, more aggressive. I was made aware of the issues when I arrived on the pitch and off the pitch."
Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"It is a difficult place, Rotherham's style is difficult. We did well to prepare this week, we were focussed and it was a fantastic game from my players. Our spirit is outstanding; I'm really proud.
"We are the hunter, at the end we need to be over the line. We've known the situation since I arrived.
We can enjoy today, recovery on Monday and then we have two home games that will be special."