Wednesday players celebrate James Beadle's late penalty save
Sheffield Wednesday made light of playing more than half the game with 10 men as they saw off below-par Stoke at a blustery Hillsborough.
Di'Shon Bernard picked up two clumsy cautions in a 10-minute spell to leave the hosts down to 10 men late in a forgettable first half, but the Owls went ahead just after the turnaround when Josh Windass bundled home a cut-back from Yan Valery.
They had keeper James Beadle to thank for keeping out Tom Cannon's point-blank header soon after, while Barry Bannan was fortunate not to concede a penalty for handball as the Potters piled on the pressure.
However, substitute Callum Paterson made the points safe with another near-post finish 14 minutes from time before Cannon saw a late spot-kick well saved by Beadle as the visitors made it eight games without a win, while the Owls edged closer to the Championship play-off places.
The strong wind played a big part in the first half being low on quality, although Windass warmed the palms of Viktor Johansson with a rasping half-volley from 25 yards on 12 minutes while Michael Smith hooked an effort straight at the keeper from a Shea Charles corner 10 minutes later.
At the other end, Lewis Koumas dragged a shot wide when clean through after being flagged offside, although replays showed he was well onside when Cannon played him through.
Bernard picked up his first booking on 31 minutes after tugging back Cannon having misjudged a clearance, with Potters players insisting the Owls defender was the last man, despite being 40 yards from goal.
However, Bernard soon picked up a second caution in almost identical fashion, miscontrolling a pass in midfield and then lunging in and catching Koumas as he nipped the ball away.
Striker Smith was taken off at the break as the home side reshuffled, with Gabriel Otegbayo coming into defence.
But it took the hosts just seven minutes to break the deadlock when Bannan threaded a perfect ball behind the defence for Valery, whose first time cut-back from the right was bundled in by Windass, sliding in at the near post to beat the diving Johansson to the ball.
Beadle produced an instinctive double save to parry a point-blank Cannon header from Ben Wilmot's cross and then claw the ball off his line as it threatened to drop beyond him, with Koumas seeing appeals for a penalty in the ensuing scramble waved away by referee Sam Allison.
Bannan saw a looping strike from 18 yards deflect wide as Wednesday sought to give themselves breathing space but Ben Gibson stabbed over the bar from six yards out from corner as Stoke threatened an equaliser.
Bannan was then lucky to avoid conceding a penalty when he handled after misjudging a diving header and Stoke's frustration was compounded when Paterson made the points safe after Charles bustled to the byeline and cut back into the middle.
The Potters were handed a lifeline when Max Lowe was adjudged to have shoved substitute Sam Gallagher as he tried to meet a cross, but Cannon saw his powerful low spot-kick pushed away by Beadle diving to his left.
Wilmot and Koumas spurned half-chances as Stoke tried to mount a comeback in stoppage time but the hosts held on for a fourth home clean sheet of the season, while Stoke have scored only six in 11 league games on the road.
'It's a hard one to take' - reaction
Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"I am very happy with the three points. Big credit to my team, it was a little bit of a strange week but we stick together and showed big character today - we showed the togetherness we need.
"My team has a strong mentality, willingness, we want to take points. 32 points after 22 games is massive. First half I felt we controlled the game but then the reaction from the team (after the red card) was great.
"I am very happy with the assist from Yan Valery, we have four or five players who overcame illness overnight, it's a good story with Callum Paterson who scored - for him it's not always easy but he is always trying, it was great to see him score.
"It was a big moment from James Beadle, he has improved in the last weeks a lot – it was outstanding,
"Di'Shon will learn from this, it's a pity it is two games (suspension) and not one. There are lots of small stories but the big story is we took the three points in a special way."
Stoke boss Narcis Pelach told BBC Radio Stoke:
"It's a hard one to take. You expect to win when they are down to 10 men.
"We defended badly (on both goals) – we shot ourselves in the foot. We have to be much more aggressive because we have more numbers than them in the box, it cannot end in a goal, it's unacceptable.
"In the first half I think we were more pragmatic, aggressive, won many more duels and second balls which is what I demand from the team. The first 45 minutes are good.
"There were some decisions which changed the game in big moments. Lewis Koumas was one v one with the keeper and was (given) offside when he was not and the two penalties (not awarded), Bannan and Lewis Koumas, this is unacceptable, but it is what it is at the moment.
"Of course they were penalties – I try not to talk about these things, but it's too much, it's just too much. We all felt we haven't had the decisions since I was appointed. It's two clear penalties today. We have to take it and be strong and one day it will change.
"We have to show composure when things are not going well. I told the team we have to find consistency throughout the 90 minutes, not just 45 or 50.
"Football can change very quick. We have to be positive. I am disappointed, I just want the team to win games and everyone can be proud of us. We are in a bad run, we all know it, but we have to be strong. I am going to fight and do everything I can to change this situation."
