Summary

  • Sheff Wed move to within five points of safety after win

  • Ugbo goals either side of half-time for Owls

  • Some Wednesday fans protested against owner Chansiri

  • Birmingham four points above drop zone and gap could narrow on Saturday

  • League Two: Gillingham win 3-1 at Notts County to move above them into play-offs

  1. Postpublished at 50 mins

    Sheff Wed 1-0 Birmingham

    Juninho Bacuna hammers a shot past the post from 25 yards out after making a bit of space to get a shot away.

    Wednesday will be content if they can restrict Birmingham to those kind of opportunities for the rest of this game.

  2. 'Too easy for Wednesday'published at 21:10 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2024

    Sheff Wed 1-0 Birmingham

    Ian Clarkson
    Ex-Birmingham captain on BBC Radio WM

    That was a fantastic save from Neil Etheridge again, this time at point-blank range.

    It was a ball dropped in to Ike Ugbo, who got his shot away well.

    That was way too easy for Wednesday. Birmingham need to tighten up.

  3. Postpublished at 47 mins

    Sheff Wed 1-0 Birmingham

    The home side start the half on top.

    Ike Ugbo smashes a shot straight at goalkeeper Neil Etheridge from close in and then the Owls can't force the loose ball goalwards.

  4. Second halfpublished at 21:07 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2024

    Sheff Wed 1-0 Birmingham

    Back under way at Hillsborough.

    Blues have readied Jay Stansfield to go on up top but he's starting the half on the bench...

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:04 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2024

    #bbcefl, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Anon: Sheffield Wednesday need to win tonight. We have a lot of ground to make up in the table and we need to stay up this season.

    This will leave the home side five points adrift of safety if they can hold out for all three points.

    You can get in touch with us using the ways outlined above.

  6. Gillingham give themselves breathing spacepublished at 21:02 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2024

    Notts County 1-3 Gillingham

    It's a third goal for Gillingham at Notts County, in the race for the League Two play-offs.

    The home defending is suspect and Conor Masterson takes advantage, heading in from six yards out after a corner isn't cleared.

  7. 'Lucky but we'll take it'published at 20:59 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2024

    HT: Sheff Wed 1-0 Birmingham

    Jon Newsome
    Former Owls defender on BBC Radio Sheffield

    Sheffield Wednesday scoring against BirminghamImage source, Getty Images

    We've matched them, if not done a little bit better. It's been quite equal. We created the better of the chances, but Birmingham had a couple of really good ones in injury time.

    We're probably walking down that tunnel thinking we're lucky, but we'll take it. It's a massive game and the first goal was pivotal. Overall, it was a really good performance.

    Ian Poveda's come in and shown what he's about. There's more to come from him.

  8. Tomasson out and Eustace in at Blackburnpublished at 20:56 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2024

    John Eustace clapsImage source, Getty Images

    There'll be a familiar face in the Blackburn dugout when Birmingham host Rovers on Tuesday.

    The Ewood Park side announced that Jon Dahl Tomasson had left by mutual consent on Friday afternoon before naming former Blues gaffer John Eustace as his replacement about half an hour later.

    Like Birmingham, Blackburn are in danger of getting dragged into trouble at the wrong end of the Championship table and host fellow strugglers Stoke on Saturday before their trip to the West Midlands.

    Assistants David Lowe and Damien Johnson will take the game against the Potters, meaning Eustace's first game in charge of Blackburn will be at the same place his tenure as Birmingham boss ended in October.

    Blues were fifth when he left, incidentally...

  9. HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:51 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2024

    Sheff Wed 1-0 Birmingham

    Sheff Wed celebrateImage source, PA Media

    So far, so good for the lowly Owls.

    Birmingham have had the better of the possession and more chances but Wednesday punished them with their only sho on target in the game so far.

    Ike Ugbo finished smartly from Ian Poveda's low cross for his first goal for the club.

    The former Chelsea man maybe ought to have made it 2-0 but Blues are very much right in this and Scott Hogan hit a shot wide from close range before Owls keeper James Beadle made a great save from Siriki Dembele's deflected shot just before the break.

    There's more goals in this one for sure.

  10. GREAT SAVE!published at 20:50 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2024

    Sheff Wed 1-0 Birmingham

    Tremendous stop from Owls keeper James Beadle!

    Blues winger Siriki Dembele drops his shoulder and gets a curled effort away from 20 yards out.

    It takes a huge deflection off a Wednesday defender 10 yards out and looks to be headed for the top corner before Beadle sticks out a big left paw to turn it around the post.

  11. Postpublished at 45 mins

    Sheff Wed 1-0 Birmingham

    Lee Buchanan sends in a dangerous cross that Blues striker Scott Hogan gets the first contact on at the near post but his shot flies past the post.

    Into three minutes added on at the end of the half.

  12. 'Golden opportunity for Wednesday'published at 20:48 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2024

    Sheff Wed 1-0 Birmingham

    Ian Clarkson
    Ex-Birmingham captain on BBC Radio WM

    That was a great chance for Ike Ugbo. He's cut inside Lee Buchanan and should have scored. It was a golden opportunity to make it 2-0.

    Tony Mowbray is entitled to be annoyed because I don't think Wednesday are a great team.

    There are goals to be had here, but Wednesday also look like they're capable of opening us up. Our midfield five are being outgunned.

  13. Postpublished at 43 mins

    Sheff Wed 1-0 Birmingham

    It should be 2-0!

    Blues cough up possession so cheaply on the halfway line.

    Ian Poveda motors on before playing Ike Ugbo in on goal.

    The striker's first effort is blocked but comes straight back into his path, and he flashes a shot wide from no more than 10 yards out.

    He's appealing for a corner but no dice. Big chance.

  14. CLOSE!published at 41 mins

    Sheff Wed 1-0 Birmingham

    Oooh, that's unlucky from Ian Poveda for the home side!

    The young forward shows great feet to fashion a yard to get a shot away from just outside the area.

    His low effort just curls by the far post.

  15. Postpublished at 39 mins

    Sheff Wed 1-0 Birmingham

    Tony MowbrayImage source, Getty Images

    Blues boss Tony Mowbray has been around the block enough times to not get panicked by this situation.

    His men are well on top of this match in terms of possession and chances but they trail where it really matters.

    Long way to go but defeat for them here tonight could potentially see them end the weekend one point above the relegation zone.

  16. Gills hold half-time advantage in League Twopublished at 20:40 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2024

    HT: Notts County 1-2 Gillingham

    It's half-time in the League Two game between Notts County and Gillingham, which started 15 minutes before the match in Sheffield.

    Dan Crowley put the Magpies ahead but goals from Oli Hawkins and Max Clark have the visitors ahead at the break.

    Notts could be about to go five games without a win and slip out of the play-off places...

  17. Postpublished at 35 mins

    Sheff Wed 1-0 Birmingham

    That Ike Ugbo goal was just the Owls second in the league since New Year's Day.

    How pivotal it will prove to be will depend on the defence now, they've conceded four goals in each of their past two.

    Barry Bannan swings in a free-kick for the home side but Neil Etheridge is swiftly off his line to field with ease.

  18. 'No need to go at 100mph'published at 20:34 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2024

    Sheff Wed 1-0 Birmingham

    Jon Newsome
    Former Owls defender on BBC Radio Sheffield

    I just feel, at times, that Wednesday give the ball away a little too cheaply, rather than keeping possession to take the sting out of the game.

    Yes, we want to play at high tempo and 100mph. But sometimes you want to take your foot off the gas, control the game and let Birmingham chase it a little bit.

  19. Postpublished at 20:31 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2024

    Sheff Wed 1-0 Birmingham

    Danny RohlImage source, Getty Images

    Home form is going to be so important for Danny Rohl's Wednesday if they're to avoid relegation.

    Their next two matches at Hillsborough after this one are against mid-table Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle.

    Blues will count themselves unfortunate to be behind in this one though, with the Owls having scored with their only shot of the game so far.

  20. Gillingham lead from behind at Nottspublished at 20:30 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2024

    Notts County 1-2 Gillingham

    In League Two, Gillingham have come from behind to lead at fellow promotion hopefuls Notts County.

    It's a fine outside of the foot strike from Max Clark which puts them ahead, finding the top corner.

    The Gills would leapfrog Notts into seventh - the final play-off spot - if they hold on to this result.