Sheffield Wednesday made it three wins from four after narrowly beating Bristol City 2-1 at Hillsborough.
Ike Ugbo scored either side of Jason Knight’s header to give the Owls a precious three points in the relegation scrap.
They were forced to dig in for the final ten minutes after Di’Shon Bernard was given a second yellow for a badly timed challenge, but the ten owls clung on for victory to boost their survival hopes.
Ugbo opened the scoring with a quick turn in the penalty area and an accurate finish into the bottom corner, but Bristol equalised ten minutes later thanks to Knight’s fine looping header.
On the stroke of halftime Canadian Ugbo reacted well to direct Marvin John’s cross goalward and make it five goals in his last four games.
The upturn in form could not have come at a better time for Danny Rhol’s men, and they are just three points off Queens Park Rangers in 21st.
After the game, the manager said: “I think, it was a big, big win today for us.
“It wasn’t easy, we played against a strong side from Bristol, I think they have a good manager, they were well organised and had solutions with the ball.”
The final ten minutes could have proved tricky for Wednesday after Bernard went sliding in recklessly, but Bristol failed to take advantage and it was Wednesday who perhaps should have scored after Max O’Leary reacted well to Michael Smith’s stoppage-time effort.
Sheffield face a short trip to local rivals Rotherham next, the only team currently below Sheffield Wednesday, in a South Yorkshire clash that the Owls will feel confident of emerging from victorious.
