Saturday 14 January 2017 18:42, UK
A sensational goal from Ross Wallace and a close-range finish from Fernando Forestieri gave Sheffield Wednesday a crucial 2-0 victory over promotion rivals Huddersfield.
With both sides jostling for position among the Sky Bet Championship's leading bunch, this could prove to be a significant result.
Jack Payne was sent-off for the visitors but they remain well in the picture despite this loss and were on an equal footing until their hosts turned on the heat in the second half. In fact, they could have gone ahead two minutes in but Nahki Wells headed a back-post Tommy Smith cross straight into the arms of keeper Kieren Westwood.
The home side struggled to get into the game and it took 27 minutes before they could even muster a shot. Forestieri took on a ball from Barry Bannan on the edge of the box and sliced the ball wide of the goal.
In the 41st minute, Wednesday finally burst to life as Bannan's curling cross from the left hand side was headed over by an onrushing Steven Fletcher. Minutes later, Elias Kachunga got goal-side of Daniel Pudil and forced the Wednesday player to bring him down right on the edge of the box. From the resulting free-kick, Chris Lowe forced a smart diving save from Westwood.
The introduction of Wednesday's new signing Sam Winnall after the break changed things for the home side and in the 54th minute Wallace opened the scoring with a unstoppable strike from 35 yards into the top-right corner.
With 20 minutes to go, Huddersfield were reduced to 10 men as Payne was given a straight red card for a reckless high challenge on Wednesday's Sam Hutchinson.
Substitute Joe Lolley came close for Town in the 76th minute after a mazy run and strike forced a save from Westwood. Michael Hefele then tried his luck with a towering header but again Westwood was equal to it.
In the 82nd minute, Winnall cleverly dummied the ball into the path of Bannan but he could only hit the ball straight at the keeper. Hutchinson then tried to emulate Wallace but his effort ballooned harmlessly over the bar.
A last-ditch sliding tackle from Chris Lowe denied Winnall a dream debut in the 84th minute as he was bearing down on goal.
In added time, Forestieri sealed the game for Wednesday as he tapped in from close range after substitute Callum McManaman's good work in the box.
Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal:
"I think we deserved the win against a very good team.In the first half we made one or two mistakes in the way we pressed. In the second half, when we started winning the ball, we moved it faster.
"It was an amazing goal from Wallace, a typical Ross Wallace goal. He deserved this goal. We gave him permission to fly and he flew to a fantastic goal."
Huddersfield boss David Wagner:
"I think we shouldn't forget where we are today, against one of the best teams in the division. The first half was very good but the second half was only okay. After the red card, the game changed.
"I have spoken to Jack Payne. To be fair, I know him and he's one of the nicest players on the planet. He doesn't have the genes to want to stamp on someone. Unfortunately he came too late. It was a yellow, not a red."
