Wednesday took a huge stride on the road to Championship safety with a convincing 3-0 triumph over play-off hopefuls West Brom.
It was arguably the Owls’ best performance of the season at exactly the right time as goals from Anthony Musaba, Iké Ugbo and Josh Windass powered the hosts to victory.
And the win puts Wednesday squarely in the driving seat with one round of fixtures to go.
The early exchanges were tense and nervy from both sides, with no sign of the drama to follow.
Chances came at a premium - Will Vaulks brought a fine save from Alex Palmer with a dipping shot from distance before James Beadle blocked a Michael Johnston effort at the other end.
Neither took a real grip on a game that had such high stakes – until the 22nd minute when Wednesday broke through.
Palmer dived low to keep out Windass from close range but could do nothing to prevent Musaba slotting home the rebound.
An already raucous atmosphere went up to another level and although the Baggies grew more into the contest, the first half ended in the Owls’ favour – and the start of the second too.
After Kyle Bartley headed a Will Vaulks off the line, Ugbo doubled the lead on 50 minutes.
Musaba did ever so well to force his way past two challenges into the penalty area, he was stopped in his tracks by Bartley, but the loose ball was smashed home emphatically by Ugbo.
That prompted the visitors to make a quadruple change but the Owls continued to press forward and it was so close to 3-0 when Windass was a whisker away from Musuba’s low cross.
Musaba then set up Ugbo and it took a sharp save from Palmer at his near post to keep it at two.
Wednesday went closer still as Barry Bannan floated an inviting ball to the back stick where Windass headed against the woodwork.
But the blue and white wave could not be stopped and Windass extended the lead on 69 minutes.
The outstanding Musaba was the architect, his angled hit saved by Palmer and Windass was on hand to finish from six yards.
The Baggies rallied towards the end but found Beadle in fine form – the young custodian made three super saves in quick succession to deny Grady Diangana, John Swift and Bartley.
It wasn’t West Brom’s day in front of goal, while the reverse was true for Wednesday, who head to Sunderland next week firm favourites to complete the great escape.
Wednesday: Beadle, Palmer, Iorfa, Bernard (Famewo 86), Johnson, Vaulks, Bannan (B Diaby 76), Valentin, Musaba (Smith 76), Windass (Gassama 76), Ugbo (Paterson 76)
