Mark McGuinness scored a first-half winner as Sheffield Wednesday kept the pressure up on the League One pacesetters with a 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury.
McGuinness headed home the only goal of the game six minutes before the break as Wednesday closed the gap to Plymouth to three points, with the leaders being held by Burton.
The goal came towards the end of what had been a frustrating first half for the home side, with former Wednesday defender Chey Dunkley blocking most of what came his way.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Josh Windass had the best of the chances for the Owls but Shrewsbury held firm until the 39th minute.
The hosts finally broke the deadlock when skipper Barry Bannan whipped in a corner and McGuinness rose highest to head home his first goal for the club.
Shrewsbury had a chance to level midway through the second half but Taylor Moore saw his effort go wide of David Stockdale’s goal.
Wednesday’s best opportunity to double their advantage came when Bannan was put through on goal but visiting keeper Marko Marosi saved and substitute Lee Gregory could not convert his follow-up.
The hosts were almost made to pay for not finishing the game off when Matthew Pennington nearly grabbed an equaliser with a curling shot that went just wide, with the Owls having to defend frantically in the dying moments to come away with the victory.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Sheff Wed
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Stockdale
- 6IorfaSubstituted forPalmerat 83′minutes
- 20Ihiekwe
- 34McGuinness
- 33James
- 17Dele-BashiruSubstituted forVaulksat 83′minutes
- 19Bakinson
- 10Bannan
- 11WindassSubstituted forWilksat 76′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 24Smith
- 45MightenSubstituted forGregoryat 69′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Palmer
- 4Vaulks
- 7Wilks
- 9Gregory
- 13Paterson
- 22Shipston
- 25Dawson
Shrewsbury
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Marosi
- 5Pennington
- 22Dunkley
- 33Flanagan
- 6Moore
- 7Winchester
- 3Leahy
- 26ShipleySubstituted forPykeat 76′minutesBooked at 82mins
- 20Bayliss
- 24Saydee
- 14StreetSubstituted forBloxhamat 80′minutes
Substitutes
- 9Bowman
- 13Burgoyne
- 15Pyke
- 18Bloxham
- 30Barlow
- 35Bailey
- 36Hutchings
- Referee:
- Andy Woolmer
- Attendance:
- 24,271
Live Text
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Match ends, Sheffield Wednesday 1, Shrewsbury Town 0.
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Second Half ends, Sheffield Wednesday 1, Shrewsbury Town 0.
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Attempt blocked. Tom Bloxham (Shrewsbury Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Cheyenne Dunkley.
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Attempt blocked. Tom Bloxham (Shrewsbury Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Mallik Wilks (Sheffield Wednesday) is shown the yellow card.
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Foul by Michael Smith (Sheffield Wednesday).
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Matthew Pennington (Shrewsbury Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Lee Gregory (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Carl Winchester (Shrewsbury Town).
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Corner, Shrewsbury Town. Conceded by Michael Ihiekwe.
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Liam Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Rekeil Pyke (Shrewsbury Town).
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Attempt missed. Luke Leahy (Shrewsbury Town) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Tom Bayliss with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Liam Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday).
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Tom Flanagan (Shrewsbury Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Will Vaulks replaces Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
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Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Liam Palmer replaces Dominic Iorfa.
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Rekeil Pyke (Shrewsbury Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Michael Ihiekwe (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Rekeil Pyke (Shrewsbury Town).
