Sheffield Wednesday vs Plymouth Argyle. Sky Bet Championship.
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Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle at Hillsborough on Tuesday | Djeidi Gassama earns the Owls a narrow victory as they continue their march towards possible safety.
Tuesday 5 March 2024 23:21, UK
Sheffield Wednesday's survival bid gathered further momentum as Djeidi Gassama's second-half strike clinched a 1-0 home win over Plymouth.
Gassama steered home the only goal in the 60th minute to secure the Owls a fifth win in their last six league matches and they remain in the bottom three only on goal difference.
Danny Rohl's in-form side launched a concerted effort to rescue their season last month and they climbed to within two points of Plymouth, who stay 16th despite slipping to a fifth defeat in their last seven.
Morgan Whittaker rifled an early chance for Plymouth over the crossbar, but Wednesday were soon into their stride and Conor Hazard knew little about Ike Ugbo's close-range effort, which the visiting goalkeeper saved with his chest.
The Owls thought they had taken a 20th-minute lead, but on-loan Leeds winger Ian Poveda was ruled offside when he turned home Pol Valentin's cross at the end of a free-flowing move.
Mickel Miller's angled shot forced Owls goalkeeper James Beadle into his first save, but the home side went on to dominate the first half, albeit without a cutting edge.
Valentin, twice, and Poveda both had shots blocked as confident Wednesday played with purpose and cohesion, but the breakthrough goal their play deserved eluded them.
Barry Bannan's withdrawal during the interval was a major blow. The little playmaker took a bang to the head at the end of the first period and was replaced by Momo Diaby.
But Wednesday remained on the front foot and took a deserved lead in the 60th minute.
Ugbo wriggled to the by-line and cut the ball back for Gassama, whose first time shot found the bottom corner despite Hazard getting his palm to it.
Whittaker's 20-yard drive was comfortably saved by Beadle and at the other end Gassama lashed another fierce effort wide before Plymouth roused themselves and pushed for an equaliser.
Jordan Houghton and Whittaker both had shots from inside the area blocked during a frantic scramble.
Argyle substitute Mustapha Bundu fired wide from inside the area and two more efforts struck defenders in a crowded box as the Owls dug deep and held on for a deserved three points.
Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Rohl:
"In the last few weeks we've invested a lot of things to come to this point now. We come closer. We've closed the gap and it's an unbelievable race at the bottom of the table, maybe eight or nine teams around us.
"This is the outcome from the last few weeks and I hope we can recover for a big game on Friday. I hope we are sold out and everybody comes to push us forward.
"We have to really enjoy it. It is my wish on Friday we have a great atmosphere and this power from the stands to the pitch and from the pitch to the stands. It could be massive on Friday."
Plymouth's Ian Foster:
"Our reaction is one of bitter disappointment. We didn't feel it was a game we ought to have lost.
"It's really unfortunate the manner of the goal - Adam (Randell) has made an honest mistake, he should have cleared his lines and unfortunately for Adam he slipped over and they've scored on the transition.
"It's bitterly disappointing for us. Second half I thought the team were perfect in terms of their approach, I thought we bossed the second half and I can't believe that we've come away having lost the game."
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