Sheffield Wednesday secured a much-needed three points with a 2-0 win over Sheffield United.
Sodje and Tudgay goals earn Wednesday the points
Sheffield Wednesday secured a much-needed three points with a 2-0 win over city rivals Sheffield United at Hillsborough.
Akpo Sodje put the Owls into a first-half lead before Marcus Tudgay's emphatic volley clinched the bragging rights for Brian Laws' side.
Paddy Kenny was forced into several smart saves in the first half, with the Blades keeper reacting smartly to turn away Jermaine Johnson's deflected shot.
Johnson was the provider for the Owls' opening goal on 25 minutes with a powerful run down the right before whipping in a low cross for Sodje to turn home at the far post.
Michael Tonge had a good chance to level five minutes before the break, only to drag his shot across goal following a clever pass from David Carney.
In the final moments of the half, Kenny was twice forced into action as he dived to his left to claim Sodje's driven effort.
Kenny then produced a better stop, springing to his left to push away Tudgay's acrobatic overhead kick from inside the box.
But the Blades rallied in the early stages of the second half with Rob Hulse's deflected shot prompting a fingertip save from Owls keeper Lee Grant.
Hulse was then agonisingly close to equalising on 54 minutes as the striker rose powerfully to meet a corner, but his header was hacked off the line by Glenn Whelan.
With the visitors starting to flag, Wednesday grabbed a second on 76 minutes as Tudgay thumped home a volley after Leon Clarke hooked the ball onwards.
Clarke, who had replaced Sodje on the hour mark, should have made it 3-0 minutes later, but the striker side-footed wide from close range with the goal at his mercy.
