Tudgay strike lifts Owls out of drop zone

The Owls recorded their first win in over four weeks as victory over Cardiff City lifted Wednesday out of the bottom three temporarily.

The only change to the side that had held high flying Charlton Athletic to a 0-0 stalemate was Peter Gilbert coming in for Tommy Spurr at left-back. The Leeds born defender had fallen ill shortly before the game paving the way for the former Plymouth and Leicester man to make just his seventh appearance of the season. Further defensive changes were made shortly into the game as veteran Lee Bullen left the field with a torn hamstring, Richard Hinds his replacement.

Cardiff came close to opening the scoring in the 24th minute when dangerous winger Aaron Ramsey's long range effort was tipped onto the post by Lee Grant. The Owls keeper was tested again minutes later as the experienced Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank struck a right foot shot aimed at the top corner.

The game's only goal came minutes before the break and involved wonderful link up play by Wednesday's front pairing Marcus Tudgay and on loan Enoch Showunmi. Adam Bolder, a short term signing from Queens Park Rangers, found Showunmi in the box and the giant 6"5 man unselfishly nodded into the path of Tudgay who fired in his ninth goal of the season with a powerful half volley.

Chances were few and far between in the second half. A Darren Purse header that went over in the 72nd minute was about as close as Dave Jones' side came, but in the end Wednesday were just about worth the points.

Laws verdict: "It was a pleasing win, let me tell you that. Just for the simple reason that it's given us a huge lift looking at the table and seeing us out of the bottom three for the first time for a while." "This is what we've got to do. Each step we take has to be a big step and certainly three points is a big step for us today." "He's not just a striker, he'll go in there and defend for you as well and he threw his body in the line of a shot which could have gone in. But that's the kind of endeavour and commitment we've got to show from now on in." "Every game becomes a cup final and we're going to need a lot of help. The supporters were tremendous the way they got behind the team. They never stopped. The fact that the players are giving everything they've got and are not shirking anything, I think the fans appreciate that."