Small finish could make a big difference

Wade Small's cool finish with 14 minutes left on the clock was the difference between two sides under pressure at Carrow Road. It was three points that lifted The Owls off the foot of the Championship table for the first time some eight weeks ago and gave manager Brian Laws some breathing space after a tense few weeks that saw his job at the club cast in serious doubt.

But this was a Wednesday performance that will encourage supporters that something can still be salvaged from a season that was quickly going down the drainpipe. The Owls played some neat football at times against a Canaries outfit that got worse as the game wore on, and with a bit more spark in the final third this game would have been won by two or three goals rather than a single strike.

The reaction of Small's goal, his third of the season already, said it all. The Wednesday winger ran straight to his manager and the Hillsborough coaching staff for a series of high fives. Contrary to reports, it doesn't look as though Law has lost this dressing room at all. And the Owls gaffer can take great credit in that his two 'emergency' loan signings of Michael Johnson and Graham Kavanagh have made a world of difference to this Wednesday side.

Johnson was immense at the back while Kavanagh showed all his wealth of experience in the middle of the park with strong tackling and a majestic display of distribution. Of course, two men don't make a team. But they have given huge confidence to those, especially younger, around them.

Both sides created chances in the first half but neither was able to really test the men in goal. Gary Doherty should have done better with his back post header for The Canaries while Francis Jeffers looked lively up front and his effort that sailed wide was a warning sign for the Norwich defence. Tommy Spurr, who got forward well throughout the game, snatched at a half volley and shot well over. Soon after, Jeffers hobbled off with yet another reoccurence of a calf strain that continues to hamper the start to his Wednesday career. Marcus Tudgay replaced the Scouser alongside Deon Burton up front.

Richard Wood blocked a Darren Huckerby effort shortly before the break while at the other end Wednesday continued to create good build up play through midfield only for the finish to be lacking. Small had looked lively too, switching from left to right, but Wednesday never looked like scoring from an aerial attack.

In the second half Wednesday lost their second player to injury when Steve Watson hobbled off and was replaced by winger Jermaine Johnson. Huckerby continued to be Norwich's main threat at the other end and his shot was well saved by Lee Grant.

Marcus Tudgay came within inches of his first goal of the season with a ferocious 25 yard strike that fizzed past Marshall's right hand post. Wednesday looked to take control of the game as Norwich faded and the home support grew increasingly frustrated.

Wednesday's 76th minute goal was only their second shot on target all afternoon, despite creating over 15 attempts at goal. Some lovely exchange of passes in the box allowed Simek, in his 100th appearance for The Owls, to charge to the right by line before intelligently pulling the ball back across for Small who arrived at the back post at full pace before drilling the ball with great control past the Norwich keeper from close range.

Norwich's efforts to get back into the game were somewhat tame as Wednesday held on for three massive points. Goal shy Wednesday may have only scored two goals in their last six games but those two strikes have won two games, six points and now QPR are the only side to have not won a game this season. There's evidence here to suggest things may start to turn the corner for Laws and Wednesday.

Ratings v Norwich City: Grant 7 Actually didn't have a lot to do with Norwich failing to hit the target despite spells of pressure. One important save in the second half though. Simek 9 Hard to pick a MOM as any of three or four players could take it but I thought he was immense. Defended well and going forward he looked like a natural winger. Superb vision for the set up of the goal (running to the by line and pulling back for Small to drill home) and didn't run out of steam all match. Wood 8 Doesn't sound like he's been at his best this season, but then you only have to look at the results to figure out not many have. Had a good game last night and looks a lot more confident at the back with an experienced bloke like Johnson next to him. M.Johnson 8 Very impressive and the fact we've had back to back clean sheets with him in the side is no coincidence. I just hope he can stay in one piece for the remainder of his stay (hopefully until May). Surprised he actually came back on the field as he looked as though he'd pulled a hammie or something. I think we'd used all our subs at that stage too. Spurr 7 I find myself coming up with the same comments every time I watch him play. Works hard and runs his socks off but still shows his age sometimes at the back with some poor decision making. Whipped in a couple of decent crosses into the box but we never looked like scoring from an aerial attack. Whelan 8 Like Wood, I think he'll benefit from someone of Kavanagh's quality and experience next to him. Put himself about in the middle as you'd expect but I'd have liked to see him get forward more. Kavanagh 9 Looked Premier League class to me. Composed with his passing, which was to feet everytime, and I don't remember him giving the ball away. Works hard for the team and the combination of Kavanagh with Whelan/Watson in there looked to balance things out nicely. Watson 8 I've been impressed every time I've seen him play and was again last night. Experience is clearly what we've been lacking but like Johnson I doubt he can last for long periods of time with his age. Hobbled off with an injury in the second half. Small 9 I presume Esajas was still out injured otherwise Small might not have got a look in today. But he took his chance well. Looked confident on the ball which is what you want when you have a player with pace and skill. Took his goal brilliantly - it was one of those you half expected to see blasted over the top. Even more so I loved the reaction of the team and the bench alike. High fives with the boss and his staff are a good sign when you're coming out of a bad spell Jeffers 7 Looked good while he was on the park. Like I said above, I think he'll be a quality player for us once he's fully match fit and we give him good service from midfield. I think Norwich will have been relieved to see him go off to be honest. Burton 8 Sometimes it's hard to believe this bloke is the other side of 30. Never seems to tire and has pace to burn. His ball control and link up play looked good but he didn't really have too many chances on goal (not any that I can remember anyway) Tudgay 7 Was inches away with a long range effort and as always looks lively and full of pace. Hinds 7 Came on for Spurr late on and did the job. J.Johnson 8 As well as the central midfield trio we actually looked more likely to score when JJ was on the park. Obviously needs encouraging to take players on and get down the wing but he's the kind of players defenders hate. And with players like Small and JJ (and Esajas in the mix too) we should at least be creating plenty of chances (which we did). The Gaffer 9 I'm really pleased for Brian Laws. He has made two fantastic loan signings, two decisions that could just have saved his bacon. We played some great football which you rarely see when your side is bottom of the table. His hand was forced today with substitutions because of injuries to Jeffers, Watson and then potentially Michael Johnson. The Support 9 In full voice and drowned out the home lot - who ended up booing their side off at the end. The Officials 7 Give credit where it's due they did a decent job. Perhaps influenced a little bit by the home fans who were keen to see revenge on the delayed booking on their lad when Johnson was receiving treatment. But they spotted the deliberate Maradona attempt at the end by Jamie Cureton and rightly showed him the yellow. Overall: If we continue to play like this and create plenty of chances we will have nothing to worry about this season. The concerns we do have are the number of chances we're creating versus the number of goals scored. On this form we can ill afford to let M.Johnson and Kavanagh leave too.

Laws verdict: "I don't like being associated with a run of six straight defeats, the worst in the club's history. I'm not proud of that at all. But if you come through something like this, you tend to be a better man at the end of it." "I thought there were two very nervous teams out there today in the first half, with neither goalkeeper having much to do. But as the second half wore on, both sides went for it because we are both at the wrong end of the table and needed the points." "It was vital that when we created a good opportunity we took it, and fortunately that was the case. Once that goal went in, I thought you saw the players shed a skin and become a lot more confident." "We showed a bit of quality at times, and I thought we deserved the three points." "I thought both of them (Kavanagh and Michael Johnson) were excellent today, just what we needed. One of the reasons I brought them in is that we are a very quiet team. Everyone is a little bit too gentlemanly in the dressing room, and you don't win anything with silent football, that's for sure. They have come in and shaken things up a bit, and I think you saw that today."