Second-half strikes from Atdhe Nuhiu and Will Keane handed Sheffield Wednesday a 2-0 Championship victory over Middlesbrough at Hillsborough this afternoon.
Stuart Gray's men were the first to threaten as the home side moved the ball well to carve out an opening for Jacques Maghoma to drill an effort at goal, but Dimtrios Konstantopoulos was on hand to make the save.
Wednesday continued to have the better of the chances as Liam Palmer raided forward and was allowed to shoot at goal as the visitors backed off the defender, but his 25-yard strike went wide of the post.
The home side went close again as Nuhiu found space down the right and he lifted a cross into the box for Keane to attack, but the striker could only nod his effort over the bar.
Middlesbrough were struggling to click into gear and Adam Forshaw had their best opportunity when he tried his luck from distance, but his effort was deflected just over the bar.
In the second half, the visitors went close as Patrick Bamford was played through on goal down the left, and, from a tight angle, he fired the ball just wide after drilling the ball across the face of goal.
Wednesday were given the chance to take the lead when Kenneth Omeruo was adjudged to have handled in the box. Nuhiu took the spot kick and placed the ball into the bottom corner past Konstantopoulos.
The home side doubled their lead minutes later as Lewis McGugan whipped in a dangerous cross which was headed onto the post by Nuhiu, and Keane was on hand to guide the ball into the net with a diving header.
Keane could have put the game beyond doubt when he was played through on goal by McGugan, but his low strike was well saved by Konstantopoulos.
Middlesbrough tried to get back into the game late on, but Kieren Westwood made an important stop with his feet to deny Kike a certain goal from Bamford's cross as the visitors dropped vital points in their push for promotion.
Simon Sinclair
