Sheff Wed 2-0 Bradford

Wednesday boosted their chances of avoiding relegation, and in doing so sent a clear message to manager Danny Wilson's critics.

A group of four local Labour MPs were the latest to call for the Hillsborough boss's departure just hours before this crucial Yorkshire basement battle.

But a strike from Niklas Alexandersson and an Andy O'Brien own goal saw off fellow Bradford and left Wednesday within a point of moving off the bottom of the table for the first time in months.

Despite the MPs intervention, Wednesday went into the game unbeaten in nine home games.

Wilson was still without striker Andy Booth and Petter Rudi due to injury, so midfielder Alan Quinn made his second start of the season.

Bradford were looking to break a six-match losing streak away from home with former Owl David Wetherall back from suspension.

Lee Mills had to settle for a place on the bench due to an ankle injury, so Robbie Blake started up front alongside Dean Saunders.

The Welsh veteran almost put City ahead after three minutes , but within seconds Gerald Sibon came close at the other end.

The big Dutchman should really have scored in the 10th minute after a superb run, but after beating two defenders and the goalkeeper his shot struck a post.

Five minutes later the woodwork again denied the Owls when skipper Peter Atherton flicked a corner onto the crossbar.

Andy Hinchcliffe had to head off the line on the half hour after Ian Nolan and Pavel Srnicek combined to hand Jamie Lawrence a chance from 22 yards.

But Wednesday then wasted another chance, when Win Jonk played in Gilles de Bilde.

The Belgian was left one-on-one with Matt Clarke, who spread himself well to block.

And the unlucky home side hit the woodwork for a third time just before the break when Jonk was again the supplier for De Bilde.

After half-time the Owls finally got what they deserved in the 52nd minute.

De Bilde and Sibon played a one-two, with the latter clean through on goal, and Clarke again kept Bradford in the game with a point-blank block.

But the rebound ran to Alexandersson, who teed up his shot before blasting an angled 10-yard drive past two City defenders on the line.

Sibon missed a chance to wrap up the points a quarter of an hour later after going around Clarke.

Once again there were just two Bradford men on the line, but Sibon fired wide.

A minute later it did not matter as O'Brien turned Nolan's cross into his own net following more good work by Jonk.

It was the sort of fighting display which Wilson had demanded, and the words of his parliamentary critics were answered in no uncertain terms.

Teams:

Sheff Wed: Srnicek, Haslam, Atherton, Walker, Nolan, Alexandersson, Jonk, Quinn, Hinchcliffe, Sibon, De Bilde. Subs: Pressman, Sonner, Cresswell, Donnelly, Staniforth.

Bradford: Clarke, Halle, Wetherall, O'Brien, Myers, Lawrence, McCall, Redfearn, Beagrie, Saunders, Blake. Subs: Westwood, Mills, Windass, Sharpe, Davison.

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)