Thompson puts Owls close to drop

Goalscorer Thompson chases Wednesday's Alan Quinn

Sheff Wed 0-1 Aston Villa

Villa's forgotten man Alan Thompson scored an injury-time winner that surely makes the Owls departure to the first division a mere formality.

The former Bolton midfielder had not started a game this calendar year but won a recall due to major changes after Sunday's draining FA Cup semi-final against his former club.

Key moments

30 and 43 mins: Dublin hits post twice

67: Quinn and Sonner both miss in two minutes

90: Thompson seals points for Villa

One of six switches made by manager John Gregory, Thompson popped up to head home substitute Steve Stone's hopeful cross in the closing stages.

It left Wednesday 10 points away from a position of safety with only 21 left to play for.

Until its dramatic climax, this poor game had been marked by some wasteful finishing from both sides.

Wednesday had their moments from Gilles de Bilde, Alan Quinn and Danny Sonner.

But it was Villa who had the better of the chances, with Dion Dublin hitting the post twice.

It is now my job to get in among the players and lift their spirits. We have to keep the morale going

Peter Shreeves

It was against Wednesday that the Villa striker broke a bone in his neck last December, and this was the striker's first start since that day.

He struck the woodwork in the first half and alfter half-time was denied by good saves from Kevin Pressman.

There was also a Dublin strike disallowed, apparently for a foul on the Wednesday keeper by substitute Julian Joachim.

The pacey forward was left on the bench after playing all 120 minutes of Sunday's cup tie.

The FA Cup finalists' entire three-man midfield from the weekend was left out due to injuries, as were skipper Gareth Southgate and former Wednesday star Benito Carbone due to an ankle problem.

Wednesday, after 10 days inactivity, welcomed back Andy Booth for his first appearance since December after recovering from a groin injury.

Barry fends off the returning Booth

Lee Briscoe also returned in one of two changes for caretaker boss Peter Shreeves' first home game since returning to Wednesday last month.

The hosts made a bright start with some neat play but it was Villa who looked the more threatening.

Kevin Pressman saved from Alan Wright in the fifth minute although the best chances fell to Dublin.

Within the first ten minutes he latched onto a ball from Mark Delaney but knocked it wide while Lee Hendrie set up Dublin on both occasions when he hit the post.

The Owls saw De Bilde drag his effort wide after Andy Hinchliffe's cross was only partially cleared.

Half-time change

After half-time Gregory made more changes to his side, with Stone, Joachim and Nagwan Ghrayib all coming on before the hour.

Dublin then had the ball in the net only for referee Poll to rule out the effort.

Sunday took a lot out of us and I am just glad to get this game out of the way. It was a good result and a great three points

John Gregory

Midway through the half De Bilde set up colleagues for two good chances in two minutes.

Quinn's shot was weak enough for keeper David James to save comfortably while Sonner's finish was poor.

Towards the end Villa stepped up the pace and Pressman denied Stone before Steve Watson headed wide from a good position.

But Wednesday's luck ran out as Thompson stole in to connect with Stone's cross and Wednesday's fans streamed away, now fearing the inevitable.

Teams:

Sheff Wed: Pressman, Nolan, Atherton, Walker, Hinchcliffe, Alexandersson, Jonk, Briscoe, Quinn, Booth, De Bilde. Subs: Cresswell, Sonner, Haslam, Horne, Richardson.

Aston Villa: James, Ehiogu, Samuel, Barry, Delaney, Watson, Hendrie, Thompson, Wright, Dublin, Walker. Subs: Joachim, Ghrayib, Stone, Bewers, Enckelman.

Referee: G Poll (Tring)