Wednesday stayed by the promotion door with a 1-0 over Shrewsbury at Hillsborough.

Mark McGuinness scored his first goal in SWFC colours to underline the merit of Barry Bannan’s pre-match observations on the diversity of scorers this season.

While McGuinness added to the growing list, his glancing header was from a Bannan assist as the skipper gave the Shrews a torrid time throughout.

The scoreline might have been more emphatic – and the visitors did offer a scare in the closing stages – but the win took precedence to maintain the pressure at the top.



Shrewsbury went into the contest without a league win in five, while the Owls were six unbeaten.

So the form book suggested advantage Wednesday, which was reflected from the start.

After Fisayo Dele-Bashiru called keeper Marko Marosi into action at his near post inside five minutes, the first half traffic was one-way.

Dele-Bashiru and Bannan patrolled the engine room with authority, with the latter pulling his trademark strings.

One slide-rule pass to Josh Windass had the crowd purring but Taylor Moore was alert to the danger in his penalty area and covered to clear.

Alex Mighten did well down the left to feed Windass on the charge but the latter couldn’t quite adjust and his volley went over the bar.

Shrewsbury were pinned in their own half and the only thing lacking was the breakthrough – and that duly arrived on 39 minutes.

Bannan delivered a pinpoint corner onto the head of McGuinness, whose angled header nestled into the back of the Kop net.

There was little change after the break. Windass curled a long-ranger narrowly over and Michael Smith nodded inches past the post.

The visitors had little respite and it took until 68 minutes before registering a real threat when Moore bent a clever only just off target.

The Owls went hunting a second goal that almost came on 76 minutes when Shrewsbury had Marosi to thank for a super save after Bannan was sent through by Dele-Bashiru.

The cushion stayed at one goal and the Shrews were forced upfield. Matthew Pennington was a whisker away with a similar effort to that of team mate Moore before ex-Owl Chey Dunkley went agonisingly close having ghosted in at the far post from a set piece.

But that was as good as it got for Steve Cotterill's side and anything less than three points for Wednesday would have skewed the story of a game they dominated without wrapping up long before the final whistle.

Wednesday: Stockdale, Mighten (Gregory 69), Iorfa (Palmer 83), Ihiekwe, McGuinness, James, Bakinson, Bannan, Dele-Bashiru (Vaulks 83), Windass (Wilks 76), Smith