Wednesday’s survival hopes were given a welcome boost as Djeidi Gassama and Anthony Musaba climbed off the bench to deliver a vital win at QPR.
The two substitutes saw the Owls reap the rewards for a thoroughly professional performance as the in-form hosts were undone.
The win brings the relegation battle to boiling point as Wednesday took significant strides on the Championship home straight.
An open contest unfolded in the West London sunshine, with half chances at both ends inside five minutes.
Both efforts, from Ike Ugbo and Ilias Chair, were charged down but the contest had the look of the R’s and the Owls going all out for victory.
It was Wednesday that were far more dangerous, though, and came within a whisker of taking the lead on 26 minutes.
Ian Poveda delightfully pulled a fine Barry Bannan ball from the sky and crossed for the onrushing Josh Windass, who couldn’t quite adjust his feet almost on the line and the chance went begging.
In a further blow, that proved the last of the action for Poveda, who up to that point was a constant menace, the wideman pulled up with injury in the next attack.
Blue and white fortunes got no better 10 minutes before half time. Gassama was brought down by Isaac Hayden right on the cusp of the area and the Owls’ penalty claims were waved away in favour of a free kick.
But the luck finally went Wednesday’s way on the hour. Gassama burst into the box on the angle, riding challenges, and when Hayden attempted a clearance the ball smashed against the Frenchman and past the helpless Asmir Begovic.
It was the break the Owls needed, and the next meaningful attack kept the pendulum in the visitors’ camp.
Lucas Andersen took possession down the left of the area in space and unleashed only to see the ball crash back into play off the crossbar.
Back came Wednesday and Begovic kept out a fierce Michael Smith hit before Sinclair Armstrong headed over at the other end from close range.
It was a must for the Owls to manage the game out in the closing stages and as QPR committed men forward in pursuit of an equaliser, they left the back door open, and Musaba raced through in stoppage time.
The Dutchman took a crossfield ball from Gassama into his path and executed an unstoppable shot past Begovic to guide his side to a huge success in the capital.
Wednesday: Beadle, Iorfa, Ihiekwe, Diaby, Famewo (Pedersen 80), Bannan, Palmer, Windass (Paterson 70), Poveda (Gassama 27), Ugbo (Musaba 70), Smith (Valentin 80)
