Iké Ugbo extended his purple patch to give Wednesday a priceless win at local rivals Rotherham.
The red-hot striker scored the only goal of the game – his sixth in five - giving the Owls three points they thoroughly deserved.
Danny Röhl's men dominated the derby clash and Ugbo’s decisive intervention followed a raft of chances and a goal contentiously ruled out for offside.
After Liam Palmer stung the hands of Viktor Johansson as early as the second minute, it was one-way traffic in the first half.
Cameron Humphreys blocked a goal-bound shot from Ugbo following terrific Anthony Musaba work down the left flank.
Then Will Vaulks almost caught Johansson out at his near post with a clever set piece before the Owls thought they had taken the lead only for a raised flag to cut short the celebrations.
Vaulks’ free-kick was met by Akin Famewo, whose header flew past Johansson, but the goal was ruled out.
Still Wednesday pressed and Ian Poveda was inches off target with an angled effort, Musaba had a true shot deflected over and Vaulks fired just past the post.
Half time could not come soon enough for the beleaguered Millers, with their only real positive the clean sheet heading down the tunnel.
Rotherham did look brighter after the interval and Sam Nombe brushed the side-netting on the hour with a curling drive from distance.
Wednesday made a triple change to try and spark the breakthrough – which duly arrived on 66 minutes.
One of the substitutes, Dominic Iorfa, claimed the assist, passing low across the danger zone for Ugbo to sidefoot past Johansson.
The Millers had little choice but to chase the game and were it not for Barry Bannan’s presence of mind might have salvaged a point.
Andy Rinomhota’s shot from the right of the six-yard box was heading into the far corner but the Wednesday skipper dropped back to the line and hoofed clear.
Röhl's side saw out the closing stages and it was almost 2-0 when Mallik Wilks headed a Marvin Johnson cross against the post.
But Ugbo’s goal proved enough and anything other than a win would have been harsh on the Owls, who head into Tuesday’s game with Plymouth as one of the form teams in the Championship – but still far from safe amid an enthralling climax to the season.
Wednesday: Beadle, Valentin (Iorfa 64), Ihiekwe, Famewo, Johnson, Vaulks (Smith 64), Bannan, Poveda (Gassama 64), Musaba (B Diaby 80), Ugbo (Wilks 90)
