Sheffield Wed 2-1 Newcastle United

Sheffield Wednesday did their hopes of a playoff place no harm whatsoever with a 2-1 win over Newcastle at Hillsborough in the late kick off today, in turn putting a big dint in the Mags chances of the Championship title and a stress free run in to promotion.

A win for Brighton on Friday night against QPR had put them clear of Newcastle by two points, but the 3pm kick-offs brought good news with both Huddersfield and Reading losing, the latter being thumped 7-1 at Norwich.

STARTING: Darlow, Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Shelvey, Diame (Atsu, 72), Ritchie (Mitrovic, 78), Perez, Gouffran, Gayle (Murphy, 29)

Rafa stuck with pretty much the same side that had scraped past Wigan last time out, with Gouffran coming in for Atsu in the only change.

Newcastle were, once more, far from their best as Sheffield missed a host of early chances to punish the visitors lacklustre start.

First Gary Hooper would smash wide when found totally unmarked from a cross, before villain for the day Steven Fletcher was also found wanting in front of goal minutes later.

Newcastle’s best chance in the first half would come from an outrageous shot from Shelvey who’s hit from inside his own half would hit the bar with the Owls keeper scrambling back to his line. The effort, as wonderful as it almost was, would have been harsh on the home side who’d bossed the game from the first whistle.