Sheffield Wednesday piled the pressure on Norwich with a 1-0 victory at Carrow Road.
Deflected Johnson strike seals 1-0 success
Sheffield Wednesday piled the pressure on Norwich with a 1-0 victory at Carrow Road.
Jermaine Johnson grabbed the crucial goal three minutes into the second half as his deflected shot crept past David Marshall.
David Mooney thought he had equalised late on but his effort was disallowed, before Owls youngster Tommy Spurr was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
The anxiety was tangible around Carrow Road with the home crowd painfully aware results elsewhere could drag them down into the bottom three once again.
Their worst fears were almost realised early on when Marcus Tudgay twice found himself in space but was thwarted both times by keeper Marshall.
Norwich began to gradually gain their composure and could have snatched an undeserved lead as Simon Lappin's deep corner dropped to centre-back Jason Shackell, only for goalkeeper Lee Grant to foil his header with a courageous block.
But early in the second period Norwich were left with a mountain to climb as the Owls took a deserved lead in fortuitous circumstances.
The goal came as a loose ball fell to midfielder Johnson who lashed a ferocious drive into a body of players from 12 yards, and hapless defender Otsemobor was unable to avoid deflecting the ball beyond the wrong-footed Marshall.
Invigorated
Johnson's opener only served to invigorate the visitors and they set about trying to extend their lead immediately with Owls full debutant Luke Varney curling a delicate shot from the edge of the area which centre-back Gary Doherty did superbly well to block.
But, there was more danger to be dealt with from the resulting corner as Sean McAllister's mis-hit effort almost fell to Tudgay but again Doherty was on hand to offer a vital intervention.
The Canaries looked woefully short of any attacking threat and boss Gunn reacted by bringing on target man Alan Lee in place of winger Lee Croft.
Former Rangers winger Alan Gow tried to inspire the home side but his ferocious 30-yard drive whistled a foot over the crossbar.
There was still time for a moment of controversy when it appeared the officials had awarded an equaliser when Norwich striker Mooney bundled home a looping ball under the crossbar in the 84th minute.
But, after a brief consultation with the linesman, referee Mike Russell ruled out the the Irishman's strike for a foul on Grant.
Wednesday finished the game with 10 men after defender Spurr was dismissed following a lunge on Cody McDonald, but it did not take the shine off a hard-fought three points for the visitors.
