Stewart gives Sunderland first-leg win over Owls

Ross Stewart’s goal gave Sunderland a narrow win over Sheffield Wednesday in the first leg of the League One play-off semi-final.

Alex Pritchard came closest to adding to the lead, when his curling effort smacked the Wednesday crossbar.

The Owls made the hosts work in the final 20 minutes, but could not score.

Stewart dragged a shot wide with just a minute to go, having almost capitalised on an error by visiting keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

Wednesday will be at home for the second leg, which takes place on Monday, with kick-off at 19:45 BST.

Wycombe, who are 2-0 up over MK Dons in the other semi, play their second leg at Stadium:MK on Sunday.

These two heavyweights find themselves stuck in the third tier with just one route left to escape, via the play-offs, and there was plenty of anticipation, anxiety and expectation around the Stadium of Light on and off the pitch.

That tension was tangible with 45,000-plus in the stands – a record English Football League play-off attendance at any level – although the home side eased some nerves once Stewart struck at the end of a cagey opening half.

Pritchard was the pivot on which most of the Wearsiders’ best work materialised, dropping deep to link midfield and attack, while Patrick Roberts, Jack Clarke and Lynden Gooch provided width to keep the game stretched.

However, with a second leg at an equally febrile Hillsborough still to come, Stewart’s late miss and a glut of a missed chances from Dennis Cirkin and Roberts midway through the second half might prove costly.

With a solid shape, and with Sunderland enjoying most of the possession after a frenetic start, it seemed as though Darren Moore’s Wednesday might have set up to come away without defeat rather than chase a lead.

Stewart’s goal changed that plan and forced them to attack more readily, but their chief creator Barry Bannan was anonymous for large parts as Wednesday failed to bring him into play. When he did touch the ball, he was immediately smothered by Sunderland markers.

As the game wore on, a growing nervousness around the ground saw Sunderland retreat deeper, and finally Wednesday did release the shackles, but that crucial goal evaded them.