Sheffield Wednesday 1, Cardiff City 0
Argentine striker Fernando Forestieri grabbed a late winner for Sheffield Wednesday, who kept their Championship play-off hopes alive.
Wednesday are sixth in the table after Forestieri struck the only goal of the match after 84 minutes.
That was a massive body blow for Cardiff City, who had defended solidly until that moment.
Sheffield-born Neil Warnock reacted to the goal by sending on three substitutes. Craig Noone, Anthony Pilkington and Peter Whittingham were all sent on with four minutes to go.
Referee David Coote then added six minutes injury time and gave Cardiff hope they still had time top snatch a draw.
The goal came when Rhodes chested a pass down and span away from Bruno Manga, who failed to react quickly enough. Rhodes smashed in a shot which goalkeeper Alan McGregor saved superbly, but he couldn’t hold on and Foristieri headed the loose ball into goal.
City had set up with a back four, while Greg Halford operated just in front and was effective in cutting out home attacks. His presence allowed Joe Ralls and Aron Gunnarsson to push on and try to give Kenneth Zohore support in attack.
Halford kept going after suffering an ankle injury in a tackle. He had two spells of treatment and changed his boots before playing on.
Lee Peltier, available again after 10 weeks out following ankle surgery, was ready to take over from Halford, but had to sit down again.
Halford finally went off after Wednesday had scored when Cardiff made three substitutions as they went for an equaliser.
But there still wasn’t enough of a goal threat from Cardiff and they rarely looked like producing a goal.
Full-backs Jazz Richards and Joe Bennett both did well, linking well with wingers Junior Hoilett and Kadeem Harris when they defended.
It was a close, hard fought match at Hillsborough, but Wednesday were able to change the game with three attacking substitutions. Two of those, Rhodes and Foristieri, combined for the only goal.
Cardiff stayed solid and strong, but they were unable to hit Wednesday on the break.
The Bluebirds play again on Monday when Nottingham Forest are visitors to Cardiff City Stadium (3pm).
Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood, Hunt, Lees, Sasso, Pudil, Wallace, Jones (Forestieri 62), Bannan, Reach, Hooper (Rhodes 54), Fletcher (Nuhio 74). Subs not used: Wildsmith, McManaman, Palmer, Semedo.
Cardiff City: McGregor, Richards, Morrison, Manga, Bennett, Halford (Noone 86), Hoilett (Pilkington 86), Gunnarsson, Ralls (Whittingham 86), K Harris, Zohore. Subs not used: Peltier, Connolly, Lambert, Murphy.
Referee: David Coote
Attendance: 28,007.
