Sheffield Wednesday were left cursing their bad luck after Neil Ardley's deflected goal gave Wimbledon all three points and a 2-1 win at Hillsborough.

The loss means Wednesday are deep in trouble at the foot of the First Division two points ahead of third bottom Grimsby while the Dons kept up their feint play-off hopes.

The Owls took an early lead through on-loan striker David Johnson but the striker returns to Nottingham Forest on Thursday after a successful four-week stay.

Dons striker David Connolly equalised right on the stroke of half-time before Ardley's deflected shot off Marlon Broomes clinched victory.

In the sixth minute Wednesday launched their first raid, when he ball was worked back to Craig Armstrong.

His left-foot cross had to be scrambled clear by a back-peddling Dons defence after they had opened the brighter.

Six minutes later the Owls went ahead through Johnson.

Derek Geary whipped over a dangerous centre and although Kelvin Davis saved Shefki Kuqi's close-range shot, Johnson was on hand to smash the ball high into the net.

However, Connolly's crisp strike in the 45th minute from 15 yards left the home fans stunned.

The goal lifted Terry Burton's side and it was Wimbledon who continued to look dangerous around the box after the interval.

The Dons were rewarded for their inventive play with what proved to be the winner after the hour mark when Ardley drilled in a shot from 20 yards.

The ball took a wicked deflection off Broomes before spinning into the net.

Yorath immediately introduced Gerald Sibon in the 63rd minute and the Dutchman came closest to an equaliser.

His clever pass played in Steve Haslam and the midfielder's deflected cross was somehow kept out by Davis.

[ --- news.bbc.co.uk]