Wayne Rooney won his first game as Birmingham City boss at the sixth attempt thanks to substitute Jordan James’ winner against bottom side Sheffield Wednesday.
The game came to life just before the break, first the Owls took the lead through George Byers in the 45th minute only for Juninho Bacuna to level for Blues in time added on when he crashed home a bouncing ball from 20 yards.
The home side pushed on after the interval but Jay Stansfield had a shot blocked before Siriki Dembele’s fierce shot hit the side-netting.
They were not to be denied though as James, who had been on for three minutes, converted Stansfield’s centre.
Wednesday, who have now suffered 13 defeats from 17 Championship games, are 10 points adrift of safety after their latest loss on the road.
However, their lead was extinguished within three minutes thanks to a rasping shot from Bacuna that flew between bodies and left Owls keeper Cameron Dawson unsighted.
Former Manchester United and England forward Rooney had lost four and drawn one of his first five games in charge and he must have feared his wait for a win was going to go on as his side wasted promising opportunities.
But Wales international James popped up to give him his first win as Blues boss and move them up to 14th, five points off the play-off places.
They will now look to build on this at Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday, while Danny Rohl’s Owls host league leaders Leicester City, who they trail by 36 points, on the same night.
