LEEDS UNITED 1 Wood (24) SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 0

CHRIS WOOD’S first-half goal gave Leeds a hardfought win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Rob Green made a stunning second-half save to deny Owls striker Jordan Rhodes from the penalty spot as Leeds clung on to claim a valuable three points in the race for promotion.

However, it was the prolific Wood who made the decisive contribution to the match, keeping his head to poke home his 22nd goal of the season.

Garry Monk’s side started the game on the front foot, with Hadi Sacko a threat down the right.

Adam Reach, a lively presence down the Owls’ left flank, fired a low ball across the Leeds six-yard box in the 17th minute, but could only find the clearing Pontus Jansson at the far post.

The game was in the balance until Wood capitalised on a poor piece of defending to put the home side ahead.

Souleymane Doukara played in Gaetano Berardi down the left wing, and the left-back cut back on to his favoured right foot before firing in a cross for Wood that eluded Vincent Sasso, leaving Wood to poke home.

Leeds’ Eunan O’Kane could have been awarded a penalty after going down in the box following a wild tackle by Sam Hutchinson.

The referee pointed to the spot at the other end shortly after, however, as Doukara pulled Hutchinson down following a corner.

Rhodes, who has struggled to hit top form since his move from Middlesbrough, hit the penalty towards the bottom corner, but Green tipped it on to a post before Leeds scrambled it clear for a corner.

The Owls threw everything they had at Leeds in the dying moments, but the hosts remained resolute to claim an important win.