Sunderland 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday: Ross Stewart gives Black Cats narrow play-off lead

Ross Stewart's 25th goal of the season could be one of the most precious

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.

• Relive Friday's League One play-off semi-final first-leg

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.

Regular season games between the pair had produced convincing home victories; 5-0 to Sunderland and 3-0 to Wednesday in return, but with so much at stake there was to be no blow-out.

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 44,742 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.

In the absence of the in-form Nathan Broadhead, Stewart carried the main threat and his goal was a perfect reward for his graft up top.

However, with a second leg at an equally febrile Hillsborough still to come, Stewart's late miss and a glut of a spurned 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.