Sheffield Wednesday took a massive step towards Coca-Cola Championship survival after a single Marcus Tudgay goal gave them victory side on an emotional day.

Tudgay latched on to a hopeful long ball seconds before half-time before wrong-footing the defence and shooting from the edge of the box.

His shot was well saved but Tudgay followed up with a looping header to open the scoring.

Despite being a potentially crucial match for the home side, football took a back seat at the start of the game as both sides commemorated the 17th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

The crowd observed a minute's silence in honour of the 96 fans who died in the tragedy but the atmosphere could not be dampened and a huge roar greeted the whistle.

Manager Paul Sturrock made three changes to his side, bringing Chris Brunt, Lee Bullen and Steve Adams into the side.

In the ninth minute Deon Burton spurned a great chance for Wednesday from just six yards.

Frank Simek crossed from the right allowing the unmarked Burton a free header and only a brilliant save from Norwich keeper Paul Gallacher, deputising for Robert Green who dropped out moments before kick off, kept the scores level.

Brunt saw plenty of the action on his recall and he had Gallacher scrambling to tip his 21st minute corner over the bar.

The visitors also threatened, Darren Huckerby taking possession of a loose ball on the half-way line before passing to the offside Ian Henderson when he seemed to have an ideal shooting opportunity.

Burton continued to cause problems in attack and after 34 minutes he struck the post after a floated free-kick resulted in a goalmouth scramble.

When it did come the opener was the result of a touch of good fortune as a lofted clearance took a lucky bounce and Tudgay's saved drive looped up for the striker to head home.

Norwich came out of the tunnel stronger and after 54 minutes Henderson had two big chances to equalise for the Canaries.

First he sent a cushioned header toward the far post from close range but Carson pulled off an outstanding reaction save to claw the ball away from goal.

The ball bounced back into Henderson's path but he could not steer it past a clutch of bodies and the danger was averted.

Wednesday worked hard to stay in front and Brunt was close to a spectacular second when he controlled the ball with his back to goal before spinning to send a fierce strike just a couple of yards wide.

Norwich, with no keeper on the bench following Green's withdrawal, had an anxious moment seven minutes from time when Burton clattered Gallacher as he rushed to claim a through ball but he rose to his feet after treatment.

It was the last bit of good news for the one-time promotion favourites as the home side finished strongly, Burton having the best chance when he hit the post a second time with a 20-yard drive.

Teams

Sheff Wed Carson, Bullen, Simek, Coughlan, Hills,Brunt (McGovern 68), Adams (Whelan 58), Folly, O'Brien, Tudgay,Burton.

Subs Not Used: MacLean, Best, Spurr.

Booked: Brunt, Whelan.

Goals: Tudgay 45.

Norwich Gallacher, Spillane (McVeigh 83), Doherty, Shackell,Drury, Hughes (Ryan Jarvis 69), Etuhu, Robinson, Huckerby,Earnshaw, Henderson.

Subs Not Used: Johansson, Colin, Charlton.

Booked: Henderson.

Att: 30,755

Ref: K Stroud (Hampshire).