Gerald Sibon's second half strike handed Sheffield Wednesday a much needed win over fellow strugglers Grimsby.

Sibon latched on to a Matthew Hanshaw cross in the 67th minute to score his seventh goal of the season.

Grimsby could have snatched a draw but Menno Willems and David Nielsen were denied by Owls keeper Kevin Pressman.

But the Mariners best spell came midway through the first-half when Willems fired in a left-foot free kick, which was heading for the Owls top right-hand corner until it was saved full length by Pressman.

Minutes later, Zhang Enhua met a Willems corner and forced Pressman into a brilliant point-blank stop.

Sibon who had an earlier chance on 10 minutes when his shot was blocked by Enhua, also hit the side netting from eight yards later in the half.

Wednesday went close to going a goal up before the break when a Con Blatsis following long through was headed on by Sibon but Enhua nicked the ball off striker Michele de Piedi yards from goal.

After the interval, both sides continued to waste chances with Steve Harkness and Knut Anders Fostervold failing to hit the target.

On the hour, Hanshaw's right foot shot from 20 yards was straight at Grimsby keeper Danny Coyne and moments later, the visitors could have gone in front when Kevin Donovan beat Owls defender Steven Haslam to the ball, before running at the Wednesday defence. But the forward's 18-yard shot was again well saved by Pressman.

Donovan was left to rue his miss when four minutes later the Owls did take the lead.

Hanshaw found space on the right before curling in a dangerous cross behind the Grimsby defence to leave Sibon with an easy tap in from six yards.

Wednesday should have doubled their lead from 73 minutes when Alan Quinn raced clear following an Ian Hendon through ball. But the Irish midfielder could only fire his attempt at the advancing Coyne.

Owls forward Terry Cooke was also guilty of a wasted opportunity when he too broke the Mariners off-side trap.

Cooke looked odds-on to score with only Coyne to beat, but the on-loan Manchester City star failed to hit the target.

At the death Donovan's turn and shot again was blocked by Pressman as the Owls hung on for three vital points.

Teams:

Sheff Wed Pressman, Haslam, Harkness, Walker, Blatsis, Cooke (O'Donnell 89), Hendon, Quinn, Di Piedi (Lescott 63), Sibon, Morrison (Hamshaw 46).

Subs Not Used: Stringer, Geary.

Booked: Harkness, Haslam.

Goals: Sibon 67.

Grimsby Coyne, Burnett, Donovan, Fostervold, Willems, Butterfield, Coldicott (Livingstone 69), Enhua (Richard Smith 69), Campbell, Groves, Nielsen.

Subs Not Used: Croudson, Gallimore, David Smith.

Booked: Willems.

Att: 17,004

Ref: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).