Sheffield Wednesday enhanced their credentials as genuine promotion contenders with a 2-0 victory over Steve Evans' Leeds United side at Hillsborough yesterday. 

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Wednesday missed an early chance to go ahead when Gary Hooper missed from inside the area, but Leeds then had the better of the first half and missed numerous chances of their own.

The second half was a different story though, as Wednesday scored two goals in quick succession through Hooper to kill the game off.

Leeds huffed and puffed and thought they had pulled on back late in the game only for it to be controversially ruled out.

The victory moved Carlos Carvalhal's side into the top six and and they are now only eight points off the top two positions, and won't have given up hope based on this performance.

Leeds on the other hand dropped to 17th in the table, and can surely rule out any of their own play-off aspirations.

FootballLeagueWorld writer Lee Connor identifies three things that we learned from the Owls' 2-0 victory......

1) Sam Hutchinson and Kieran Lee are crucial to the Owls' hopes

While Hooper and Fernando Forestieri and will grab the headlines for their goals and performances, you cannot ignore the significant contribution of the two central midfielders in Wednesday's line-up.

In Lee and Hutchinson, they have the perfect blend of endeavour and ball playing ability.

Hutchinson does the so-called 'dirty work', breaking up attacks and chasing down the opposition, while Lee has an elegance on the ball and is a key link between defence and attack with his game awareness.

If Wednesday are to maintain their current form, then Lee and Hutchinson are going to be vital in the run-in.

2) Hooper staying is essential

Hooper has finished his loan spell from Norwich City and has really impressed in the last few games. He has found the net four times in his last two games in vital victories for the Owls.

Although manager Carvalhal is confident a deal can be agreed to either extend his loan or make a permanent move, his form may also prompt Norwich manager Alex Neil to put him back in his own squad who are struggling for goals themselves in the Premier League.

If Hooper does sign on with the Owls, it is hard to see the goals drying up for him, and he will definitely have a big say in any success Wednesday achieve come seasons end.

3) Just when you think you have seen it all...

There is a term that is often said that some people have seen everything in football. Yesterday saw something nobody had ever seen.

Referee Anthony Taylor, a Premier League referee normally, allowed a free kick to be taken mid-substitution, as Forestieri made his way off the field. Leeds swung over the free kick, and nodded in a goal to make it 2-1, or so they thought.

The ref consulted his fourth official, disallowed the goal, and ordered the free kick to be retaken. Leeds boss Steve Evans was furious with the decision, although on reflection it does appear the right decision was taken.

It just goes to show in our game, you never know what is round the corner in football, and vital decisions like this could end up costing clubs millions as we go forward, something the Football League must address.

Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds fans... what did you make of the game? Can the Owls win promotion this season? Are Leeds too far adrift to make the top six? Did the referee make the correct decision in the end? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!