Ruben Neves’ classy first-half finish helped Championship leaders Wolves edge past struggling Sheffield Wednesday to go seven points clear at the top.
The hosts’ best chance came early on, Adam Reach slicing wide when well-placed, but they struggled to create.
Against the run of play, Neves, the Championship’s most expensive player, stroked into the corner from 25 yards.
Neves denied Ross Wallace a tap-in as the Owls pressed but a late Morgan Fox red card allowed Wolves to see it out.
- Relive Wolves’ win at Sheffield Wednesday
Defeat added pressure on Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal – who watched from the stands because of a touchline ban – with his side without a win in six.
Defender Fox, booked on the hour mark for a trip on Ivan Cavaleiro, was shown a second yellow after clipping Helder Costa and effectively ended the home side’s hopes.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves, who have now won four successive away games without conceding a goal for the first time in the club’s history, could have doubled their lead in the closing stages, with Romain Saiss heading wide and Cavaleiro firing off-target when Costa was in support.
However, they have reached the 50-point mark in just 22 games, the fastest since Wolves themselves did so in 2008-09 on their way to securing the title.
The Owls remain 15th but will drop a place if Norwich avoid defeat on Saturday, while they have now won just one of their past 19 home meetings with the Midlands side.
Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal told BBC Radio Sheffield:
“I think we deserved more than what we achieved. We played against a strong team but we made things difficult for them and they didn’t create chances.
“The goal came from nothing but after that we played with quality but it’s not easy to play against a team with five players at the back and with fast attackers, but we balanced the team well.
“We had two or three situations but we didn’t score from them.”
Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo told BBC WM:
“I thought it was a deserved win. We had control and good moments of football but to defend like we defend against a difficult situation that Sheffield created in the second half takes quality and character.
“John Ruddy didn’t make a save which says a lot about the way they defend and the way they put their bodies between the ball and our goal.
“We should have done better when we created three against three situations (going forward) but that will come.”
Live Text
Match ends, Sheffield Wednesday 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
Second Half ends, Sheffield Wednesday 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
Adam Reach (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Hélder Costa (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Foul by Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday).
Alfred N’Diaye (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Alfred N’Diaye replaces Ivan Cavaleiro.
Attempt missed. Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Hélder Costa.
Attempt blocked. Ivan Cavaleiro (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Romain Saiss.
Attempt missed. Ivan Cavaleiro (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Diogo Jota.
Second yellow card to Morgan Fox (Sheffield Wednesday) for a bad foul.
Foul by Morgan Fox (Sheffield Wednesday).
Hélder Costa (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Offside, Sheffield Wednesday. David Jones tries a through ball, but Atdhe Nuhiu is caught offside.
Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Adam Reach (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Foul by Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday).
Hélder Costa (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt missed. Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Joost van Aken.
Attempt blocked. Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Diogo Jota.
Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Danny Batth.
Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Willy Boly.
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Hélder Costa replaces Léo Bonatini.
Morgan Fox (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Romain Saiss (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Lucas João (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Romain Saiss (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Danny Batth replaces Rúben Vinagre.
Morgan Fox (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Foul by Lucas João (Sheffield Wednesday).
Ryan Bennett (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Lucas João replaces Jacob Butterfield.
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Atdhe Nuhiu replaces Jordan Rhodes.
Attempt missed. Léo Bonatini (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Matt Doherty with a cross.
Hand ball by Adam Reach (Sheffield Wednesday).
Morgan Fox (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
