Nil-nil is the score, a fair reflection upon a dour match now entering the final stages of its slow march towards a goalless conclusion, when John Welsh slung in a high, deep cross from the right wing. And what is this shimmering vision thundering in at the far post? Why, it is our flying Northern Irish winger, Stuart Elliott, little more than a blur as he soars high into the dark winter sky and plants a fierce header past the exposed Wednesday keeper. Elliott wheels away, the Circle explodes, but the flag is raised, and the chance to wrest three precious points is gone. For ninety seconds, at least.

Having spent much of the week hinting at the galaxy of tactical maneouvrings open to him, Peter Taylor surprised everyone by selecting the same outfield ten that defeated Cardiff last week, restricting himself to the expected switch of goalkeepers. Thus, the Tigers lined up: Myhill; Lynch, Cort, Collins, Dawson; France, Welsh, Delaney, Barmby; Paynter, Fagan.

Sheffield Wednesday had sold most of their 3,000 allocation, and for a change the away end contributed pleasingly to a healthy gate of 21,329 - impressive testament to the patience of City supporters that after two years of interrupted glory, gates have held up despite the culture shock of not winning every week. And both sets of supporters were in fine voice as the Tigers kicked off attacking the North Stand, the sides separated by just three points before kick-off.

It was immediately evident that the pressure of the situation was affecting both sides. It was a scrappy opening that City edged without creating anything, and the first shot was from Whelan, who screwed an optimistic effort from distance wide - this was more Harrison v Williams than Frazier v Ali.

And it actually degenerated further. Collins was peerless in the air, efficiently snuffing at any Wednesday forays at source, while the match was bypassing Barmby and the Tigers were unable to breach the visitors' stout reargard. A looping Cort header from the edge of the corner was the only half-chance, and we can safely skip to half-time without fear of overlooking any incidents.

Chris Brunt replaced Whelan at the interval for Sheffield, but his introduction did little to brighten the afternoon. Still neither keeper was forced to muddy his jersey, and while this match reporter is resolutely attempting to eschew the negative, the impression was of two sides too afraid of losing to attack. Understandable maybe, with so much at stake, but pretty football it did not make for.

City made a change on the hour, Lynch coming off for Price, with France dropping to right-back. What a splendidly versatile and admirably industrious fellow France is. Still nothing happened, so five minutes later Elliott came bounding onto the pitch for Paynter, who had put in a decent shift leading the line.

Myhill saved well from Murphy, who'd already been flagged offside, before Price, looking at his effervescent best, almost got lucky with a high cross that Weaver nervily flicked behind.

With fifteen minutes left, the out of sorts Lee Peacock was withdrawn by the equally out of sorts Sturrock, Man Utd youngster Chris Eagles taking his place. And suddenly, things livened up.

The splendidly-monickered Gabriel Agbonlahor nearly forced a winner for the Owls when Myhill flapped at a cross and presented a shooting opportunity, but Leon Cort inserted a steely challenge to repel the danger. Now City were committing men forward too, and game became stretched. Green replaced the mysteriously ineffective Barmby, and both sides briefly scented the chance for a winner. City thought they had it too, when the aforementioned bullet header by Elliott beat the keeper but not the linesman.

How the Wednesday fans crowed. Their cheers had barely subsided when 90 seconds later City forced a corner, Delaney flicked it on at the far post and Price whizzed in volley unstoppably past Weaver. Just three minutes remained, the Circle exploded while the visitors held their heads in their hands, clearly distraught. The referee added another three minutes but Wednesday were a beaten side, their recent run knocking the confidence out of them, and the Tigers tidily played time out for a second successive late win.

Funnily how quickly things change, isn't it? Following the 3-1 defeat at Reading that plonked City into the bottom three, anxiety abounded. Yet the Tigers have now harvested eight points from an unbeaten run of four matches, we are scoring goals once more and keeping clean sheets.

Seven points now shield our 15th-placed Tigers from the bottom three, and with visits to Brighton (22nd) and Crewe (23rd) constituting our next two fixtures, there is every reason to hope that that gap can be extended further as we prepare to say farewell to an eventful 2005.  (AD)