Pundits would often have us believe that the mark of a really good team is to win when they are not at their best. If that is true then judging by Tuesday's performance Sheffield Wednesday must be a top class side as they somehow managed a victory despite a less than average display.
QPR have now gone 7 successive away games without a goal and the small band of supporters that travelled up to Sheffield must have gone home wondering if they are ever going to end that run after spurning a host of chances.
In keeping with the trend of recent performances the Owls first half showing was dismal and up there as one of the worst the team has produced for some time. At times they struggled to string two passes together in all areas of the park and had Lee Grant to thank for getting in on level terms at the break.
His penalty save denied QPR a deserved lead but even he wasn't immune from the poor passing that was holding back the rest of the team as prior to the penalty he gifted the visitors a great opportunity with a poor clearance only to redeem himself with a fine save to deny Helguson.
It was Frank Simek who gave away the penalty and to add insult to injury the American limped out of the game before half-time in only his 2nd start of the season. At this stage the Owls had already lost Etienne Esajas to injury and seemed incapable of getting a foothold in the game.
The second half did bring some improvement but the visitors still had the better of the chances on the break as Wednesday failed to carve out clear cut opportunities despite having plenty of the ball.
With 15 minutes to go it was Leon Clarke who grabbed the vital goal, firing into an open net after Rangers keeper Cerny had denied Tudgay.
There was still time for Wednesday to worry their fans further as Clarke was caught needlessly offside a number of times as QPR pushed forward in numbers and the Owls had to see out the game with ten men as Wade Small went of with an injury after all three subs had been used.
The vast majority of a disappointing crowd of fewer than 15,000 on a bitterly cold night left Hillsborough happy with the result if not the performance but the Owls will surely have to play better than this if they are to extend their unbeaten run against Bristol City on Saturday.