Sheffield Wednesday were far from their best on Boxing Day but they did do enough to see off strugglers Blackpool to move within touching distance of a top half spot in the Championship table.
The Owls were without injured captain Glenn Loovens so Claude Dielna partnered Tom Lees at centre-half and Royston Drenthe returned to the starting line up having missed out at Fulham in the previous game.
Wednesday made a positive start, Maguire firing a free-kick wide and May lobbing just wide following good work from Drenthe and McGugan.
The visitors main threat came from their wingers with Murphy going close after causing Liam Palmer problems with a positive run.
Just as it seemed the two sides would go in all square at the break May beat Blackpool defender Peter Clarke to a loose ball in the penalty area and the defender conceded a penalty as a result. Maguire sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot to give the Owls the lead five minutes before half-time.
Blackpool sub Delfouneso forced Westwood into an early save in the second half but Wednesday then enjoyed their most dominant period of the match. A deflected Maguire effort came back out off the crossbar, May flashed a header wide from a Palmer cross, Lewis saved at McGugan's feet after a fine through ball from Drenthe and the winger then saw a fine curling effort from the edge of the area land on the roof of the net.
The home side were well on top in terms of possession and efforts on goal but couldn't get the second goal to give them a cushion. It looked as though May had done so with a well placed header from a lovely Drenthe cross but Murphy produced a top class one-handed save.
The lack of a second goal meant the Owls were always in danger of getting caught out despite their dominance and with 15 minutes to go that almost happened. Blackpool broke away and a cross from the Owls left picked out Miller but his header was outstandingly saved at point-blank range by Westwood.
That chance gave the Owls a warning and as the game wore to a close the home fans became nervous and frustrated at the result not having been put out of reach. One goal proved to be enough however and the visitors suffered more misery in stoppage time when Miller picked up his second yellow card for a foul on Lees.