Shefki Kuqi's fourth goal of the season was enough to give Sheffield Wednesday all three points in an exciting London Road clash where Peterborough United asked the attacking questions after the break but just couldn't get the ball into the net.
Wednesday had the edge in the first half with Alan Quinn rattling the crossbar with a fifth minute free-kick and although Lloyd Owusu brought the best from Mark Tyler with a fiercely struck effort, it was not until a couple of minutes before the interval that the breakthrough came with Kuqi heading home.
The tall Finnish striker was not picked-up as he darted forward to get on the end of a Terry Cooke free kick awarded after Matthew Gill fouled Paul McLaren and earned himself a booking in the process.
Wednesday manager Chris Turner commented: "This was not our best performance but we were bombarded in the second half and defended with real guts and character. In a similar situation last season we would have lost the game." Posh created enough chances to have drawn level after the break but Andy Clarke shot wide after great work by Christopher Kanu and Leon McKenzie, but then Andre Boucaud fired too high.
Even at the death there was a chance as big defender Simon Rea stormed forward only to fire well wide of the target. Then there was another blow for Posh with Kanu red carded in the dying minutes for a late challenge on McLaren.
Barry Fry was disappointed to see his side lose a second home game, commenting: "We paid them too much respect early on but I was pleased with the way we went at them in the second half and cannot ask any more from the lads in terms of effort and commitment."