Sheffield Wednesday 1 Sheffield United 0: Wednesday present united front to deliver satisfaction to Megson - Photo gallery

His job was on the line and a defeat would probably have led to the axe. But this was not the biggest reason why Megson wanted three points.

His main priority was getting one over on Sheffield United.

That’s what really mattered.

When Chris O’Grady scored the winner 17 minutes from time he led the Wednesday players over to Megson to celebrate.

And when the final whistle blew to confirm victory, the Owls manager was lifted off his feet by club captain Rob Jones.

It was a glorious end to an emotional afternoon for the lifelong Owls supporter whose future has been the subject of intense speculation.

Even before the game, he was unable to resist the temptation to clap along with supporters when the Owls’ anthem ‘Hi Ho Sheffield Wednesday’ boomed out around a packed stadium.

The Owls started the game five points adrift of second-placed Blades and had dropped to fifth in the table thanks to victories by Huddersfield Town and Milton Keynes Dons 24 hours earlier.

By the end, they were just two points behind and back in third spot – although the Blades still have two games in hand. Chairman Milan Mandaric had granted Megson another roll of the dice in the transfer market and winger Michail Antonio duly made his debut on loan from Reading.

Antonio replaced the injured Jermaine Johnson – whose recent form has been outstanding – in the only change to the side beaten the previous weekend at Chesterfield. Midfielders Nick Montgomery and Lee Williamson started for the Blades – with Kevin McDonald injured and Ryan Flynn dropped to the bench.

Both teams were wearing black armbands in memory of Clive Baker, the Owls’ former academy director, and former Owls captain Tom McAnearney, a stalwart for the club in the Fifties and Sixties.

For the first eight minutes, it was all United and Bywater needed to block a cheeky back heel from Cresswell with his legs.

The Owls settled but had an even bigger let-off in the 14th minute when a Lee Williamson free-kick struck the underside of the bar before the ball down bounced on the line.

Cresswell attempted to force the ball into the net with a follow-up header but Bywater was on hand to save.

The first flashpoint of the game saw Owls captain Rob Jones in trouble with referee Mark Halsey for raising his hands to Blades defender Harry Maguire.

The pair had been jostling for a header in front of the Kop when Jones reacted angrily to his opponent on the deck.

Fortunately for Jones and the Owls, Halsey ruled that there was no need to issue a card – but another referee might easily have taken a different view.

With 24 minutes gone, a mistake by Blades defender Lecsinel Jean-Francois was nearly punished by the Owls. Seizing on the defender’s sloppy pass, Antonio delivered a low cross across goal which was just inches beyond the reach of the unmarked Ryan Lowe.

Wednesday’s set-pieces always looked a threat to the Blades, particularly corners, however a number of first-half crosses fell marginally short of their targets.

Blades goalkeeper Steve Simonsen made his first save of note after 32 minutes from a Chris Lines free-kick but it was not a major scare.

The Blades appealed – somewhat optimistically – for two first-half penalties and both were waved away by Halsey.

Williamson collided with Semedo and Evans was involved in a wrestle for the ball with Lewis Buxton.

But the Owls were unhappy when Halsey stopped play for an alleged foul by Lines bursting through on goal and when another attack was halted for an injury to Blades captain Montgomery.

Megson returned to centre stage when responding to taunts from Blades supporters shortly before the break.

The Owls manager punched the air and pointed to his badge; the passion provoking a noisy reaction from home supporters.

The away supporters had another go, chanting “You’re getting sacked in the morning”, but it was too late, Megson had now won the battle of wits.

In terms of style, the Owls lived up to the reputation of being the more direct but also stopped the Blades getting into their rhythm.

They made a bright start to the second half and Chris O’Grady sent a 25-yard drive fizzing wide.

A Reda Johnson cross unsettled the Blades defence and the Owls enjoyed their best spell of the game.

Megson sought to seize the initiative by introducing striker Gary Madine – who looked hungry and eager to build on his late equaliser at Bramall Lane – and winger Mike Jones.

The long throw of new signing Antonio had added another weapon to the Owls armoury but a glancing header wide by Rob Jones was the nearest it came to delivering a goal.

The Blades had been on the backfoot for a lengthy spell when the Owls took the lead with 73 minutes gone.

O’Grady escaped the attention of his markers and met a Buxton cross with a precision header that bounced beyond the reach of Simonsen. The striker immediately raced to the technical area where the Owls players celebrated with their manager. As a show of unity, it said so much. So too the chants of ‘Ginger Mourinho’ to Megson soon after from the home fans.

Megson’s behaviour became increasingly animated as the game headed towards the final whistle. As if winning the derby was not important enough to a lifelong Owls supporter, his own job security was also at stake.

As the Owls fought to hang onto the lead, Jones made a brilliant late tackle to halt Blades substitute Will Hoskins.

It was heart in the mouth time for Owls supporters again when Evans surged forward but Flynn shot straight at Bywater.

Substitute Hoskins then met a cross from Beattie and his header was tipped over the bar.

After four minutes of stoppage time, referee Mark Halsey made easily his worst decision of the afternoon and blew the final whistle without real clarity.

For a moment or two, Megson and everyone connected with Wednesday looked unsure whether to celebrate.

When it became clear that the game was officially over, they allowed the emotions to pour out – a mixture of pure joy and relief for so many different reasons.