Darren Moore on Sheffield Wednesday's 'dog's dinner' performance rescued by resilience as Fleetwood Town are beaten 1-0

The Owls were far from their best in a 1-0 win over Fleetwood Town but they got the job done thanks to Marvin Johnson's first-half goal and Cameron Dawson's 89th-minute save.

"It just made me think of when you mix your dog's dinner, it was messy, that's the way I look at it," said manager Moore at full-time.

"But credit the players, when the chance came for us it was a well-taken goal by Marvin Johnson. It was a difficult finish but he took it well.

"After that you could see why Fleetwood are such a hard unit to see off because they just keep coming. They made it difficult, they asked questions.

"I thought our concentration levels were good to stay gritty and determined, to track and stay with runners.

"On the flip side, in possession of the ball I thought we were wasteful in terms of what there was to exploit.

"I thought that's where the efficiency and resilience came into it, being gritty and determined."

It was the first League One away game this season Fleetwood have failed to score in.

The Owls restricted them to two shots on goal – a free-kick by former Doncaster Rovers full-back Danny Andrew straight at Dawson, and a much more difficult and important save from Ged Garner.

"The back three and the goalkeeper will take the plaudits but it's an all-round team effort getting the right pressure on the ball in the right areas," said former centre-back Moore.

"We've had a resilience to us since the start of the season and I've said to the lads whatever you do, do not lose that – bottle it and keep it for your whole careers. It's a part of the game you need.

"While it's 1-0 you've always got to stay concentrated.

"We had to stay in the game and thought Cameron Dawson didn't have much to do, he had to pull off a save in the last couple of minutes, point-blank. Credit to him for his concentration."

Of Johnson's goal, made by Josh Windass after Liam Palmer brought the ball out of defence, Moore said: "It was a whipped-in cross and I said to Marvin at half-time it was a really good finish because it wasn't easy at all. It skipped up but he didn't try and put any power on it, just get the right contact on it because the power was on the ball and he put it in the roof of the net.

"It looked like we might be on to a goal spree but we know Fleetwood stay in the game. Every game they've lost has only been by the odd goal so I knew they'd be a tough nut to crack.

"You've seen them games ten a dozen but what I'm pleased with is getting the three points.

"We saw how effective they could be and we'll go again next week in the FA Cup (when the sides meet again in round four)."

The final kick of the game was a penalty Lee Gregory ballooned over the bar, but Moore was in no mood to criticise the centre-forward, making his first start since the reverse fixture on Boxing Day.

"He shouldn't get any stick because it was a stonewall penalty and he wanted to step up and take it," argued Moore. "I'm sure he'll be ready for the next one of he's on the pitch.

"I thought he did well the way he led the line and it was great to have him back starting.

"I hope he doesn't look at that penalty miss as defining his game."