Sheffield Wednesday 3 Scunthorpe United 2: Weaver takes the plaudits for Owls after holding Iron at bay

The Sheffield-born goalkeeper pulled off a stunning late save to thwart Mark Duffy’s header as the Owls survived a final barrage to make it four successive home wins this season.

Owls team-mate Jose Semedo, who also played with the 32-year-old at Charlton Athletic, believes the former Manchester City goalkeeper is worthy of playing at a much higher level than League One.

“Nicky is fantastic, a top goalkeeper,” said midfielder Semedo. “I knew him from we played together at Charlton, he’s a world-class goalkeeper. Just amazing.

“I think we have the best goalkeeper in the division, not just because he is my team-mate and friend, but with his experience in training and the game.

“He won us the game, I can say that. He gave us the three points today. He saved us many points at Charlton, too. He can win us games too, he doesn’t score but he can save the goal.

“It was a fantastic save today near the end, a top save.”

Former England Under-21 Weaver’s save capped a miserable afternoon for Scunthorpe.

The Iron fell behind after just four minutes at Hillsborough, when Lewis Buxton drilled in a low cross, visiting goalkeeper Josh Lillis denied Clinton Morrison at the near post, only for the ball to squirm through for Gary Madine to thrash home.

Yet within a minute, Scunthorpe thought they had been handed a lifeline. Referee James Linington pointed to the penalty spot, judging that David Prutton had tripped Chris Dagnall in the area.

But, after being persuaded to consult his linesman by angry Owls defenders, Linington changed his mind.

The Iron kept the pressure on, fired up by a sense of injustice, and from a corner, Sam Togwell looked like he had equalised when he fired beyond Weaver, only for striker Morrison to pop up in his own goalmouth to scramble the ball away.

Wednesday doubled their advantage after 17 minutes, Ben Marshall opening his Owls account after joining on loan from Stoke City.

The impressive Liam Palmer sent winger Marshall racing away down the left flank, before cutting inside and see his effort squirm through Lillis’s grasp.

Iron striker Chris Dagnall caused the Owls back four problems all afternoon. First, it took a last-gasp tackle by Seemdo to deny the former Rochdale striker, then he smashed his shot against the foot of the post.

Wednesday needed a third goal to take the wind out of Scunthorpe’s sails, as the visitors always looked dangerous going forward. But with just two fit strikers at his disposal, Owls chief Gary Megson was forced to bring on midfielder Chris Lines for the tiring Morrison as the toll of playing seven matches in 21 days seemed to catch up with some.

Wednesday were getting more withdrawn, and it was no surprise when Scunthorpe finally got a goal their play deserved, Bobby Grant firing home.

Any chance of a fightback seemed to have been quashed when Madine netted his second of the afternoon – his third in two successive home games – when he beat the offside trap and showed a cool head to hit his shot inside Lillis’s right-hand corner.

Duffy’s 86th-minute goal made for some anxious few minutes for Wednesday, but led by returning captain Rob Jones – the former Scunthorpe stopper had missed the last two games with a badly broken nose – the hosts held on for victory.

“It’s always fantastic to win, it was a tough game,” said Semedo. “We didn’t play so well, but the most important thing was the three points and we got them.

“The manager keeps telling us, ‘always score the first goal’. We know it doesn’t always happen, but when it does, it is good.

“The manager said to us in the dressing room, it was not a good game from us, but it came from the heart, we were hard-working. At 2-0 up we should gave scored a third, but Scunthorpe were always chasing so everyone was just happy to get the three points.”

Megson revealed his disappointment at missing out on Adam Le Fondre, after the Rotherham United striker was sold to Championship club Reading for £350,000.

“It’s a disappointment because we wanted to bring him into the club,” admitted Megson, who made three unsuccessful bids for the Millers’ top scorer.

“But we knew that other people were interested in him, and he has joined a Championship club, so good luck to the lad. Our search continues.”

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Sheffield Wednesday: Weaver, Buxton, Batth, Jones, Bennett, Palmer (O’Connor 82), Semedo, Prutton, Marshall, Madine, Morrison (Lines 57). Unused substitutes: O’Donnell, R Johnson, Sedgwick.

Scunthorpe United: Lillis, Wright, Nolan, Togwell (Collins 64), Nelson, Ryan (Thompson 64), Dagnall, Norwood, Grant, Canavan, Barcham (Duffy 77). Unused substitutes: Slocombe, Reid.

Referee: J Linington (Isle of Wight).