If this was the advert for next week's FA Cup fourth-round tie, it will not have had them queuing around the block outside the ticket office.But when the full-time whistle blew on a cold afternoon at Hillsborough, the Owls were unbeaten in 20 games, had won six on the trot, had become the first team this season to keep a clean sheet at home to Fleetwood Town and extended their lead over third-placed Ipswich Town to seven points.The statistics were a lot more enjoyable than the football.This Owls side is more efficient than effevescent, but presumably if you forced them to choose, most supporters would prefer a functional Championship side over a flamboyant League One team.A 1-0 win over Fleetwood, secured with Marvin's Johnson has made option B that little bit more likely.Cameron Dawson's 89th-minute save from oinly Fleetwood's second on-target shot of the game – from Ged Garner after he put Akin Famewo on his backside – was a reminder of the precariousness of the win but like everything else that happened in the game, it will soon be forgotten.After being brought down by goalkeeper Jay Lynch, Lee Gregory could have put a more positive gloss on things with the last kick of the game but he took a conversion when he needed a penalty.It summed a dreary day up rather neatly. Nice result, shame about the football.The Owls took the lead through Johnson and there was a five-minute outbreak of football after the half-hour, but by and large it was a very flat game.Fleetwood looked the livelier in the opening quarter of an hour, but it was not exactly saying much.It took 14 minutes for the hosts to have a chance, Toto Nsiala's mistakes letting in Michael Smith but his weak shot from a tight angle was entirely in keeping with the mood.Shortly after Famewo had stepped up from the back for the Owls, his fellow outside centre-back did the same to make the difference. At the end of his surge was a pass to Josh Windass, peeling out right from the hole, and a driven cross.As he usually was in the first half with Carl Johnston tucking in tightly at right-back, Johnson was in plenty of space to finish emphatically.The 18th-minute goal did not charge the game into life, though.Twice in the first half there were howls of frustration as Johnson checked back to play the safe, inside pass from a deep position.In between time came a burst from Windass and cross Gregory kneed wide.Two minutes later Palmer crossed for Windass but with the ball a touch behind him he could get direction on his header but not power.Gregory latched onto a poor backpass and a Windass shot almost deflected to Smith. Dominic Iorfa forced a good save from the corner.Then the game slumped back into its coma.The second half was no better.WIndass had a 35-yard free-kick deflected over but that was pretty much the sum total of things until Callum Paterson came off the bench to perk thugs up in the 69th minute.He did well soon after to play in Johnson, only to waste the return pass, shortly before Windass shot wide under pressure after some patient probing for an opening.It was Paterson's flick on which released Gregory, only for the striker to be closed down.The profligacy was nearly punished when Garner beat the otherwise impressive Famewo but fortunately Dawson showed the concentration levels goalkeepers in top teams need to.The Owls did what they needed to, certainly no more, but no less.

Sheffield Wednesday: Dawson; Palmer, Iorfa, Famewo; Hunt, Vaulks, Adeniran (Bakinson 86), Johnson; Windass (Dele-Bashiru 86); Gregory, Smith (Paterson 69).

Unused substitutes: Stockdale, Brown, Shipston, Wilks.

Fleetwood Town: Lynch; Johnston, Nsiala, Earl, Andrew; Wiredu (Lane 86), Warrington (Robertson 77); Omochere, Vela, Hayes (Patterson 66); Muskwe (Garner 66).

Unused substitutes: Holgate McMullan, Dolan.

Referee: S Mather (Atherton)

Sheffield Wednesday 1 Fleetwood Town 0: Job done and not much more as Owls go 20 matches unbeaten