Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear was rushed to hospital 30 minutes before kick-off last night - but his players maintained the club's tradition of battling on in the face of adversity.
Kinnear was seen with his players around an hour before kick-off as they warmed up on the Hillsborough pitch, but was suddenly taken ill.
After being helped inside, Kinnear was then examined by the home club's doctor Ravin Naik, who summoned an ambulance to take the 52-year-old to Sheffield's Northern General, where he was described as comfortable.
"An hour before kick-off, Joe had chest pains and was taken to hospital on the advice of the resident doctor," said Wimbledon director Sam Hammam. "He underwent a series of tests. He is not in intensive care, but we are advised that they want to keep him under observation, and so he will stay overnight."
Kinnear, who took over at Wimbledon in January 1992 from Peter Withe when they were bottom of the Premiership, has been more than just a leader at the club.
Keeping Wimbledon in the top flight on a shoestring budget for many years has been one of the success stories of the 1990s. He was given 12 games to save Wimbledon from the drop that year, showing then the fighting qualities which have been a hallmark of not only the man but also his teams.
The former Irish international earned himself a three-year contract in the summer of 1992, and it has since remained one of the most unenviable jobs in the Premiership, but it's one he has carried out with great distinction and skill.
Written off yet again after the double cup defeats by George Graham's Spurs last month, Kinnear insisted there was still to plenty to play for between now and the end of the season.
While the FA and League-Cup defeats will have wounded his pride, not for the first time, his players showed their determination to prove their critics wrong.
If an immediate and perfect response to Kinnear's departure to hospital were needed, it came via a stunning eighth-minute strike from Efan Ekoku.
A simple through-ball split the Sheffield defence, allowing the Nigerian international to hammer an 18-yard half-volley beyond Pavel Srnicek and in off the underside of the crossbar.
Srnicek was beaten again in the 32nd minute. Against the run of play, with Wednesday stringing together some fine moves with little in the way of end product, Marcus Gayle was fortunate to deflect a shot past the 30-year-old.
The second half was then backs-to-the-wall stuff as Wednesday poured forward. It took a set piece to unlock Wimbledon, with England left-back Andy Hinchcliffe curling the ball in towards the near post. Brazilian centre-back Emerson Thome nodded home his first Premiership goal for the club.
Sheffield Wednesday: Srnicek, Atherton, Jonk, Walker, Carbone, Booth, Hinchcliffe, Thome, Rudi, Alexandersson, Sonner (Humphreys 87). Subs not used: Newsome, Clarke, Briscoe, Stefanovic. Goal: Thome 60.
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Kimble, Perry, Blackwell, Earle, Ekoku, Roberts, Gayle, Ardley (Euell 81), M Hughes (C Hughes 81). Subs not used: Heald, Kennedy, Cort. Goals: Ekoku 8, Gayle 31.
Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).
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