DEJAN STEFANOVIC kept Sheffield Wednesday firmly on course for a place in Europe with a priceless winner, after being prevented from making his own continental trip by Britain's weather conditions.
The towering defender was due to play for Yugoslavia against Russia last night, but fog prevented his plane from London Heathrow to Belgrade taking off, unexpectedly freeing him for Wednesday's Premiership match against Sunderland.
His country's loss was definitely his club's gain, with Stefanovic claiming a rare goal to clinch victory over a hard working Sunderland and move Wednesday into fifth place ahead of Saturday's trip to Manchester United.
Sunderland, hose shock victory over United last Saturday interrupted a run of four consecutive defeats, gave David Pleat's side early notice of their threat on the break, with Craig Russell firing over from close range in the 20th minute.
Until then Wednesday had produced the more flowing and incisive football, with Italian Benito Carbone seemingly piercing the Sunderland defence at will.
Yet, for all their pressure, it was Sunderland who made the 28th minute breakthrough after Des Walker made a recovery tackle reminiscent of the former England defender at his peak to prevent Russell breaking through.
It merely delayed the inevitable, however, with David Kelly's corner cleared back out to him on the left and his second centre was met by captain Kevin Ball, who drilled his shot through a crowded goal mouth past an unsighted Kevin Pressman.
The setback spurred Wednesday into a shoot onsight policy and Hirst twice went close before finally hitting the target a minute before half time. Mark Pembridge's corner was flicked on by Andy Booth and Hirst turned and shot in one movement to elude Michael Gray's attempted goal line clearance.
Hirst, beginning to recapture the form which once prompted Alex Ferguson to make a £5 million offer for him, nearly extended Wednesday's lead seven minutes after the break with a stunning 25 yard volley which dipped narrowly over.
Despite Hirst's and Carbone's efforts, however, Wednesday's breakthrough finally came from one of the unlikeliest of sources 11 minutes later, with Stefanovic pouncing for only his second goal of the season.
Pembridge took the ball inside from a short corner and his low shot forced goalkeeper Lionel Perez to parry at full stretch but Stefinovic was on hand to drill the ball into the empty net.
Sunderland pressing forward for the elusive equaliser in the closing stages which would have earned a precious point towards their relegation battle, inevitably left spaces at the back.
Carbone almost increased Wednesday's lead with an outrageous 30 yard lob, which Perez, was forced to tip over.
"We've not defended well," stressed Sunderland manager Peter Reid. "We worked hard, but their first goal went through Michael Gray's legs on the line and on the second we stayed in there when they took a short corner.
"There was not enough quality in keeping hold of the ball from us and we have paid the penalty. We are usually hard to break down and as a manager you are not happy when you lose a goal from a corner.
"Pleaty must have got the fog to come down," joked Reid, who revealed he is poised to sign 19 year old Danish midfielder Kim Hieselberg after a successful trial at Roker Park. "He's a man of great influence you know!"
Pleat said: "The Yugoslav manager insisted Dejan went out there and we sent him after the Wimbledon game on Sunday, but fortunately the fog came down and it was just a quirk that he scored.
"I would never deny him the opportunity to play for his country, but I'm delighted because that's our fourth League win on the trot," said another club had now made a bid for the player who is out of contract at the end of the season.
"A different Premiership club, have now made a better offer for Danny, but he has decided not to talk to them," said Houston.
"He is perfectly entitled to do that. I think he is weighing everything up and waiting for AC Milan and the others to come in for him. This is going to be the thing with the Bosman ruling from now on.",
Houston said he had all but given up his chase for Stoke striker Mike Sheron after having a £2.4 million bid turned down by the Potters.
Speaking after his side's dismal 20 home defeat by Reading, he commented: "As far as I am concerned that is the end of it I suppose. I was expecting Lou Macari to come to the match tonight but he didn't turn up, so that's it."
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