REPORT: Cardiff 2-1 Owls
Sheffield Wednesday tasted defeat for the first time on the road in the Championship on Saturday at Cardiff.
The Bluebirds edged the contest by the odd goal in three with goals from Sean Morrison and Anthony Pilkington sealing victory for the Welshmen.
Sean Morrison put into his own goal moments after the restart to temporarily level the game but Cardiff went on to claim their first win since 19 August.
The home side were desperately seeking a reversal of fortune on all fronts and almost fell behind after six minutes.
Jacques Maghoma slotted through for Stevie May, who rounded David Marshall but ex-Manchester United man Fabio made a sliding clearance on the goal line.
Cardiff, though, responded well after a slow start and tested the returning Keiren Westwood after a sustained period of pressure.
Aaron Gunnarsson rose high from six yards to power his header on target but the Owls’ number one got down quick to make the stop and Kenwyne Jones blazed over the rebound.
But Cardiff managed to get their noses in front five minutes before the break.
A quality delivery from Peter Whittingham was met with a bullet header from Sean Morrison in the middle to put the Bluebirds a goal to the good.
Wednesday went down the tunnel a goal behind but were back on terms just moments after the restart.
Maguire whipped in a dangerous centre into the corridor of uncertainty and Cardiff goalscorer Sean Morrison’s attempted clearance trickled into his own goal.
The goal gave Wednesday a huge boost and the visitors came within a whisker of turning the game completely on its head.
Liam Palmer delivered from the right and May prodded just wide in a good spell for Wednesday.
As Cardiff looked to restore their lead, Pilkington brought the best from Westwood, who made an outstanding stop at his near post but the midfield man won the same duel just minutes later.
Jones nodded on for Pilkington in the area and the former Huddersfield man smashed emphatically past Westwood.
After the goal, the emphasis switched back to the hosts as Ravel Morrison struck just wide in the final few minutes and Federico Macheda saw his goal ruled out with the offside flag raised.
The Owls poured bodies forward in injury time but to no avail as Cardiff registered their first win in six league games.
Cardiff: Marshall, Brayford, Da Silva (Ralls 86), Manga, Whittingham, Jones (Macheda 67), Noone (R Morrison 63), Gunnarsson, Pilkington, Daehli, S Morrison
Owls: Westwood, Palmer, Loovens, Buxton, Mattock, Maguire (Hope 67), Coke (Drenthe 67), Semedo (Madine 76), Maghoma, Nuhiu, May