Wednesday suffered their first defeat in six games following a controversial display by referee Neil Swarbrick, who sent off both Wade Small and Chris Brunt inside 37 minutes.

The Owls managed to take the lead when down to ten men but Coventry swiftly equalised and the nine-man Owls faced a one-sided second half in which Leon McKenzie's quickfire strikes left them with no way back.

The afternoon had begun in poignant fashion when Coventry officials made the splendid gesture of playing "Hi Ho Silver Lining" in memory of Wednesdayites Shaun Rhodes and Steven Fairbank, who tragially died on their way home from the Owls' last visit to the Ricoh Arena. City fans joined over 4,000 travelling supporters in paying tribute to their memory.

Once the action got under way, fans from both sides had only a short wait before one of the most eventful first halves imaginable burst into life. Wednesday were unchanged after the win at Ipswich and began in confident manner, forcing a string of corners against a nervous Sky Blues outfit that had lost its last three games.

But the Owls suffered a self-inflicted body blow in the 16th minute after Small had been fouled. City hardman Michael Doyle's 'friendly' word provoked the SWFC winger to lash out against the Irishman and referee Swarbrick had no hesitation in bringing out the red card.

Undeterred, the visitors continued to push forward and, from yet another corner, took the lead. Keeper Andy Marshall and his defence had looked hesitant at previous set pieces and when Brunt sent in a low, inswinging left-footer, it went through everyone and dribbled in at the far post.

Unfortunately for Brian Laws' men, the advantage lasted only three minutes. Having scored his maiden SWFC goal the previous week, Bougherra was unlucky to be debited with an own goal this time. From McKenzie's burst into the box, John Hills' attempted clearance struck the Algerian and trickled agonisingly over the line.

City were twice unlucky not the take the lead around the half-hour mark. First Jay Tabb struck the post with a tremendous shot from 25 yards. Then, when Colin Cameron let fly from similar range, Mark Crossley pulled off an excellent flying save.

After 37 minutes it got worse for Wednesday when Swarbrick sent off a second Owls winger after Brunt's foul on Chris Birchall. The Trinidad and Tobago man was making progress through the inside-right channel when he was felled and Brunt was deemed to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity. A shocked Owls side retreated into their shell and were clearly relieved to have got through to the interval with the scores level.

The parity didn't last long into the second period.
Wednesday's nine men were pegged back into their penalty area and succumbed six minutes after the break. Birchall's 25-yard shot may have been deflected, for Crossley saw the ball late and could only parry it to the feet of McKenzie. He made no mistake and tucked in his first goal of the season.

His second came just four minutes later. Birchall sent across a perfect low cross from the right and McKenzie couldn't fail to apply the finishing touch at the far post.

It was one-way traffic now and the scoreline could have got worse for the Owls. Crossley did well to tip over Birchall's shot, while Doyle was narrowly wide from 25 yards. Laws sent on Graham Coughlan to stiffen the Owls defence and the Irishman nearly pulled one back in the 70th minute, forcing Marshall into a fine save from Kenny Lunt's corner.

With the Owls continued to make a spirited effort, Marcus Tudgay saw a deflected shot saved on the line with 12 minutes to go and substitute Steven MacLean was denied in injury time. But City were never going to relinquish their lead with a two-man advantage and, despite the Owls' valiant endeavours, Wednesday returned north pointless.

Coventry (4-4-2): Marshall; Duffy, Page, Hall, Clarke; Birchall (Andrews 74), Hutchison (Cameron 15), Doyle, Tabb; McKenzie, Adebola (Kyle 74). Subs: Gonzalez, Bischoff.

Wednesday (4-4-2): Crossley; Simek (Coughlan 56), Bougherra, Bullen, Hills; Small, Folly, Lunt, Brunt; Burton (O'Brien h-t), Tudgay (MacLean 82). Subs: Adamson, Spurr.

Referee: N Swarbrick

Sent Off: Small (violent conduct) - 16 mins, Brunt (professional foul) - 37 mins
Booked: Hutchison (foul) 15 mins, Hills (foul) 83 mins, MacLean (foul) 90+1 mins

Attendance: 19,849 (4,154 away)