Brian Laws enjoyed his first Hillsborough win as Wednesday boss as his side came out of the blocks at lightening speed to lay the foundation for victory over West Bromwich Albion.

An early quickfire double from Glenn Whelan and Madjid Bougherra set the Owls all three points as they built on their impressive start and kept Albion at arms' length for most of the encounter, although Jason Koumas grabbed a late strike for the Baggies before Steven MacLean netted an injury time penalty.

Whelan - in for the ill Yoann Folly - headed in with 11 minutes played and Bougherra claimed his first Hillsborough goal four minutes later with MacLean putting the icing on the night's work after Koumas had given the Midlanders hope.

Chris Brunt fired an early free-kick into the sidenetting from 25 yards before supplying the ammunition for Wednesday to gain the initiative. The winger swung over a fantastic cross from the left and Whelan timed his run to perfection, before rising to plant a firm header past Russell Hoult.

The Owls smelt blood and Whelan was only an inch too high with a chip when Wednesday regained possession from Albion's kick-off and Wayne Andrews shot fractionally past the far post before Brian Laws' men doubled their lead with only a quarter of an hour played. Bougherra stole a run across the West Bromwich defence to meet Kenny Lunt's free-kick with a glancing header past the outrushing Hoult.

Wednesday lost the services of John Hills when the defender limped off with a hamstring problem just before the half hour mark and they had a shout for a penalty waved away by referee Kevin Wright after Bougherra went down under challenge in the box. The Owls were looking slick in their own passing in addition to restricting Albion to long shots from outside the box, and took their two-goal lead into the interval.

They had a chance to widen the gap when WBA substitute Paul McShane deflected Deon Burton's shot over the top from Bougherra's right-wing centre. The visitors saw a pair of decent chances go begging as Diomansy Kamara guided a header past Mark Crossley's far post, before Kevin Phillips was unable to steer Jonathan Greening's shot towards goal from close range. Crossley also punched out a long distance attempt from Darren Carter and reacted smartly to turn Phillips' shot for a corner.

Wednesday sounded a warning when Brunt hooked Burton's cross past the upright with his weaker right-foot while Bougherra flicked a header just over the top from Brunt's inswinging corner with just over 15 minutes remaining. Marcus Tudgay was wild with a shot from MacLean's lay-off before Koumas curled home a fine shot from the edge of the area only for MacLean to step up and finish WBA off from the spot, after being tripped by Jonathan Greening. Frank Simek's claim for a penalty was rejected in the build-up but there was no doubt when MacLean was felled and he maintained his 100 per cent record from 12 yards.

Wednesday: Crossley; Simek, Bullen, Bougherra, Hills (Spurr 27); Andrews (O'Brien 77), Lunt, Whelan, Brunt; Tudgay, Burton (MacLean 81).

Subs: Adamson, Coughlan, O'Brien, MacLean, Spurr.

WBA: Hoult; Albrechtsen, Davies, Perry (McShane h-t), Robinson; Carter (Gera 70), Greening, Quashie, Koumas; Kamara, Phillips.

Subs: Steele, Watson, Ellington, Gera, McShane.