The Owls secured their biggest win of the season, and their sixth in nine matches, courtesy of three outstanding long-range efforts in the second half. Chris Brunt had given the visitors a half-time lead with a controversial penalty before his seventh goal of the season gave Wednesday a two-goal advantage. Further wonder goals from Glenn Whelan and Marcus Tudgay put a gloss on the final outcome against a Leicester side that had skipper Paddy McCarthy sent off with the score at 1-0.

Brian Laws had made the two expected changes to his starting line-up, with Tommy Spurr and Yoann Folly returning in place of the injured John Hills and suspended Kenny Lunt. Leicester were unchanged despite their 3-1 defeat to Norwich on Tuesday.

It was a raw day in the East Midlands and the swirling wind around the Walkers Stadium didn't make for an entertaining first-half spectacle. Although Wayne Andrews went close from 20 yards within 75 seconds, most of the ensuing 45 minutes was dour to say the least. The hosts had the greater share of possession but Mark Crossley did not have a save to make - when Leicester did threaten, from a 17th-minute free-kick, Wednesday's defenders bravely prevented the hosts from getting a shot in on goal.

The tedium was broken in the 43rd minute when, completely out of the blue, referee Rob Styles awarded the Owls a penalty. When Andrews stooped to head a ball goalwards, he was kicked in the face - accidentally - by Josh Low. Although it looked to be a case of dangerous play, an indirect free-kick offence, Styles surprised almost everyone in the ground by pointing to the spot. Brunt composed himself through the prolonged protests to slam a low shot powerfully home.

Although it didn't seem possible, the referee made himself even more unpopular with the home support in the ten minutes after the break. First, he sent off skipper McCarthy, who had been booked for his protests against the penalty. He foolishly fouled Whelan and cannot have been surprised to see Mr Styles produce a second yellow card.

Then, in the 53rd minute, he played an unwitting role in Wednesday's second. An attempted Foxes clearance deflected off the official into Brunt's patch. But that is to take nothing away from the quality of the Northern Irishman's strike, as he unleashed a fantastic first-time shot from 28 yards which gave Conrad Logan no chance.

After such a dismal first half, there was no stopping the action now. Logan pulled off a point-blank save to deny Deon Burton his first goal from open play this season, after the striker latched onto Andrews' low cross. Then, Leicester fortunately found a way back into proceedings when Stephen Hughes sent in a hopeful long range shot, which went in via a wicked deflection which sent Crossley the wrong way.

With their tails up, the Foxes poured forward in search of an equaliser. Wednesday were forced to defend in numbers and, when Elvis Hammond found space to turn in the box, they were grateful to Madjid Bougherra for a timely block. A minute later, Crossley was at his best to turn away a powerful shot from Levi Porter.

However, the home comeback was ended in abrupt fashion by two wonder goals within the space of a minute. Firstly, Whelan notched his second in successive games after unleashing a 30-yard effort that went in off the underside of the crossbar. Then, Tudgay wrestled Richard Stearman off the ball on the left-hand touchline and advanced to the corner of the penalty area, from where he curled in his seventh goal in nine games.

The 3,000-plus travelling Wednesdayites were delighted and spent the remaining 20 minutes celebrating the Owls' seventh point in a week, which lifted them a further two places in the Championship table.

Leicester (4-4-2): Logan; Stearman, McCarthy, Kisnorbo, Maybury; Low (McAuley 51), Tiatto (Williams h-t), Hughes, Porter; Hume, Hammond (Fryatt 85). Subs: Henderson, McAuley, Welsh.

Wednesday (4-4-2): Crossley; Simek, Bougherra (Coughlan 86), Bullen, Spurr (O'Brien 86); Andrews, Folly, Whelan, Brunt; Burton (MacLean 74), Tudgay. Subs: Adamson, McAllister.

Attendance: 22,693

Referee: Rob Styles

Sent Off: Patrick McCarthy (second yellow card) - 50 mins

Booked: Spurr (foul) 10 mins, Hume (dissent) 26 mins, Bougherra (dissent) 26 mins, Bullen (foul) 40 mins, Logan (dissent) 42 mins, McCarthy (dissent) 42 mins