The Owls stored a precious three points at the expense of Cardiff, with Marcus Tudgay's first half goal proving the difference in a hard-fought Hillsborough encounter.

The Wednesday striker claimed his eighth goal of the season as Brian Laws' side turned in a resolute performance to haul themselves clear of the bottom three.

SWFC made one change from the team that fought out the Charlton stalemate eleven days ago at Hillsborough, with Peter Gilbert coming in at left back for the unwell Tommy Spurr.

That move aside, Laws stuck with the same team that performed so well against the promotion hopefuls. New loan recruit from Chelsea Ben Sahar started on the bench.

The Owls' brief from the boss was to start where they left off from the Addicks display but it was Cardiff that began the game with more purpose. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had a half-hearted penalty appeal waved away inside two minutes as the in-form visitors laid down a clear early marker.

Wednesday fans had to wait until the sixth minute before their side launched an attack that ended with Wade Small sending a tame overhead kick into the arms of Peter Enckelman.

The Bluebirds, though, continued to ask more questions and were almost rewarded in the 17th minute but Richard Wood's sliding block tackle thwarted Aaron Ramsey after the Cardiff man found space inside the box.

The Owls were creeping back into the contest, with Jermaine Johnson sending over two teasing crosses before Graham Kavanagh lashed a half volley that warmed the hands of Enckelman.

But moments later the visitors nearly stole into the lead as Ramsey again proved the dangerman, breaking clear of the Owls defence and firing a low drive that beat Lee Grant but rebounded back into play from the keeper's left hand post.

Peter Whittingham then dragged a good chance wide as the problems mounted for Wednesday with skipper Lee Bullen limping off to be replaced at right back by Richard Hinds.

Still the Bluebirds pressed and Hasselbaink showed his class just after the half-hour mark as Grant's spectacular diving save denied the Dutchman from 22 yards.

At the other end, meanwhile, Cardiff survived what seemed a credible shout for a penalty when Roger Johnson appeared to trip his namesake Johnson but referee Deadman said no.

City then broke at pace and Whittingham's curling effort from distance narrowly missed the target before Wednesday went close as Enoch Showunmi came within a whisker of opening his SWFC account. Good wing work by Small resulted in an accurate cross from which Showunmi saw his near post header flash past Enckelman and wide.

But the Owls were rewarded four minutes before the interval with Tudgay extending his purple patch to shoot SWFC into the lead. Johnson sent over a hanging cross from the right for Showunmi, whose headed knockdown landed perfectly for Tudgay to bury hard and low past Enckelman from ten yards.

The last action of the half saw Cardiff captain Darren Purse head over Whittingham's corner moments after picking up a yellow card for scything down Showunmi.

Cardiff kicked off the second period with similar gusto to the first and Hasselbaink broke free only to be called back after being flagged for offside. Wednesday responded with a long-ranger from Kavanagh that was deflected towards goal before Purse hoofed away the danger.

Showunmi sent Tudgay racing clear on the hour and only desperate defending by Purse prevented the Owls striker increasing the advantage. Kavanagh's resulting corner cleared the defence without causing further problems for Dave Jones' side.

Former Cardiff man Kavanagh was then in action in his own penalty area, throwing himself into a strong tackle on Ramsey as the midfield man pulled the trigger but his powerful drive was deflected away to safety.

Cardiff began to up the ante and Gavin Rae spurned a clear chance to equalise after good work down the left by Paul Parry.

Wednesday introduced Sahar on 72 minutes as Tudgay moved to the right to replace Johnson, who was withdrawn by Laws.

It was Cardiff that should have been next to trouble the scoreboard operators but Purse wasted a golden opportunity to draw the visitors level. Whittingham's corner found Johnson, who in turn found Purse in space but the defender headed over with the goal at his mercy.

Hasselbaink scooped another chance wide on 83 minutes and that opening proved the last of the game as Wednesday held out to post their first win since overcoming local rivals United in January.

Owls (4-4-2): Grant; Bullen (Hinds 26), Wood, Beevers, Gilbert; Johnson (Sahar 72) Kavanagh, Bolder, Small; Showunmi (Burton 86), Tudgay

Unused substitutes: Wallwork, O'Brien

Cardiff (4-4-2): Enckelman; McNaughton, Capaldi, Purse, Johnson; Rae, Ramsey, McPhail (Thompson 72) Whittingham; Hasselbaink, Parry

Unused substitutes: Oakes, Sinclair, Brown

Attendance: 18,539