Wednesday's Championship woes continued in the West Country as promotion hopefuls Bristol City proved too good for Brian Laws' side.

In a game the hosts largely dominated, goals either side of the break from Dele Adebola and Bradley Orr were enough to seal the points and the Owls headed back to Sheffield deep in the relegation mire.

Skipper Lee Bullen volleyed a late consolation but his last-minute effort proved little more than academic.

Laws made four changes from the side that lost to Ipswich last time out at Hillsborough. At the back, Peter Gilbert started at in place of the suspended Tommy Spurr, while in the engine room new loan recruit Adam Bolder replaced Ronnie Wallwork.

With Jermaine Johnson having been granted compassionate leave following a family bereavement, Wade Small filled the void down the right flank. Up front, Deon Burton came in for Enoch Showunmi, who was ineligible through the terms of his loan move to Wednesday from parent club City.

Much of the early throes were contested in the middle of the park, with the game five minutes old before the first corner spawned the first chance. Giant central defender Marvin Elliott saw his header deflected onto the bar by Richard Hinds but the referee's whistle had already sounded.

Two minutes later, though, the hosts went into the lead as Wednesday once more went down to an early goal. Michael McIndoe threaded a pass through the centre of the Owls' defence and home debutant Adebola slotted past Lee Grant from 12 yards.

Burton thumped a left foot effort that forced a save from Adriano Basso as Wednesday forged their first attack on nine minutes, but the ball was soon back at the other end of the field and McIndoe's corner almost caused more problems for the SWFC rearguard.

Nick Carle, playing just behind Adebola, was looking lively and turned well on the edge of the area to hit a low drive comfortably saved by Grant.

The Owls started to creep more and more into the contest, albeit without creating chances in the final third until Graham Kavanagh curled a free kick from distance narrowly past the post.

But City could and should have doubled their lead ten minutes before half time. Lee Johnson broke free down the right to power in a low cross that fell kindly to Carle two yards into the area. The Australian forward had all the time in the world to find a way past Grant but could only fire a rasping shot wide of the keeper's post.

Carle had another golden chance on 42 minutes from similar range and forced Grant into action on this occasion as the Owls stopper sprang to his left and parried wide to keep his side in the game ahead of half time.

Sean McAllister replaced Burton O'Brien at the break and Wednesday started the second period with more purpose. And twice inside a minute, the visitors could have restored parity.

First, Marcus Tudgay fizzed a volley wide after a clever feed from Burton on the edge of the box then Kavanagh sent over a cross from which McAllister forced Basso into a diving save over the bar.

Two minutes later however, Wednesday found themselves two down as the Robins broke free at pace to extend their advantage. Adebola's presence caused problems in the Owls' box, the ball broke free to on-rushing defender Orr, whose angled effort flew high into Grant's net.

The second strike knocked the stuffing from the Owls and with the game all but over as a contest, City's rearguard dealt comfortably with rare Wednesday jaunts upfield.

Substitute Darren Byfield and McIndoe both tested Grant in the closing stages before Kavanagh's free kick found its way to Bullen, who belted a curling, angled drive over Basso to reduce the arrears but  still leave the Owls in the drop zone.

Bristol City (4-4-1-1): Basso; Orr, Carey, McCombe, McAllister; Sproule, Johnson, Elliott (Skuse 89), McIndoe; Carle (Trundle 71); Adebola (Byfield 69)

Unused subs: Fontaine, Weale

Owls (4-4-2): Grant; Bullen, Hinds (Wood 86), Beevers, Gilbert; Small, Kavanagh, Bolder, O'Brien (McAllister 46); Burton, Tudgay (Boden 82)

Unused subs: Burch, Wallwork

Attendance: 15,520

Referee: Mr R. Shoebridge