Etienne Esajas proved the thorn in ten-man Cardiff's side as Sheffield Wednesday - without a victory in three games - returned to winning ways at Hillsborough.

Esajas struck the first goal and engineered two more for Luke Varney and Leon Clarke, with Peter Whittingham's penalty proving a mere consolation for the visitors.

The Dutch winger was recalled to the starting line-up following his impressive display from the bench in last week's Sheffield derby - and he promptly took the chance with both hands.

To compound Cardiff's woes, midfielder Joe Ledley was sent off for picking up yellow cards either side of the break.

It was Esajas that turned the Bramall Lane clash on its head and he took little time in stamping his authority on this game, showing trademark quick feet and skill to launch a string of early crosses into the danger zone.

The writing was on the wall and after just four minutes, Esajas gave Wednesday the lead. The Owls earned a free kick 20 yards from goal and up stepped the Dutchman to send a curling drive over the wall and into the net via the post.



Chris Burke responded with an angled drive that flew into the Kop but that was a rare foray into the Owls' half for the visitors and the game soon reverted to type, with Wednesday going close twice inside a minute.

First Varney rattled the post with a shot on the turn then Richard Wood's header grazed the crossbar as the hosts continued to dominate.

But Cardiff were offered a route back into the game on the 15-minute mark against the run of play. Michael Chopra was brought down in the area by Lee Grant and Whittingham duly obliged from the spot to haul the Bluebirds level.

Wednesday immediately tried to seize back the initiative and former Cardiff captain Darren Purse skewed a good opening wide. But the Bluebirds countered and went close with Anthony Gerrard glancing a header narrowly wide.

Chopra had an effort ruled out for offside as half time approached with Wednesday struggling to regain their earlier dominance. Indeed, Cardiff were enjoying most of the possession and the linesman saved the Owls again on 41 minutes as Mark Kennedy netted only to see his celebrations cut short by the flag.



The Owls needed an early boost after the break and got it just two minutes into the second period. Esajas was at the hub, finding space down the left to pick out Varney, who headed in past David Marshall from close range to restore the advantage.

Esajas then forced Marshall into a diving save before substitute Clarke - on for Marcus Tudgay - lashed in an angled drive that rebounded to safety from the post.

Wednesday proceeded to boss the contest, allowing Cardiff only a rare sniff at goal. But the rearguard was in resilient mood and clearly determined to hang on to the lead.

That task was made easier when Ledley was dismissed on 73 minutes for accruing his second yellow card after a late lunge on Michael Gray.

And the result was put in no doubt ten minutes from the end, with Esajas once more at the heart of the action.

The winger looked up from the left to see Clarke lurking at the back post and his inch-perfect cross was confidently converted on the volley for the hosts to seal three deserved and welcome points.

Owls: Grant, Buxton, Purse, Wood, Spurr, Gray, Potter, O'Connor, Esajas (Johnson 84), Tudgay (Clarke 51), Varney (Sodje 84)

Substitutes: O'Donnell, Simek, Beevers, Miller

Cardiff: Marshall, Matthews, Kennedy (Capaldi 67), Hudson, Gerrard, Ledley, Rae, Burke Magennis (76), Bothroyd, Chopra, Whittingham

Substitutes: Enckelman, Quinn, Gyepes, Scimeca, Taiwo

Attendance: 18,959

Referee: Michael Oliver