Sheffield Wednesday gave their Championship survival hopes a massive lift after an impressive win over high-flying Leicester.

The Foxes arrived at Hillsborough as favourites for this top against bottom clash but the Owls upset the formbook as goals either side of half time from Leon Clarke sealed three crucial points.

Alan Irvine made four changes from the side that lost at Reading last time out as Darren Purse, Jermaine Johnson, Tommy Miller and Clarke all made the starting line-up.

Johnson's return in particular was welcome given the winger's lightening pace and ability to conjure something from nothing but it was Clarke that made the first impression, firing a snapshot that Chris Weale parried to safety before the big man hammered the Owls into an early lead.

With just six minutes on the clock, Darren Potter's ball found its way to the former Wolves man, who blasted a fierce angled drive into the top corner.

The Owls were buoyed by that perfect start but Leicester recovered well as the contest unfolded, with Lloyd Dyer looking dangerous down the left flank. The wideman chipped an accurate feed to Paul Gallagher on the 15-minute mark and the striker's header was not too far over the crossbar.

Leicester went closer still ten minutes later when Martyn Waghorn drilled a low shot goalwards but Lee Grant delved into the top drawer to produce a quality save at his near post.

But the visitors suffered a blow on 31 minutes when goalkeeper Weale was withdrawn with what appeared to be a facial injury and Conrad Logan took the gloves for the first time this season.

But the Owls failed to test the Irishman for the remainder of the first half, although more crucially, Wednesday held on to their lead as they headed down the tunnel.



Frank Simek started the second period in place of Tommy Spurr, who took a blow to the head just before the whistle that left the defender concussed. Versatile loanee Eddie Nolan switched across to left back to accommodate Simek.

Johnson gave Nolan a scare two minutes in but the keeper reacted well to turn the Jamaican's daisycutter round the post.

Johnson was at the centre of the action moments later, arrowing a low cross right into the heart of the danger zone that caused concern in the Foxes' defence.

Wednesday continued to play positive football and got their reward on the hour and again Johnson was at the hub.

Tudgay sent the wideman scampering down the right and Johnson's cross found Clarke in space to applying the finishing touch to the best move of the match.

Leicester replied with Dyer sending in a vicious drive that Grant tipped expertly over the bar before Miller rolled a teasing shot wide at the other end.

Johnson departed to a standing ovation with 20 minutes to go, with Luke Varney entering the action.

But it was the Foxes that threatened next as Waghorn bore down on goal only to be denied by a vital last-ditch challenge by Nolan.

The visitors pushed forward in the closing stages but rarely looked like scoring as Wednesday held firm to turn the screw on a string of sides locked in the demotion dogfight.

Owls: Grant, Nolan, Purse, Beevers, Purse, Spurr (Simek 46), O'Connor, Potter, Johnson (Varney 69), Clarke (Soares 82) Tudgay

Unused substitutes: O'Donnell, Gray, McAllister, Jeffers

Leicester: Weale (Logan 31), Morrison, Brown, Oakley, King, Dyer, Berner (Howard 69), Waghorn, Wellens (Kermorgant 69), Gallagher, Hobbs

Unused substitutes: Logan, Solano, Adams, N'Guessan, Bruce

Referee: Phil Gibbs

Attendance: 21,647