Sheffield Wednesday saw their recent stranglehold over rivals Sheffield United come to a halt at Bramall Lane on Friday evening.

The Owls had won three of the four previous meetings between the two Steel City rivals but the Blades finally came good in this thrilling all-Sheffield clash to run out narrow winners by the odd goal in five.

Jamie Ward and Darius Henderson struck early goals to send the Owls reeling, then Lewis Buxton headed into his own goal just before half time to give United a seemingly unassailable lead.

But the Owls almost completed what would have been an amazing second half comeback.

Marcus Tudgay struck in the first minute of the second period before substitute Etienne Esajas gave the Owls a fighting chance midway through the half.

But the Blades hung on to take all three points with the Owls having given themselves too big a mountain to climb in a catastrophic first half.

Brian Laws recalled midfielder James O'Connor to the starting line-up, the Irishman taking the place of Tommy Miller, who dropped to the bench.

Laws also welcomed back Richard Wood to the heart of the rearguard. The defender missed the midweek defeat against Middlesbrough but resumed his regular role alongside skipper Darren Purse.

The Owls started brightly enough, unaware of the storm soon to follow. Indeed, Wednesday dominated the early exchanges as United struggled to get a foothold on the game.

O'Connor was prevented from bearing down on goal by a cynical challenge from Blades new-boy Andrew Davies, whose first meaningful action in an SUFC shirt resulted in a yellow card.

It took the hosts a full six minutes to move significantly into Wednesday's half, but when they did, United made the Owls pay.

Henderson forced a fine save from Lee Grant and from the resulting corner in the seventh minute, the home side took the lead.

Captain Chris Morgan was first up from Keith Treacy's flag kick and his deflected header fell kindly for Ward to drill home on the turn at Grant's near post.

Blades fans were still celebrating when Luke Varney had a half chance two minutes later but his low drive from distance was comfortably gathered by Mark Bunn.

Then the Owls suffered another blow right on the quarter of an hour mark as United went two goals to the good.

Ched Evans, in not too dissimilar a position from Ward for the first goal, hit a low drive that was diverted into the back of the net via the outstretched boot of Henderson.

Wednesday needed to hit back quickly and began to boss the play again midway through the first half. Tudgay - United's nemesis last time out at Bramall Lane - brought a fine save from Bunn, who tipped over the bar following Michael Gray's hanging free kick.

But the pendulum soon swung back United's way and Evans might have done better with a close range header that a relieved Grant clutched into his chest.

With the half time whistle approaching, Wednesday were in desperate need of a break to get back into the contest but instead, fortune favoured United as they stormed into a three-goal lead.

Substitute David Cotterill - on for the injured Ward - sent over a deep cross to the far post on 42 minutes, where Buxton sent an unstoppable header past his own keeper.

There seemed little hope for the Owls as they trooped out for the second period. And if ever an occasion demanded a quick response, this was it. Tudgay duly responded in the first minute after the resumption.

Substitute Esajas - introduced for the underpar Jermaine Johnson at half time - threatened with a header from six yards before the ball landed in path of Tudgay just inside the box to drill past Bunn and reduce the arrears.

The revitalised Owls had a good chance to pull another one back on 52 minutes. Esajas' free kick caused panic in the United defence and Richard Wood went close before Tudgay lashed a volley high over the bar.

But Wednesday were undeterred and promptly bagged a second goal in the 66^th minute. United conceded a free kick 30 yards from goal and up stepped Esajas to fire a fierce curling drive that nestled into the corner of Bunn's net.

It was game on and next it was the Blades' turn to threaten. Morgan climbed high to aim a thumping header low to Grant's left but the Wednesday keeper sprung across goal to keep his side in the game.

The Owls went straight up the other end and Esajas blasted narrowly wide as the end-to-end clash continued to ebb and flow.

Grant leapt to keep out an Evans piledriver although it was Wednesday that enjoyed the better of the closing stages, with Esajas looking particularly dangerous.

But United just did enough to hang on and claim the bragging rights from one of the most pulsating Sheffield derbies in memory.

Owls: Grant, Buxton, Wood, Purse, Spurr, Johnson (Esajas 46), Potter, O'Connor (Miller 78), Gray, Tudgay, Varney (Clarke 67)

Unused substitutes: O'Donnell, Simek, McAllister, Sodje

Blades: Bunn, Montgomery, Morgan, Henderson, Harper, Davies, Taylor, Evans, Ward (Cotterill 34) (France 90), Treacy (Quinn 87), Walker

Unused substitutes: Bennett, Reid, Stewart, Little