Sheffield Wednesday's promising run came to an abrupt end at Derby County as goals from Lee Croft, Jay McEveley and Rob Hulse sealed a much-needed win for the Rams.

Derby went into the contest on the back of a 6-1 thumping against Cardiff City and Owls boss Brian Laws warned of a possible backlash.

But his words went unheeded as his side turned in a lacklustre display to allow Derby their best performance of the season so far.

Wednesday were unbeaten in two and Laws made one change from the team that drew at Crystal Palace in midweek. Loanee from Derby, Luke Varney, was ineligible for the Pride Park clash so Marcus Tudgay - rested from the starting XI on Tuesday evening - returned to his old stamping ground to partner Leon Clarke up front.

The hosts, meanwhile, were in the midst of an injury crisis that left boss Nigel Clough with only five substitutes as opposed to Wednesday's full complement of seven.

Possession was shared in the early exchanges with both defences looking solid. Hulse's glancing header past the post ten minutes in was the first real opportunity, although ex-Ram Lee Grant comfortably had the striker's effort covered.

But Grant was powerless on 17 minutes when Croft, almost out of the blue, shot Derby into the lead. Confusion in the Wednesday backline led to Paul Dickov looping across the danger zone and Croft was waiting on the right side of the area to break his Derby duck with a crisp side-footed finish.

The Rams were clearly buoyed and defender Dean Moxey drilled in a low drive moments after the restart that whistled narrowly wide.

Wednesday needed a response and, following a period of neat, passing football, James O'Connor went close on the half-hour mark but the Rams cleared their lines inside the six-yard box following a nervy scramble that might have spawned an equaliser.

Tudgay's header safely smothered by Stephen Bywater on 40 minutes was the Owls' first effort on target in an overall disappointing opening period.

Dickov then came within a lick of paint of giving Wednesday a real mountain to climb just before the break. The veteran striker took possession 20 yards from goal and advanced to send a daisycutter that, thankfully for the visitors, brushed the outside of the post and ran to safety.

Wednesday showed more purpose in the early throes of the second half, with Darren Purse and Michael Gray sending half chances wide of the target.

But the Owls wasted their best opportunity of the game on 53 minutes. Gray took advantage of a Dean Moxey slip inside the area and squared for Clarke, who blasted over the bar from ten yards with the goal gaping.

Play promptly switched to the other end and Croft forced a good save from Grant before the Owls keeper was called into action again, this time diving full length to deny Hulse.

Wednesday made a double substitution on the hour to inject new life into the attack. Akpo Sodje came on for Clarke while Jermaine Johnson replaced Etienne Esajas and the move almost paid instant dividends when Sodje's back header struck the top of the bar.

But that promise was undone on 64 minutes as Derby broke free on the counter and the ball was played wide to McEveley, who cut inside to bury an emphatic shot past Grant.

The Rams were playing with confidence and Hulse tried an acrobatic volley that went over before Wednesday hit back with a Tommy Spurr header that flew wide with Bywater beaten.

That threat from the visitors, though, was all too rare and the game played out with the Rams in the driving seat. And it was no surprise when they made it three two minutes from time.

Lewis Buxton felled Hulse in the box and up stepped the latter to fire home from the spot to complete a comprehensive win and dismal away day for Wednesday.

Derby: Bywater, McEveley, Croft (Pringle 85), Savage (Mendy 90), Hulse, Teale, Barker, Moxey, Livermore, Dickov (Hendrie 83), Stoor

Unused substitutes: Deeney, Buxton

Owls: Grant, Buxton, Purse, Wood, Spurr, Gray, O'Connor (Miller 76), Potter, Esajas (Johnson 63), Tudgay, Clarke (Sodje 63)

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

Referee: Chris Foy

Attendance: 30,116 (away 2858)