Wednesday turned in a thoroughly dominant display at Morecambe and showed real patience to grind the hosts down and take three points.
Time after time the Owls threatened the Shrimps goal and only an inspired performance from goalkeeper Connor Ripley kept Darren Moore’s men at bay.
But with a one-sided contest entering the latter stages, Wednesday made the breakthrough and went on to register a 3-0 return.
Josh Windass set the ball rolling, George Byers added a second and Michael Smith capped a productive night by netting his maiden league goal in the blue and white.
The early pressure came from Wednesday but the first chance fell to Morecambe. Kieran Phillips had a clear sight of goal after bursting into the box and the Owls had David Stockdale to thank for a smart low save.
At the other end, it was Ripley who moved centre stage. Barry Bannan found Windass in space on the angle and the latter’s hit brought out the best of the former Preston keeper, who acrobatically turned the ball wide.
Reece James was next to try his luck, from just inside the penalty area, and again Ripley came out on top, tipping past the upright.
The screw turned tighter on Morecambe, with Wednesday motoring forward from all areas - Michael Ihiekwe ventured upfield to shoot inches off target with Ripley scrambling across his goal.
Bannan offered a similar effort just before half time and again Ripley was beaten but so too the far post.
The second period started as the first had ended, with the Owls in control, albeit without the advantage.
Bannan sought to change that five minutes in, sending a curler just over the bar following good work from Alex Mighten.
Smith forced Ripley into action once more with a shot on the turn before finally, on 70 minutes, the Shrimps shot-stopper was beaten.
Bannan floated an inviting corner right on to the head of the advancing Windass, who glanced into the far corner.
Three minutes later, the lead was so nearly doubled. Substitute Fisayo Dele-Bashiru cut inside from the left and unleashed a fierce goalbound drive that Ripley somehow kept out diving to his right.
But Ripley was powerless on 78 minutes as Wednesday went 2-0 up. The goal was identical in style to the first – only this time Byers took the honours, getting a firm head on another Bannan corner.
With the floodgates open, it was Smith’s turn to strike. With eight minutes to go, Windass feigned to shoot from the edge of the area but instead played in Smith, who crashed emphatically past Ripley to conclude a fine evening’s work for Wednesday.
Wednesday: Stockdale, Palmer, Ihiekwe, McGuiness, James (Dele-Bashiru 64), Byers, Bannan (Vaulks 84), Windass (Iorfa 84), Mighten (Johnson 64), Gregory (Paterson 84), Smith