Danny Wilson's Owls avenged their Boxing Day defeat by Leicester with a
polished performance.
Wim Jonk and Benito Carbone were on target and Wednesday could have had more
at Filbert Street.
But it was a clanger from Foxes keeper Kasey Keller which gifted the Owls
their crucial first goal.
The American international spilled a tame Andy Booth shot three minutes into
the second half which allowed Jonk to nod home the simplest of goals.
The mistake ruined Keller's superb first-half performance, which had kept
Wednesday at bay.
Carbone sealed the game with another fine strike to leave Leicester without a
win in the Premiership since their 1-0 victory at Hillsborough.
Despite poor recent league form, O'Neill chose to start without £2million
signing Arnar Gunnlaugsson. The Icelander, signed from Bolton on the eve of the
game, was on the bench.
The home team were sharpest in the early part of the game. Steve Guppy and
Andy Impey both enjoyed success down the flanks and Emile Heskey beat Pavel
Srnicek to a long bouncing ball but his brave header bounced to safety.
Muzzy Izzet lit up a scrappy opening, littered with mistakes, with a wonderful
run through the heart of the Owls defence.
He linked up with Heskey and carved open the visitors with a mazy dribble. He
went past everyone, including Srnicek, but the run forced him wide and Andy
Hinchcliffe had scampered back to bundle the ball from the goal-line.
Wednesday then clicked into gear, after half an hour, with Carbone producing
magical moments from his box of tricks.
He started and almost finished the best move of the first half which produced
a reflex save from Keller.
The little Italian found Jonk with a cute flick in midfield and headed for the
penalty area as the Dutchman released Petter Rudi down the left. Rudi's cross
was met by Carbone but his volley was tipped over the bar by the American.
The City keeper was back in action before the interval to deny Booth from
close-range.
Hinchcliffe's cross was touched on by Rudi and Booth toe-poked it goalward.
Keller saved with his body and then watched anxiously as the ball ricocheted off
Booth and over the bar.
The Leicester keeper, who was outstanding in his team's goalless draw
atMiddlesbrough last week, undid all his good first-half work, however, with his
blunder after the break.
Booth should have done better with his shot after he was picked out well by
Niclas Alexandersson. His effort lacked power but Keller spilled the ball
straight onto the head of Jonk who gratefully nodded the ball over the line.
Leicester responded positively. Impey hit the by-line and crossed perfectly
for Matt Elliott but the defender with a goalscoring knack misdirected his
header and Wednesday escaped.
The Owls defence were forced to endure further pressure as O'Neill threw
Gunnlaugsson on for his debut in the 57th minute but he couldn't save the game
for his new club.
The superb Emerson Thome and Des Walker stifled the Leicester attacks with a
solid defensive barrier and the Owls looked ever more dangerous on the break.
Wilson's team ought to have turned some excellent situations into goals as
they carved open the Leicester defence.
Alexandersson shot behind from a tight angle, Booth wasted a golden chance
with a header and Jonk drove over the bar when he should have hit the target.
But Carbone made no mistake 12 minutes from time. Alexandersson's pass from
the right was dummied by Jonk and the Italian crashed home his seventh goal of
the season with a first-time shot.
Teams:
Leicester: Keller, Ullathorne, Walsh (Sinclair 56),
Taggart (Gunnlaugsson 56), Elliott, Guppy, Impey (Zagorakis 76),
Lennon, Izzet, Cottee, Heskey.
Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Kaamark.
Booked: Taggart.
Sheff Wed: Srnicek, Atherton, Walker, Thome, Hinchcliffe,
Alexandersson, Jonk, Rudi, Sonner, Booth (Humphreys 85), Carbone.
Subs Not Used: Pressman, Newsome, Briscoe, Stefanovic.
Goals: Jonk 48, Carbone 78.
Att: 20,113
Ref: G Willard (Worthing).
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