Relegation-threatened Luton secured a vital three points as they came from behind to see off Sheffield Wednesday in the battle of two chronically out-of-form teams at Kenilworth Road.

Neither side had won a Coca-Cola Championship game in 2007 coming into the game but Drew Talbot's goal after 63 minutes - against the club where he began his professional career - put four points between Town and the relegation zone.

Deon Burton headed Wednesday into the lead midway through the first half before Bjorn Runstrom and a Tommy Spurr own goal either side of half-time put the Hatters ahead.

Glenn Whelan's spectacular effort briefly evened things up before Talbot won it for Luton.

Jermaine Johnson, making his Owls debut having been suspended since his deadline day move from Bradford, did his best to make an immediate impact as he fired in an effort from the edge of the box but he could not find the target.

Five minutes later, Kenny Lunt had the chance to put Wednesday ahead.

The former Crewe midfielder latched onto Chris Brunt's cross, but his close-range strike was easily held by Marlon Beresford in the Hatters' goal.

After 25 minutes, the visitors did take the lead, converting in stylish fashion as Burton put the finishing touch to a raking attack.

Debutant Johnson was involved, feeding Frank Simek who crossed deep to Burton for the Jamaican to plant a firm header past Beresford.

The lead lasted all of eight minutes, as Runstrom marked his home debut with a goal.

It was Matthew Spring who sent the ball into a congested Wednesday penalty box, and the Swedish striker poked the ball home to equalise.

Talbot tested Mark Crossley from distance and at the other end Johnson fired over the crossbar as the teams reached the interval on level terms.

The second period opened in scrappy fashion, but sprung to life eight minutes in as Luton took the lead - albeit in fortuitous fashion.

Talbot was the man responsible - he proved too pacy for the Wednesday defence as he rampaged down the wing before sending the ball into the centre.

Owls defender Spurr lunged in and could only slice the ball into his own net.

Again the lead was short-lived.

Whelan, on his return from a hamstring injury, scored a spectacular leveller on the hour mark, cracking the ball into the net from 30 yards.

Beresford got his hands to it but Whelan's strike was simply too powerful.

Just three minutes later, Town were ahead again. Talbot received the ball from the influential Spring and took it around Crossley before dispatching it into the back of the net - his first goal for the club.

Wednesday sprayed in attempts on goal - Brunt and Simek both tested Beresford from distance, while Burton and substitute Marcus Tudgay fired over - but in truth they never looked like finding an equaliser.

Teams:

Luton Beresford, Foley, Heikkinen, Keane, Emanuel, Bell,Robinson, Spring, Morgan (Langley 46), Talbot (Boyd 67),Runstrom.

Subs Not Used: Brill, O'Leary, Barnett.

Goals: Runstrom 33, Spurr 54 og, Talbot 63.

Sheff Wed Crossley, Simek, Bullen, Watson, Spurr,Johnson (Graham 80), Lunt (Folly 68), Whelan, Brunt,MacLean (Tudgay 68), Burton.

Subs Not Used: Adamson, Coughlan.

Goals: Burton 25, Whelan 60.

Att: 8,011

Ref: I Williamson (Berkshire).