Sheffield Wednesday's post-Paul Jewell era started on an up as Carlton Palmer masterminded a vital victory against Tranmere that hauled the Owls out of the Division One relegation zone.

Palmer provided a virtuoso midfield performance that had the Hillsborough faithful saluting him once again on his return to the club following an SOS call from caretaker manager Peter Shreeves.

Efan Ekoku scored the winner on 78 minutes, after Shreeves' other new signing Trond Egil Soltvedt skipped through the Rovers defence and pulled the ball back for his striker.

Barely 24 hours on from Jewell's sacking and replacement by the ever willing Shreeves, Wednesday made a nervy opening.

After just four minutes captain Des Walker had to take the ball off Tranmere striker Andy Parkinson's boot as he prepared to shoot when almost through on goal.

Rovers centre-back Clint Hill also smacked a meaty header from a Jason Koumas corner just over the crossbar.

Wednesday goalkeeper Kevin Pressman had to make a fine, diving save from a 20-yard Paul Rideout drive on 19 minutes.

But the home side - cheered on by the vocal home 15,444 home crowd - got going when Palmer flicked a brilliant pass out to Alan Quinn on the left flank who sped clear of the defence only for his deep cross to elude the Wednesday strike force.

Hill became the first of a spate of bookings as the first half descended into a tit-for-tat string of fouls.

Gilles de Bilde almost bagged the opener when he flicked a header from Ekoku goalbound, before goalkeeper John Achterberg intervened.

Wednesday almost scored a sensational opener minutes after the break when Ekoku romped through the Tranmere midfield and delivered a delicious curling pass to Quinn on the left wing who cut inside but drifted his shot inches beyond the far post.

Des Hamilton hit back for John Aldridge's strugglers with a 50-yard run. He managed to hold off a firm challenge from Palmer but drilled his strike wide.

Captain Sean Flynn also nodded a Koumas corner wide with the final quarter-of-an-hour approaching.

Then came Wednesday's killer goal.

Soltvedt sliced through a static Rovers back line on the right side of the penalty area, delivered a perfect ball back to Ekoku - and the big forward gleefully hit the net.

Ekoku had two more half-chances late on. He was bundled down once and kept at bay as he closed on a dangerous Gerald Sibon cross deep into stoppage time.