Second-half goals from Shefki Kuqi and Adam Proudlock earned Sheffield Wednesday their first away win of the season at Rotherham and moved the Owls off the bottom of the First Division.

The visitors were dominant throughout, with loan striker Lee Bradbury hitting the woodwork from 25 yards just before half-time.

Kuqi headed home Derek Geary's cross after 68 minutes, and Proudlock capped a fine display with a second in injury-time to leave Brighton at the foot of the table.

Rotherham made three changes from the side beaten by Millwall, with Richie Barker replacing Darren Byfield, Nick Daws coming in for Stewart Talbot, and Paul Warne replacing Andy Monkhouse.

Goalkeeper Kevin Pressman was a surprise inclusion for the Owls after recovering from a calf problem, but striker Gerald Sibon was missing from the squad. Ashley Westwood returned in place of Steven Haslam.

Kuqi, starting in the absence of Sibon, had the first chance of the game after five minutes as he connected well with Garry Monk's cross, but his header was saved by Mike Pollitt.

The inconsistent Millers, good on their travels but poor at Millmoor recently, responded with an early chance of their own, defender Martin McIntosh firing over from the edge of the box in the 11th minute.

Proudlock, on loan at Wednesday from Wolves, scored his first goal for the club in Saturday's cruel 3-2 defeat at Stoke, and he came close to adding to his tally with a powerful header that had Pollitt scrambling.

The home side were dealt a blow after 38 minutes as Mullin, who had earlier been booked for a late challenge on Westwood, limped out of the action to be replaced by Darren Garner.

Rotherham's afternoon almost took another turn for the worse before the break, as striker Bradbury, on loan from Portsmouth, came agonisingly close to giving the visitors the lead.

He controlled a hopeful punt upfield from Pressman, turned and unleashed a fierce shot which crashed back off the crossbar with Pollitt stranded.

Rotherham survived, however, and had the final chance of the half in added time as Chris Sedgwick tested Pressman with a right-foot shot.

Chris Turner brought on Alan Quinn in place of McLaren at the start of the second half, and the substitute was straight into the action.

He sent over a teasing free-kick which Westwood headed over the crossbar from six yards.

Wednesday finally took the lead their dominance deserved with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Geary's cross from the left found Finnish international Kuqi and he netted his sixth goal of the season with a header that squirmed past Pollitt.

Millers boss Ronnie Moore made a double substitution in an effort to get his side back into the game, with Mark Robins and Guy Branston coming on for Sedgwick and Paul Warne.

Turner, meanwhile was forced into making a change after 82 minutes, with Bradbury leaving the field following a clash of heads with a Rotherham defender.

His replacement, Leigh Bromby, sent a 25-yard drive whistling past the right-hand post with six minutes left and Kuqi came even closer with a powerful drive that was well-held by Pollitt as Wednesday continued to push forward.

Proudlock sealed victory at the death. He was set clear by Kuqi, and, after his first shot was superbly saved by Pollitt, he made no mistake with the rebound.

Teams

Rotherham: Pollitt, Hurst, Swailes, McIntosh, Bryan, Daws, Warne (Branston 76), Sedgwick (Robins 76), Mullin (Garner 38), Richard Barker, Lee.

Subs Not Used: Gray, Talbot.

Booked: Mullin, Garner, Hurst.

Sheff Wed: Pressman, Crane, Westwood, Monk, Geary, Johnston, Soltvedt, McLaren (Quinn 45), Proudlock, Kuqi, Bradbury (Bromby 83).

Subs Not Used: Stringer, Morrison, Haslam.

Booked: Crane.

Goals: Kuqi 68, Proudlock 90.

Att: 11,480

Ref: R Pearson (Co Durham).