Two-goal Kenwyne Jones stole the limelight from Gareth Bale as Southampton edged past Sheffield Wednesday to enhance their Coca-Cola Championship promotion credentials.

Saints had already received a massive shot in the arm earlier in the day when Bale declared himself committed to the club until the end of the season at least.

The 17-year-old Wales international rejected the chance to join Tottenham, who had a £10million bid accepted by Southampton last week, and seems certain to join Manchester United in the summer.

The influential left-back was named in Saints' starting line-up and was soon celebrating as Jones struck in the seventh minute to put George Burley's men in control.

Steve MacLean levelled for Wednesday in the 52nd minute, but six minutes later Jones claimed his second.

The victory turns up the heat on Southampton's promotion rivals, Birmingham and Preston, who both suffered surprise defeats on Tuesday night.

Burley's men are now one point behind those two and they wasted no time in going in pursuit of victory against the Owls.

They went ahead when a delightful back-heel by Grzegorz Rasiak on the right flank engineered the space for Jones to stroke a low right-footed shot into the bottom corner.

It was his 10th goal of the season and the fourth time in as many games that he had scored against the club where he enjoyed such a successful loan spell two years ago.

Saints knew victory against Wednesday would increase the pressure on the teams directly above them in the Championship play-off zone.

The early goal allowed them to settle, and Jhon Viafara came close to doubling their lead when he fired a shot narrowly wide in the 16th minute.

A cynical handball by Glenn Whelan gave Saints another opportunity to extend their lead 10 minutes before the break.

Chris Baird flighted in the free-kick from inside his own half, and the ball fell to Rudi Skacel 30 yards from goal.The Czech midfielder produced a delightful left-footed strike, but the ball flew inches wide.

Wednesday threatened to level within two minutes of the restart when Lee Bullen greeted Whelan's free-kick with a firm header which drew a smart stop from Kelvin Davis.

In the 50th minute, Jones almost claimed his second with a fierce shot which forced Wednesday goalkeeper Mark Crossley into an equally astute save.

However, Crossley's parry fell straight to Rasiak but the Polish striker blazed wastefully over the crossbar.

In the 52nd minute, Wednesday hit back when Marcus Tudgay crossed and MacLean buried a right-foot shot into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Parity was restored for six minutes when Saints hit back through Jones, who met a superb cross from Baird and planted a firm header past Crossley.

Wednesday mounted another spirited response, and Chris Brunt tested Davis from 30 yards before Wade Small hit a shot narrowly wide.

Bradley Wright-Phillips was denied by Crossley but there was still time for Davis to produce a match-winning save in the closing stages from Tudgay's fierce shot.

Teams

Southampton Davis, Baird, Lundekvam, Powell (Idiakez 57),Bale, Viafara, Wright, Pele, Skacel (McGoldrick 90), Rasiak,Jones (Wright-Phillips 73).

Subs Not Used: Bialkowski, Ostlund.

Goals: Jones 7, 58.

Sheff Wed Crossley, Simek, Bullen, Beevers, Spurr,Small (Clarke 70), Folly, Whelan, Brunt, Tudgay,MacLean (Burton 76).

Subs Not Used: Adamson, Lunt, Graham.

Booked: Tudgay.

Goals: MacLean 52.

Att: 20,230

Ref: M Russell (Hertfordshire).