Matthew Mills endured the most humiliating moment of his fledgling career as Sheffield Wednesday exacted sweet revenge over Colchester in comical fashion at Hillsborough.

The Manchester City defender, who joined the Essex club on loan in January, was under no pressure when he inexplicably headed Chris Brunt's corner into his own net in the 35th minute.

The 20-year-old's nightmare error left Mills' team-mates open-mouthed and raised plenty of laughter among Wednesday fans.

Unfortunately for the young centre-back, the gift cost his side any hope of victory after Frank Simek had opened the scoring in the 27th minute with his first goal of the season.

For Wednesday the three points went some way towards banishing the painful memory of a 4-0 thrashing at Layer Road last October.

Paul Sturrock paid for that result with his job but Brian Laws has since steadied the ship and this outcome encouraged hopes of a respectable finish top 10 finish.

Colchester are now winless in six games but their 53 points has already ensured another season in the second tier of English football.

While Colchester's players may have one eye on their summer holidays, Wednesday appear in mood to put their feet up just yet.

This win extended their unbeaten run to five games and it was striker Deon Burton who provided the early inspiration.

The former Derby forward sent over a delightful cross inside the opening thirty seconds and midfielder Kenny Lunt should have done better than slice his shot wide from eight yards.

Burton was at it again moments later as he showed nimble footwork to weave his way into the 18-yard box before dragging a shot narrowly wide.

Burton volleyed just past Dean Gerken's right post from 20 yards in the seventh minute but shortly before the half-hour mark Wednesday forged ahead.

Right-back and former Arsenal trainee Simek played a neat one-two with Marcus Tudgay which allowed him a clear run into the visitors' penalty area.

Simek steadied himself and planted a superb right-foot shot into the far corner to put the Owls ahead and Mills' gift from Brunt's corner soon had them 2-0 ahead.

Colchester offered little and Iain Turner was tested only once during the opening 45 minutes in which Wednesday were dominant.

The Owls continued to probe after the restart and in the 54th minute it took an expert piece of defending from George Elokobi to prevent them moving further ahead.

Tudgay reached the left-hand byline and whipped in a vicious low cross which reached Burton on the edge of the six-yard box.

Giant defender Elokobi stuck out a long leg to avert the danger and Wednesday came close again moments later when defender Richard Wood nodded Peter Gilbert's deep cross narrowly wide.

Brunt, who again showed flashes of the talent which has attracted admiring glances from a clutch of Premiership clubs, then saw his fine low strike rebound off a post in the closing stages.

Teams:

Sheff Wed Turner, Bullen, Gilbert (Spurr 84), Wood, Simek,Lunt, Whelan (Folly 77), Tudgay, Brunt, MacLean (Lekaj 86),Burton.

Subs Not Used: Adamson, Graham.

Booked: Brunt, Simek.

Goals: Simek 27, Mills 35 og.

Colchester Gerken, Brown, Watson (Guy 64), Elokobi,McLeod (Jackson 46), Mills, Duguid (Baldwin 45), Izzet,Ephraim, Iwelumo, Garcia.

Subs Not Used: Davison, Barker.

Booked: Ephraim, Izzet.

Att: 18,752

Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).