Sheffield Wednesday made a timely return to winning ways and climbed out of the Championship relegation zone with a 3-1 win over fellow strugglers Leicester in an incident-packed encounter at the Walkers Stadium.

In a game where both side's missed penalties, second-half goals from Steve Watson and Leon Clarke gave the Owls their first victory in nine matches and dealt a devastating blow to Leicester's survival chances.

Bartosz Slusarski struck on the stroke of half-time to cancel out Iain Hume's opening goal for the Foxes to ensure it was all-square at the break.

The result means Leicester will complete the campaign in need of something from their final game of the season - a tricky away clash at automatic promotion chasing Stoke.

Wednesday will host Norwich at Hillsborough knowing that they only need to equal the results of Leicester and Southampton to guarantee their safety.

It had looked like Hume's goal and a penalty save from Paul Henderson would see Leicester go into the break ahead.

Hume scored for the third consecutive match and took his tally for the season to 11 goals when he broke the deadlock in the ninth minute.

The Canadian latched on to a long clearance from Henderson and escaped the attentions of two Wednesday defenders before sliding the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot from inside the area.

Hume's goal was reward for the hosts' lively start to the game. Lee Grant was forced to tip Richard Stearman's shot from six yards out round the post in the third minute.

Deon Burton should have headed an immediate equaliser following a corner from Franck Songo'o, but the Jamaican guided his effort wide.

Only a fine parrying save from Grant prevented Matt Oakley from doubling Leicester's lead midway through the first half.

Wednesday were presented with a glorious chance to equalise in the 28th minute when Barry Hayles was adjudged to have handled a cross by Songo'o.

Referee Chris Foy had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot, but Burton's kick was saved by Henderson.

The visitors equalised when Slusarski, who is on loan from West Brom, drove a rising shot past Henderson from 12 yards out following a swift counter attack which was spearheaded by Songo'o.

Wednesday fortuitously edged ahead in the 53rd minute with the first real opportunity of the second half.

Neat build up play involving Ben Sahar and Songo'o created space for the Frenchman to shoot.

Songo'o mishit his effort and the ball broke to the feet of Watson who calmly steered a low shot beyond Henderson from 12-yards out.

Leicester almost equalised on the hour mark when David Bell's free-kick found Gareth McAuley inside the six-yard box, but the defender's header was tipped over the crossbar by Grant.

The hosts felt they should have been awarded a penalty when the resulting corner struck the hand of a Wednesday defender.

City did get a spot-kick seven minutes later when Jamie Clapham's header was handled by Jermaine Johnson, but Hume put his effort wide of the right-hand post.

Clarke confounded City's misery a minute from time when he lobbed the ball over Henderson from 25-yards out after he was put through by Johnson, prompting a mass exodus of home supporters.

Teams:

Leicester Henderson, Stearman, McAuley, Kisnorbo (N'Gotty 21), Clapham, Bell, Oakley, Wesolowski, Hayles (Fryatt 78), Hume (Campbell 78), Howard.

Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Mattock.

Booked: Hayles.

Goals: Hume 9.

Sheff Wed Grant, Bullen (Johnson 46), Wood, Beevers, Spurr, Watson, Bolder, Sahar (Clarke 84), Songo'o (Wallwork 73), Burton, Slusarski.

Subs Not Used: Esajas, Burch.

Booked: Wood, Johnson, Grant, Spurr, Clarke.

Goals: Slusarski 45, Watson 53, Clarke 89.

Att: 31,892

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).