Former Sheffield Wednesday striker Richard Cresswell grabbed a brace against his old side as promotion-chasing Leeds comfortably disposed of their in-form Yorkshire rivals.

Last week's 2-1 defeat at Brighton shunted Kevin Blackwell's side off course in the race for a possible top-two finish.

But after skipper Paul Butler finally broke Wednesday's spirited resistance, Cresswell took centre stage with a predatory double to put his side right back on track.

Paul Sturrock's side beat Leeds 1-0 at Hillsborough last September and travelled up the M1 buoyed by a run of three successive Championship victories.

The Owls were aiming to win four games on the trot for the first time in nine years and complete a first League double over Leeds since the 1959-60 season.

But although Leeds had been forced to cope the burden of a marathon midweek tussle with Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup, it was they who began the brighter.

Barely 90 seconds had passed before they fashioned the first goalscoring opportunity as Sean Gregan's low shot was cleared off the line by John Hills following Eddie Lewis' corner from the left.

Leeds began to enjoy the majority of possession but struggled to penetrate Wednesday's 4-5-1 formation, which saw Deon Burton left to plough a lone furrow up front.

By contrast, Leeds boss Blackwell paired Robbie Blake and Cresswell together to spearhead the home attack.

And it was Cresswell's delightful footwork which carved out another opportunity for his side after 17 minutes.

The 28-year-old, who spent 18 months at Hillsborough after joining the Owls for £950,000 from York in March 1999, weaved his way past a clutch of Wednesday defenders deep in enemy territory.

The ball was deflected out to midweek goal hero Gary Kelly and his lofted cross found Jonathon Douglas, who could only plant a header straight into Nicky Weaver's midriff.

Wednesday remained a threat on the counter-attack, though, with the accuracy and power of Chris Brunt's left foot offering their best hope of a breakthrough.

But the momentum remained largely with Leeds as the interval approached, with Kelly providing a steady stream of crosses from the right flank.

None of his team-mates were able to profit, however, and after one such delivery found Lewis lurking on the far edge of the penalty box, the American winger failed to hit the target with a scuffed right-foot shot.

Gregan volleyed a Kelly free-kick over from 12 yards as Wednesday went in at the break having laid the platform for a hard-earned away point.

Leeds struggled to impose themselves on proceedings after the break and Blackwell replaced the ineffective Blake with David Healy shortly after the hour mark.

But Wednesday immediately tore upfield and orchestrated an attack which culminated in Owls skipper Graham Coughlan seeing his header cleared off the line.

And Leeds took advantage as Butler headed home Douglas' cross before Cresswell nodded home Kelly's corner shortly after to effectively secure Leeds the points.

There was no way back for Wednesday and Cresswell rubbed salt in the wounds of his former employers in the closing stages with a clinical finish from Simon Walton's low left-wing cross.

Teams

Leeds Sullivan, Kelly, Butler, Gregan, Crainey, Miller (Walton 83), Douglas, Derry, Lewis, Cresswell, Blake (Healy 62).

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Pugh, Einarsson.

Booked: Gregan.

Goals: Butler 70, Cresswell 82, 90.

Sheff Wed Weaver, Simek, Coughlan, Wood, Gilbert, Brunt, Whelan (Partridge 76), O'Brien, Hills, Burton, Tudgay (Corr 76).

Subs Not Used: Lucas, Bullen, Collins.

Booked: Gilbert, Simek.

Att: 27,843

Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).