A neat brace from Marcus Tudgay gave Sheffield Wednesday the clearest indication yet they have enough quality to survive in the Championship as they dispatched play-off hopefuls Wolves at Molineux.

Both sides came into the match with clear objectives - Wolves to continue their surge towards the top six and Wednesday to pull further away from their relegation rivals.

However, after just five minutes neat interplay between Tomasz Frankowski and Kenny Miller tore open the Wednesday defence before Scott Carson, who will be harbouring faint hopes of a World Cup spot following Chris Kirkland's latest injury, forced Miller wide from a dangerous position and calmed the threat.

The visitors were under pressure again soon after. Full-back John Hills, on as an early replacement for the injured Peter Gilbert, conceded a free-kick just outside the area and with Paul Ince hovering over the ball Lee Naylor hit a fierce low drive.

Once more Carson was equal to it, saving sharply to his right.

The home side surrendered the momentum as the half wore on and Deon Burton and Tudgay worked hard in attack for Wednesday, both taking turns to drop deep and set up attacks.

Naylor continued to make his presence felt, though, storming upfield and evading two tackles before sending his shot wide of the post after 35 minutes.

Carson further enhanced his reputation just before the whistle pulling off a superb double save to keep the scores level.

First the Liverpool stopper parried Rohan Ricketts' strong effort from outside the box and then, leaping acrobatically to his left, palmed away another Naylor effort that took a wicked deflection on its way to goal.

With just seconds left before the break Tudgay beat the home defence to Burton's cross and steered home to break the deadlock.

Both sides came out brightly after the restart with Carl Cort, on for Miller, narrowly missing a header six yards from goal and Hills failing to capitalise on a swift counter-attack for the visitors.

After 50 minutes scores were level. Wednesday skipper Graham Coughlan put the ball out for a corner after some nervous moments in the Owls' box before the impressive Naylor found Cort from the flag. The former Newcastle man connected this time to power beyond Carson from close-range.

Another Naylor corner almost had the same effect soon after but Lescott proved less clinical than Cort and hooked the ball high over the bar from five yards.

Frankowski, still looking for his first goal in a Wolves shirt, then spurned a great chance to give the hosts the lead, drawing a simple save from Carson with the net beckoning.

Burton soon put Wednesday back in front, stealing in front of Gabor Gyepes to go through on-goal and fire home. As the ball drifted in from the right, Burton was the first to react and he left Glenn Hoddle's back four leaden-footed as he struck.

Such predatory skills would have served Wolves well with Ince and Jeremie Aliadiere both producing weak attempts from scoring positions as they desperately chased a second equaliser.

Carson continued to stake his claim for man-of-the-match honours denying Cort with a brilliant save with 10 minutes left and repelling every ball that came his way to defend his side's hard-fought lead.

There was more to come for the travelling fans with Tudgay finishing off a classy move in the closing minutes.

The lively Burton left Lescott and Gyepes chasing shadows before back-heeling the ball to Tudgay who rolled the ball past Stefan Postma with precision.

Teams:

Wolverhampton Postma, Edwards (Ross 46), Lescott, Gyepes,Naylor (Kennedy 75), Davies, Ince, Ricketts, Miller (Cort 46),Frankowski, Aliadiere.

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Seol.

Booked: Edwards, Miller, Aliadiere.

Goals: Cort 50.

Sheff Wed Carson, Simek, Bischoff, Coughlan,Gilbert (Hills 9), Brunt (Bullen 84), Folly, Whelan, O'Brien,Burton, Tudgay.

Subs Not Used: MacLean, Best, McGovern.

Goals: Tudgay 45, Burton 67, Tudgay 86.

Att: 25,161

Ref: D Drysdale (Lincolnshire).