Doncaster continued their march up the Coca-Cola Championship table and snatched the South Yorkshire bragging rights off Sheffield Wednesday thanks to Paul Heffernan's first-half header.

The Irish striker headed home James Coppinger's cross in the 31st minute to steer Doncaster further away from the bottom three with a sixth win in their last seven league matches.

Wednesday fans' joy following last week's historic derby win over Sheffield United was shortlived as they came across a side oozing in confidence, who have now collected 19 points from the last 21 available.

Rovers have refused to revert to plan B this season when they were getting no reward for their slick passing game, but a couple of wins has worked wonders for their self-belief and Sean O'Driscoll's side suddenly appear unstoppable.

They secured a fourth successive league win away from home at Blackpool last week and extended their unbeaten league run since Boxing Day against Wednesday in a manner more comfortable than the 1-0 scoreline suggests.

Leon Clarke headed against the crossbar for the Owls deep in the second half, but Brian Laws' side will be disappointed to follow up last weekend's tub-thumping win with this performance.

Both sides were unchanged, but O'Driscoll was the happier of the two managers at the interval, with the home side dominating and Heffernan heading them into a deserved lead.

Darren Potter blazed a long-range shot wide for Wednesday in the second minute before Rovers striker Heffernan saw his shot from the edge of the penalty area blocked by Owls skipper Richard Wood.

Doncaster midfielder Brian Stock headed Martin Wood's corner just over the crossbar and Owls defender Mark Beevers flung himself in the way of Coppinger's shot from the edge of the penalty area as O'Driscoll's side made an enterprising start.

Wednesday goalkeeper Lee Grant then punched Woods' free-kick clear, but was not so assured when fumbling Heffernan's angled drive soon after.

But Irishman Heffernan was not to be denied when he wriggled free of his marker six yards from goal to plant a firm header into Grant's top left-hand corner from Coppinger's excellent cross.

Stock let fly from 25 yards and was just off target and Coppinger had a shot blocked before Richie Wellens forced Grant into a full-stretch save with a thumping drive as Doncaster threatened to double their lead.

Rovers picked up where they had left off at the start of the second period, hogging possession again and looking the more cohesive side.

Stock and Woods fired in shots on goal, while Clarke and Tommy Spurr at last responded for the Owls with efforts from outside the penalty area.

Rovers should have added a second in the 61st minute when Woods blazed Coppinger's cross over the crossbar from just six yards.

O'Driscoll's side were almost made to pay just after the hour-mark when Wednesday at last woke from their slumber.

Jermaine Johnson whipped in his first cross of the match and Clarke headed against the crossbar.

The big striker then forced Neil Sullivan to fumble, firing in a shot from inside the area, but it was too little too late for Wednesday.

Teams:

Doncaster Sullivan, O'Connor, Mills, Hird, Chambers, Spicer, Stock, Wellens (Lockwood 90), Woods, Coppinger (Wilson 87), Heffernan (Price 86).

Subs Not Used: Byfield, Guy.

Booked: Wellens.

Goals: Heffernan 31.

Sheff Wed Grant, Buxton, Wood, Beevers, Spurr, Johnson,O'Connor, Potter, Gray, Clarke, Tudgay.

Subs Not Used: O'Donnell, Hinds, McAllister, Boden, Small.

Booked: O'Connor, Buxton.

Att: 14,823

Ref: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).