Everton's relegation fate took a savage turn for the worse with a home disaster that leaves them still unsure of Premiership survival.

Two first-half goals from Mark Pembridge and a wonderful solo effort in injury time by Paolo Di Canio left Everton shattered and Wednesday themselves finally safe from the drop.

Everton now have an unenviable away game at Arsenal and a potentially fraught last-day home match with Coventry to save themselves after failing to overhaul a Wednesday side who had Andy Booth sent off in the second half.

The Merseysiders, just two points outside the bottom three, had Nick Barmby and Slaven Bilic back from international duty and youngster Graham Allen in at full-back for the suspended John O'Kane.

Boss Howard Kendall decided on a five-man back line for a game that Everton needed to win to help shake off their relegation fears.

But the move handed the initiative to Wednesday and space in midfield for Di Canio to weave his magic.

Everton had been inching their way to safety in recent weeks and although it had never been pretty it was certainly effective.

But when they needed to play with confidence and take the game to their opponents to establish superiority from the start, it seemed that tactically and mentally they were overcome with anxiety and nerves.

Wednesday wing-back Andy Hinchcliffe, back at the club he left for £3million in January, got a magnificent reception from his old fans and proceeded to play with the authority and skill that has won him a place in the England squad.

Hinchcliffe and the exceptional Di Canio, along with hard-working Graham Hyde, gave Wednesday a stranglehold in the first half which left Everton ragged and fearful of even wanting the ball at times.

The hosts were stunned after just five minutes when goalkeeper Kevin Pressman's long clearance was claimed by Di Canio and the Italian left Carl Tiler in his wake before crossing for Welshman Pembridge to head past exposed keeper Thomas Myhre.

Everton's play was too obvious. Everything was hurled in at Duncan Ferguson and although there were a few scary moments for Wednesday's defence when Mickael Madar and Allen both took advantage of occasional panic in the box to test Pressman, the Yorkshire side were generally comfortable.

And to turn a disaster into a full blown crisis for Everton they were two down five minutes from the break.

It was Pembridge again, this time drilling a low drive from the edge of the box that took two wicked deflections to wrong-foot Myhre, the Norwegian allowing the shot to squeeze through his hands.

Everton were now forced into all-out attack and sent on wingers John Oster and Peter Beagrie at the break for defenders Craig Short and teenager Allen. The second-half pressure was constant but just as predictable.

Wednesday duo Jim Magilton and Booth both got themselves booked for fouls - and the latter player's caution was to land him in even worse trouble late in the game.

Tiler somehow hooked one six-yard box shot over the bar after Ferguson and Madar had created the chance, but eventually Everton got one back.

Bilic, at the second attempt, hoisted a high ball into the box and Ferguson was there after 72 minutes to nod the ball wide of Pressman's left hand.

The barrage continued with Wednesday always dangerous on the break. One pass from Guy Whittingham was taken by Booth in his stride and the young striker lashed it into the net seconds after referee Graham Barber had blown for offside.

The red card was brandished for this 'offence' and Wednesday were down to 10 men, but still could have scored a third goal with minutes left when Myhre came out to smother Whittingham's shot from 10 yards.

And in injury time Di Canio, who had been the star performer, waltzed down the left to beat two players and stroll past Myhre to push home the third.

Teams

Everton: Myhre, Allen (Beagrie 46), Ball, Short (Oster 46), Bilic, Tiler (Watson 85), McCann, Hutchison, Ferguson, Madar, Barmby.

Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Farrelly.

Booked: Ball.

Goals: Ferguson 72.

Sheff Wed: Pressman, Atherton, Pembridge, Walker, Whittingham, Booth, Di Canio, Hyde (Quinn 90), Hinchcliffe, Thome, Magilton (Briscoe 59).

Subs Not Used: Clarke, Humphreys, Mayrleb.

Sent Off: Booth (82).

Booked: Magilton, Booth, Di Canio, Briscoe, Atherton.

Goals: Pembridge 6, 41, Di Canio 90.

Att: 35,497