Two goals from Nick Barmby secured back-to-back wins for Hull and condemned Sheffield Wednesday to only their third Coca-Cola Championship defeat under manager Brian Laws.

Veteran forward Barmby, who struck in each half, provided Hull with the cutting edge Wednesday lacked despite Deon Burton's second-half equaliser.

Barmby sprang the home side's offside trap in the eighth minute, firing home to stun the majority of a bumper Hillsborough crowd before a goal for each side in the second-half ensured Hull went home with the points.

Burton claimed the Owls' goal with a fine solo effort, shooting low from the edge of the penalty area after making space.

But Hull, languishing in the bottom three for most of the season, grabbed all three points thanks to a fortuitous second from Barmby, who latched onto a David Livermore free-kick that somehow evaded a static Wednesday defence.

Owls manager Brian Laws made two changes from the side that started in the 3-0 derby win at Barnsley with Yoann Folly and Burton in for Wayne Andrews and Steven MacLean.

Hull caretaker Phil Brown fielded the same XI that started in the 2-0 home win over Burnley.

Wednesday were first to threaten when Burton laid the ball off to Glenn Whelan 25 yards from goal and the midfielder's low, skimming shot was turned round the post at full stretch by Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill.

But just as Wednesday began to settle into their rhythm Andy Dawson's through ball caught the home defence flat-footed and Barmby kept his composure after racing clear to lift the ball over Mark Crossley from 12 yards to open the scoring.

Crossley then tipped Jon Parkin's looping header over the crossbar before the burly Hull striker saw his next shot whistle over the soon after.

Hull again went close on the break, but Craig Fagan shot straight at Crossley after being released into the penalty area by Barmby's clever pass.

Marcus Tudgay, set up by Whelan, fluffed a gilt-edged chance to fire Wednesday level when shooting straight at Myhill from inside the area.

Tudgay made way for MacLean during the interval and the latter went close shortly after the restart, but his right-footed shot - following Brunt's neat footwork - narrowly missed the target.

Burton hauled Wednesday level eight minutes into the second half, jinking inside the area to fire home low into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Hull substitute goalkeeper Matt Duke replaced Myhill in the 58th minute, but it was Crossley who found himself called into action next.

David Livermore's flighted free-kick caught the Owls defence off guard and bounced straight to Barmby, who get the faintest of touches to clip the ball beyond Crossley in the 64th minute.

Barmby was replaced by Stephen McPhee soon after, leaving the field to rapturous applause from the impressive travelling support.

Madjid Bougherra saw his goalbound volley blocked towards the end of the game but Hull held firm and went close to adding a third when Dean Marney flashed a low left-footed shot wide in the closing seconds.

Teams:

Sheff Wed Crossley, Simek, Bougherra, Bullen,Spurr (O'Brien 78), Lunt (Andrews 55), Folly, Whelan, Brunt,Tudgay (MacLean 46), Burton.

Subs Not Used: Adamson, Coughlan.

Booked: Brunt.

Goals: Burton 53.

Hull Myhill (Duke 59), France, Turner, Delaney, Dawson,Marney, Ashbee, Livermore, Barmby (McPhee 72),Parkin (Coles 89), Fagan.

Subs Not Used: Elliott, Forster.

Booked: Dawson, Fagan, Parkin.

Goals: Barmby 9, 65.

Att: 28,600

Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).