Lucas Joao has scored five goals in 20 games for Sheffield Wednesday this season
Lucas Joao scored twice as Sheffield Wednesday eased past promotion hopefuls Derby for their first league victory under Jos Luhukay.
Jack Hunt controlled Adam Reach's cross and laid the ball back for Joao to fire in the opener.
Joao doubled the lead after the break, cutting in from the left and finding the bottom corner from 25 yards out.
Derby improved late on, but Matej Vydra shot wide and Joe Wildsmith denied Andreas Weimann as the hosts held on.
The victory was just the second in Sheffield Wednesday's past 20 attempts against Derby, who had previously conceded only two goals in 2018.
Luhukay's side are now nine points clear of the relegation zone, with an FA Cup fifth-round tie against Swansea and former boss Carlos Carvalhal to look forward to on Saturday.
Derby's disappointing night means they stay third in the Championship table, one point behind second-placed Aston Villa, having played one more game.
The Rams had far more possession than their opponents and took 18 shots, but they were punished for a lack of composure in front of goal, testing the impressive Wildsmith on only four occasions as they fell to a first league defeat since 28 November.
