Leon Clarke grabbed a brace to earn strugglers Sheffield Wednesday a precious victory at Hillsborough and upset Leicester's push for promotion.
Clarke, who had already forced a save with a volley, opened the scoring with a crashing finish high into the net.
Leicester's Martin Waghorn forced a top save on the volley at the other end.
But Clarke added a second when he turned in Jermaine Johnson's cross to seal it, though it was not enough to lift the Owls out of the drop zone.
Wednesday remain in the bottom three after rivals Crystal Palace beat Sheffield United, but they are now just three points off 16th spot thanks to a deserved victory.
It could even have been more for the hosts had Leicester keeper Conrad Logan not spectacularly turned away Johnson's drive or Marcus Tudgay's late 30-yard volley not drifted inches wide.
Leicester also had their chances late in the game, Lloyd Dyer forcing a fine save from home keeper Lee Grant and Wayne Brown heading narrowly over the bar.
But as it was neither went in, and it made for a sorry return to Hillsborough for Foxes manager Nigel Pearson, who made 180 appearances for Wednesday during a seven-year stint at the club.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Alan Irvine: "It was a great response to what was a very poor performance last week.
"It was the kind of response we talked about all week and I was delighted at the way the lads went about their jobs. Leon has terrific ability and needs to show that consistently between now and the end of the season."
Leicester boss Nigel Pearson: "We didn't really cope with their style of play. It was a poor game on a poor pitch.
"Wednesday went back to basics and played a high-tempo game and we struggled to deal with that.
"We've played much better this season, although I didn't think we were awful."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 6 March 2010
Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Sheff Wed
2-0
Leicester
FT
(HT 1-0)
Clarke 6
Clarke 61
Sheff Wed
01 Grant
02 Spurr (Simek 46)
04 Purse
15 Beevers
32 Nolan
06 Miller
14 Potter yellow card
17 O'Connor
23 Johnson (Varney 69 yellow card)
07 Tudgay yellow card
18 Clarke (Soares 82)
Substitutes
22 O'Donnell,
20 Simek,
33 Gray,
08 McAllister,
30 Soares,
09 Jeffers,
19 Varney
Leicester
01 Weale (Logan 31)
04 Morrison
06 Brown
15 Berner yellow card (Howard 69)
25 Hobbs
08 Oakley
10 King
19 Wellens
11 Dyer
18 Waghorn
24 Gallagher (Kermorgant 69)
Substitutes
13 Logan,
33 Bruce,
07 Solano,
16 Adams,
09 Howard,
17 N'Guessan,
22 Kermorgant
Ref: GibbsAtt: 21,647
SHEFF WED
LEICESTER
Possession
Sheff Wed58%
Leicester42%
Attempts on target
Sheff Wed7
Leicester6
Attempts off target
Sheff Wed4
Leicester4
Corners
Sheff Wed7
Leicester9
Fouls
Sheff Wed17
Leicester9
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:27 The match has reached full-time.
90:00+3:52 Darren Purse fouled by Steve Howard, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Lee Grant.
90:00+3:16 Darren Purse gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steve Howard. Free kick taken by Wayne Brown.
90:00+1:07 Steve Howard takes a shot from 20 yards. Blocked by Darren Purse.
90:00+0:10 Marcus Tudgay produces a right-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal.
89:29 Corner taken by Martyn Waghorn from the left by-line.
88:09 The referee gives a free kick against Darren Potter for handball. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Martyn Waghorn.
87:45 Tommy Miller takes a shot. Save made by Martyn Waghorn.
86:49 Martyn Waghorn gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Grant. Lee Grant takes the free kick.
83:50 Marcus Tudgay has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
82:50 The referee blows for offside against Steve Howard. Indirect free kick taken by Lee Grant.
82:21 Steve Howard fouled by Darren Purse, the ref awards a free kick. Wayne Brown takes the direct free kick.
81:50 Substitution Tom Soares joins the action as a substitute, replacing Leon Clarke.
80:56 Yann Kermorgant has an effort direct from the free kick.
80:56 Booking Luke Varney shown a yellow card.
Correction - 80:02 Tommy Miller challenges Steve Howard unfairly and gives away a free kick.
80:02 Foul by Tommy Miller on Steve Howard, free kick awarded.
79:01 Darren Purse fouled by Steve Howard, the ref awards a free kick. Lee Grant takes the free kick.
78:05 Martyn Waghorn takes the inswinging corner, Marcus Tudgay makes a clearance.
76:35 Steve Howard gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Darren Potter. Lee Grant takes the free kick.
71:24 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Martyn Waghorn played to the near post, Wayne Brown has a header from close range and clears the crossbar.
70:38 Shot from just outside the box by Tommy Miller misses to the right of the target.
70:08 Unfair challenge on Lloyd Dyer by Luke Varney results in a free kick. Conrad Logan takes the direct free kick.
69:32 Substitution (Leicester) makes a substitution, with Steve Howard coming on for Bruno Berner.
Correction - 68:40 Substitution Steve Howard replaces Bruno Berner.
68:24 Substitution (Sheff Wed) makes a substitution, with Luke Varney coming on for Jermaine Johnson.
68:24 Substitution (Leicester) makes a substitution, with Yann Kermorgant coming on for Paul Gallagher.
67:45 The referee blows for offside. Lee Grant restarts play with the free kick.
66:52 Centre by Paul Gallagher.
66:26 Shot by Lloyd Dyer from 18 yards. Fantastic save by Lee Grant. Paul Gallagher takes a short corner.
66:06 The ball is crossed by Frank Simek, Jack Hobbs manages to make a clearance.
65:44 Tommy Miller sends in a cross, clearance by Michael Morrison.
65:16 Inswinging corner taken by Darren Potter.
64:40 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Eddie Nolan by Michael Morrison. Free kick taken by Lee Grant.
63:50 Corner taken by Darren Potter from the right by-line.
62:39 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Paul Gallagher, Marcus Tudgay manages to make a clearance.
60:47 Assist on the goal came from Jermaine Johnson.
60:47 GOAL - Leon Clarke:Sheff Wed 2 - 0 Leicester Leon Clarke finds the back of the net with a goal from close in low into the middle of the goal. Sheff Wed 2-0 Leicester.
59:47 Wayne Brown gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Leon Clarke. Free kick crossed right-footed by Darren Potter from right channel.
57:51 Effort on goal by Martyn Waghorn from 12 yards. Save by Lee Grant.
57:17 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Paul Gallagher from the left by-line, clearance by Eddie Nolan.
55:48 Foul by Leon Clarke on Michael Morrison, free kick awarded. Conrad Logan takes the free kick.
54:45 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Darren Potter, save made by Conrad Logan.
53:08 Darren Purse restarts play with the free kick.
53:08 Booking Bruno Berner receives a caution.
52:57 Bruno Berner concedes a free kick for a foul on Leon Clarke.
52:41 Centre by Paul Gallagher.
51:43 Richie Wellens fouled by Leon Clarke, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Michael Morrison.
50:21 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Richie Wellens by Eddie Nolan. Free kick crossed left-footed by Martyn Waghorn from right wing, Lee Grant makes a save.
49:27 A cross is delivered by Jermaine Johnson.
48:26 Shot from just outside the box by Jermaine Johnson misses to the left of the target.
47:44 Corner taken by Darren Potter from the left by-line.
46:38 Jermaine Johnson has an effort at goal. Save by Conrad Logan. Corner taken right-footed by Darren Potter from the left by-line, save by Conrad Logan.
45:01 The second half has started.
45:01 Substitution Frank Simek comes on in place of Tommy Spurr.
Half Time
45:00+6:29 The players leave the pitch at half time.
45:00+6:00 Effort on goal by Paul Gallagher from just inside the penalty area goes over the target.
45:00+5:07 The ball is swung over by Paul Gallagher, clearance by Eddie Nolan. Paul Gallagher takes a inswinging corner.
44:28 Tommy Spurr concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul Gallagher. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Paul Gallagher from right wing.
41:53 The ball is delivered by Lloyd Dyer.
41:23 Paul Gallagher takes the free kick.
41:23 Booking Booking for Marcus Tudgay for unsporting behaviour.
41:07 Andy King fouled by Marcus Tudgay, the ref awards a free kick.
39:59 Unfair challenge on Eddie Nolan by Matt Oakley results in a free kick. Darren Purse takes the free kick.
39:01 Wayne Brown takes the direct free kick.
39:01 Booking Darren Potter booked for dissent.
38:32 Free kick awarded for a foul by James O'Connor on Richie Wellens.
37:54 Bruno Berner delivers the ball, save by Lee Grant.
35:20 Foul by Darren Potter on Lloyd Dyer, free kick awarded. Richie Wellens takes the direct free kick.
33:24 Marcus Tudgay concedes a free kick for a foul on Richie Wellens. Wayne Brown takes the free kick.
32:18 James O'Connor gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Morrison. Paul Gallagher crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing.
Correction - 30:23 Substitution Conrad Logan on for Chris Weale.
29:27 Substitution Chris Weale goes off and Conrad Logan comes on.
25:49 The referee blows for offside against Leon Clarke. Free kick taken by Jack Hobbs.
24:46 Volleyed left-footed shot by Martyn Waghorn. Lee Grant makes a save. Corner taken by Paul Gallagher from the left by-line played to the near post.
24:21 Foul by Mark Beevers on Martyn Waghorn, free kick awarded. Wayne Brown takes the free kick.
23:39 Corner taken right-footed by Darren Potter, Chris Weale makes a save.
22:31 Shot from 25 yards from Jermaine Johnson. Save made by Chris Weale.
18:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy King by Tommy Miller. Direct free kick taken by Jack Hobbs.
Correction - 16:19 Handball by Marcus Tudgay. Chris Weale takes the direct free kick.
16:19 Handball decision goes against Marcus Tudgay. Free kick taken by Chris Weale.
15:40 Centre by Lloyd Dyer, Paul Gallagher has a header from close range and clears the crossbar.
14:19 Bruno Berner sends in a cross, Martyn Waghorn takes a shot. Comfortable save by Lee Grant.
13:23 Richie Wellens is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Lee Grant takes the direct free kick.
13:17 A cross is delivered by Paul Gallagher.
12:48 Lloyd Dyer delivers the ball, clearance by Tommy Spurr. Corner taken short by Paul Gallagher.
Correction - 10:31 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul Gallagher by Jermaine Johnson. Martyn Waghorn takes the free kick, Andy King sends in a cross, clearance made by Darren Potter.
10:31 Jermaine Johnson challenges Paul Gallagher unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed by Andy King, clearance by Darren Potter.
8:51 The ball is sent over by Tommy Spurr, clearance by Andy King.
7:37 Effort on goal by Jermaine Johnson from 25 yards. Save made by Chris Weale.
6:31 Foul by Leon Clarke on Wayne Brown, free kick awarded. Chris Weale restarts play with the free kick.
Correction - 5:23 GOAL - Leon Clarke:Sheff Wed 1 - 0 Leicester Leon Clarke finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty box high into the middle of the goal. Sheff Wed 1-0 Leicester.
5:23 GOAL - Leon Clarke:Sheff Wed 1 - 0 Leicester Leon Clarke scores a goal from deep inside the penalty area high into the middle of the goal. Sheff Wed 1-0 Leicester.
4:32 Free kick awarded for a foul by Andy King on Leon Clarke. Free kick crossed by Tommy Spurr.
3:26 The ball is sent over by Matt Oakley.
Correction - 0:40 Shot from 20 yards by Leon Clarke. Brilliant save by Chris Weale. Darren Potter takes a corner.
0:40 Leon Clarke has a volleyed shot. Brilliant save by Chris Weale. Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Darren Potter.
0:00 The referee gets the game underway.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?