Steve Garland reports

Snapshot: Cardiff were left to rue two disallowed goals, as they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Highlights of this match will be on Player at 16:45 on Sunday.

Goals from Etienne Esajas, Luke Varney and Leon Clarke were enough to give the Owl's their first win in three games as they punished Cardiff for starting slowly at the start of each half.

With just four minutes gone, the Bluebirds conceded another early goal as Etienne Esajas gave Wednesday the lead with a curling free-kick on the edge of the area.

Peter Whittingham equalised for the Bluebirds just ten minutes later as he converted from the spot, but having been denied a late equaliser at Villa on Wednesday night by the linesman's flag, the Bluebirds suffered the same fate again, twice as the linesman first denied Michael Chopra and then Mark Kennedy just before half time.

But City started the second half like they did the first and conceded early on; Luke Varney heading home an Etienne Esajas cross and following the dismissal of Joe Ledley for a second bookable offence, Esasjas claimed another assist as he set up substitute Leon Clarke for Wednesday's third.

A fourth could have came as Jermaine Johnson hit the post late on, but Wednesday had done enough to secure the three points and ensure that the Bluebirds would leave Hillsborough disappointed once again.

Chronological report: Cardiff City will have some painful memories of Hillsborough, but arrived back at the ground they saw last year's promotion dream end, looking to re-ignite this seasons challenge.

But starting well has been somewhat of a weak link for the Bluebirds in recent weeks and this game was no different as City got off to the worst possible start when Etienne Esajas put Wednesday ahead.

With just four minutes gone Mark Hudson was penalised for pulling back James O'Connor just outside the area. Dutchman Esajas stepped up to take the free kick and curled the ball, over the wall just clipping the inside of the post to beat keeper David Marshall and give Cardiff yet another early deficit to chase.

GOAL: Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Cardiff City (Etienne Esajas 4 mins)

The Owls had previously suffered two defeats on the bounce, but were looking confident going forward and soon had a chance to double their lead with ten minutes gone. Luke Varney was fed into space in the penalty area and hit a rasping effort towards goal that just clipped the upright. The beaten Marshall could only watch as the ball bounced off the post.

From that attack, Wednesday recycled the ball and crossed in from the right to the waiting Richard Wood in the area. Wood, who has already scored twice this season from defence, was left unmarked by Cardiff and headed over the bar when it seemed easier to hit the back of the net.

But just when it looked like Cardiff could have been out of the game, they were given a route back into the match by referee Michael Oliver, who pointed to the spot as keeper Lee Grant brought Michael Chopra down in the area.

Peter Whittingham, who had thread Chopra through with a superb through ball, stepped up to take the penalty and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net, to claim his fourth goal of the season and get City back on level terms.

GOAL: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Cardiff City (Peter Whittingham Pen 15 mins)

It was the quick response that was needed from the Bluebirds, who gained confidence from the goal and went in search of a second. It almost came five minutes later, as Whittingham whipped in a free kick from the right, finding the head of Mark Hudson in the box. The Cardiff captain rose well, but placed his strong headed effort just wide of the right hand post.

The Bluebirds were now clearly on top and with less than ten minutes to go, Michael Chopra looked to have given City the lead. A long up field kick by Marshall was misread by the Wednesday defence, allowing Chopra to have an effort on goal. With Lee Grant off his line, Chopra cheekily lobbed the Wednesday keeper, rippling the back of the net only to see the linesman's flag raised on the near side. The decision looked harsh as Chopra ran in from in front of the defender.

It was the second time in four days Cardiff had been denied by the linesman's flag but it was soon three when, with five minutes to go in the first half, Mark Kennedy tapped home a low Chris Burke cross, only to see it again chalked off by the linesman on the near side.

Having come from a goal behind, City would have been pleased with their comeback in the first half and went into the break level on terms with the Owls, but whether they should have been ahead was the strong debate during the interval.

Half Time: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Cardiff City

With the second half just minutes old, it looked like half time had come at just the wrong time for the Bluebirds, as they conceded their hold on the game and yet another early goal. Luke Varney put Sheffield Wednesday into the lead, with just two minutes of the second half gone.

Etienne Esajas, who had looked dangerous all game long, whipped in a low cross from the right, finding Luke Varney just outside the six yard box. The former Charlton man slipped his marker and nodded home into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

GOAL: Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Cardiff City (Luke Varney 47 mins)

Sheffield Wednesday substitution: Marcus Tudgay off- Leon Clarke on

Boosted by the goal, Wednesday regained their early confidence and pushed forward looking to put the game beyond doubt. They almost did as substitute Leon Clarke and goalscorer Varney combined, putting Clarke through one-on-one with keeper Marshall. Clarke steadied his nerve but could only smash the left hand post with his effort, when he really should have put the game beyond doubt.

City looked frustrated and having failed to create any chance for an equaliser, tempers overflowed as Joe Ledley was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

Joe picked up his second booking for a late lunge on Michael Gray, and had little to be aggrieved about but will argue that his first booking was undeserved when he looked to have cleanly won the ball from Esajas. Now down to ten men, an equaliser looked highly unlikely.

RED CARD: Joe Ledley (Second bookable offence, 72 mins)

Cardiff City Substitution: Chris Burke off - Josh Magennis on (75 mins)

The arrival of Magennis confirmed Dave Jones' intentions to go all out for the equaliser, despite the dismissal of Ledley. But now lacking numbers in defence Sheffield Wednesday made sure of the win through substitute Leon Clarke minutes later.

Esajas who had been a constant thorn in the side of the Bluebirds, claimed his second assist of the game as he crossed in from the right, cutting through the entire City defence, eventually falling to Leon Clarke who calmly guided the ball home to make sure of the three points for his side.

GOAL: Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 Cardiff City (Leon Clarke 79 mins)

Sheffield Wednesday Substitutions: Etienne Esajas, Luke Varney off - Akpo Sodje, Jermaine Johnson on (82 mins)

Now the game was beyond doubt, Wednesday launched an onslaught on the Cardiff goal, looking to pile the misery on Cardiff for a second time in four months. But a fourth goal somehow did not come despite the best efforts of Jermaine Johnson who hit the post late on.

But the Owls had done enough to claim their first win in three games and ensure Cardiff City would leave Hillsborough disappointed once again.

Teams:

Sheffield Wednesday: Lee Grant, Tommy Spurr, Lewis Buxton, Darren Purse, Marcus Tudgay (Leon Clarke 50), Etienne Esajas (Akpo Sodje 82), Darren Potter, Richard Wood, James O'Connor, Luke Varney (Jermaine Johnson 82), Michael Gray. Subs not used: Richard O'Donnell, Tommy Miller, Mark Beevers, Frank Simek.

Cardiff City: David Marshall, Mark Kennedy, Gavin Rae, Mark Hudson, Peter Whittingham, Michael Chopra, Jay Bothroyd, Chris Burke (Josh Magennis 75), Anthony Gerrard, Joe Ledley, Adam Matthews.Subs not used: Peter Enckelman, Gabor Gyepes, Tony Capaldi, Paul Quinn, Soloman Taiwo, Riccy Scimeca.

Referee: Mr Michael Oliver

Attendance: 18,959 (Hillsborough, Sheffield)