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To say Clarke has struggled at Hillsborough since his switch from Wolverhampton nearly two years ago is a massive under-statement.

He had only been with the Owls for six weeks when he was farmed out to Oldham on loan, then last season he was all set for a move to Southend United following a three-month loan with the Essex club until the deal collapsed.

Sent back to Sheffield, 23-year-old Clarke seemed to have his suitcases already packed this summer as he waited for a club to come knocking on manager Brian Laws's door.

The call never came and Clarke's attitude and fitness regime have not only impressed his team-mates and Laws, but even the Owls faithful.

With most of his Hillsborough strike partners injured over the last few weeks, Clarke has grabbed his chance with both hands and proved the difference in an end-to-end South Yorkshire derby on Saturday.

He had already twice gone close, first being denied by a reflex save from Rovers goalkeeper Neil Sullivan then volleying over the crossbar, before he netted what proved the only goal.

Winger Etienne Esajas whipped in a free-kick from the left flank and Clarke escaped the clutches of his marker to nip in and power a header home from six yards.

After scoring at Oakwell in another South Yorkshire derby just over two weeks ago, and netting the goal in the 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace seven days previously, it was Clarke's first Hillsborough goal of the season and gave Owls fans their first proper glimpse of the revitalised striker.

"I am delighted for Leon Clarke who has come in for a lot of criticism from the supporters over a season or so," said Laws.

"A week is a long time in football. He's got himself a couple of goals, his confidence is getting higher and he is justifying his place in the front line.

"Leon's got a lot of tools in the box, sometimes he just doesn't open it. I think he's even swallowed the key sometimes.

"But the fact is when he does get in the groove there is no doubt he can score a goal.

"He's powerful, he's strong, he's got pace. He has got all the attributes and when it does happen for him it comes in a rush and at the moment he's in that purple patch.

"Hopefully, he can now start to show that to everyone else."

What Doncaster manager Sean O'Driscoll would have given for a piece of clinical finishing like that which Clarke displayed.

The Rovers manager is sick of being told how good his team can play football, when he keeps ending up on the losing side.

Saturday was no different. The visitors could, and should, have netted three times in the first six minutes. Sam Hird's header was too close to Owls goalkeeper Lee Grant, Richie Wellens – back after five games out with a groin injury – saw Mark Beevers block his goal-bound effort before Matt Mills flashed a header wide.

It was criminal finishing for Rovers, and they carried on that theme after the break.

Hird was inches away from poking home Gareth Roberts's free-kick, John Spicer flashed a shot wide, Grant thwarted Wellens, but the worst miss was yet to come. This time it was James Hayter – a second-half substitute as O'Driscoll switched from a defensive 4-5-1 as he chased an equaliser – who ballooned the ball over from close range.

"It's been the story of our season so far," said a despondent O'Driscoll. "I don't want to dwell on it any more than that.

"I've been saying that for the past 11 weeks, but it is difficult to keep on saying that. We've maintained our level of performance which is pleasing, but the same old problems have occurred where we've failed to defend a set piece as well as creating chances and not being able to score them.

"So we've not been able to solve two major aspects of the game.

"We haven't defended. You can't give people free headers inside the six-yard box whether it is the Championship or a Sunday morning game."

It is painful reading for Rovers fans, but a seventh consecutive away defeat and 12th game without victory mean unless they start taking their chances quickly then a swift return to League One beckons. That would be criminal, for their football is deserving of the Championship stage.

Sheffield Wednesday: Grant, Buxton (McMahon 46), Wood, Beevers, Spurr, McAllister, Watson, O'Connor, Esajas (Johnson 66), Tudgay, Clarke (Sodje 76). Unused substitutes: Burton, Small.

Doncaster Rovers: Sullivan, O'Connor, Mills, Hird, Roberts, Wilson (Hayter 46), Spicer, Stock, Wellens, Woods (Guy 47), Price (Heffernan 84). Unused substitutes: Greer, Elliott.

Referee: L Mason (Lancashire