"Speak to the others, they have done more than me today" was all that he wanted to say.

Clarke was entitled to keep his own counsel, and his modesty was admirable, but the young striker's career at Hillsborough is destined to be regarded with greater affection as a result of his contribution to the season at the Walkers Stadium.

When his audacious lob hit the back of the net in the final minute of the game against Leicester City, it transformed his status from 'zero' to 'hero' in an instant.

The goal was the icing on the cake for the Owls who secured a 3-1 victory which could yet make all the difference in this most dramatic of battles for Championship survival.

Previously a target for the the boo boys, shipped out on loan to Southend United, and injured for several weeks, Clarke had played no more than a minor role in a troubled season until that juncture.

But there was unbridled joy etched right across his face when he raced over to a corner flag to celebrate with the Wednesday supporters at the Walkers Stadium.

Although only on the field for six minutes, the goal – and the significance it carried – should erase the memories of the bad times.

Clarke was even booked for refusing to cut short his celebrations and was lucky to keep his shirt after throwing himself into the arms of the supporters on the front few rows.

It was only his third goal for the club since arriving 15 months ago from Wolves and his first since the opening day of the season.

But on an afternoon of pure drama it sparked the scenes that will linger longest in the minds of the travelling Wednesday supporters.

Manager Brian Laws admitted: "It was an important goal and it meant a hell of a lot to Leon.

"He has not had the easiest of seasons and he has taken a lot of stick from the supporters.

"But I think everyone can put that to one side and support him now."

The Owls had gone into this contest fresh from the disappointment of a potentially-fatal defeat at Blackpool.

Where it had been wet and windy on the coast seven days earlier, it was hot and sunny in the Midlands. Just as the weather improves, so now has the mood of a club that might easily have drowned this season under the high tides that engulfed it.

For a time, however, it had looked as if everything that could go wrong would go wrong against Leicester.

There were just nine minutes on the clock when defender Lee Bullen, back in the side after injury, failed to get enough weight on a back header to goalkeeper Lee Grant and Leicester striker Iain Hume nipped in to score. Owls striker Deon Burton then wasted a golden opportunity to equalise when his penalty, awarded for a handball by Barry Hayles, was saved by Leicester goalkeeper Paul Henderson.

Club chaplain Peter Allen was a notable addition to the Owls support staff for this trip and it looked they would need 'divine intervention' when defender Mark Beevers appeared to foul Hume in the area.

Amazingly, perhaps even miraculously, referee Chris Foy failed to award Leicester a penalty.

By half-time, Polish international Bartsoz Slusarski had produced a neat finish to put the Owls back on level terms.

Fortune favours the brave and the Owls defended like lions in the second half after taking the lead through Steve Watson.

Even the forwards showed a willingness to put their bodies on the line although veteran defender Watson was the true colossus.

Owls manager Laws had attempted to lull Leicester into a false sense of security by starting with a 4-4-2 but quickly switched to a 4-3-3.

Franck Songo'o played in the middle rather than wide and Watson protected the back four.

When substitute Jermaine Johnson, who had replaced the injured Bullen, controlled the ball with his arm it could have tipped the scales back in Leicester's favour.

Hume's subsequent penalty was so wide of the mark, however, it would have cleared even Ronaldo's conscience.

The Owls moved two points clear of the relegation zone and climbed above both Leicester and Southampton, who play tonight against West Bromwich Albion.

Midfielder Steve Watson now plans to call up his former team-mates at the Hawthorns to stress the need for a favour.

"I have never been a great fan of depending on other people but its got to that stage I'm afraid," he said.

"I'll be on the phone to every West Bromwich Albion player I know saying 'Come on, you can win the league on Monday night.'

Midfielder Graham Kavanagh missed the game with a hamstring problem but Laws says the veteran play-maker will be available for the Norwich game this weekend.