The nine months of delays and seemingly broken promises have done no one any favours with the Owls having been a club in limbo since news of interest from a Geoff Sheard-fronted consortium first emerged.

Throughout all the uncertainty, however, one constant has remained and that has been the ability of Brian Laws to coax decent results out of a sometimes paper-thin squad.

And although last night's victory over Nottingham Forest may not have been the most convincing, it taking a deflected goal by Etienne Esajas and three world-class saves by man of the match Lee Grant to beat the bottom club, the three points still sealed Wednesday's best start to a season since being relegated from the Premier League in 2000.

It also ensured Laws maintained his 100 per cent winning record against the club he made more than 200 appearances for under Brian Clough.

After a mediocre first half where quality had been at a premium, the game sprang into life three minutes after the restart when Esajas collected the ball on the edge of the area.

The Dutch wideman then hit a first-time shot that took a wicked deflection off Ian Breckin to loop beyond the despairing dive of Paul Smith in the Forest goal.

Colin Calderwood's men, without a point on their travels since winning promotion from League One last May, responded immediately when Nathan Tyson shot straight at Grant.

That was the prelude to an amazing double save from the Owls goalkeeper that denied, first, Joel Lynch and then, from the resulting corner, veteran striker Andy Cole. His two acrobatic efforts deservedly drew applause from the crowd of 20,823 who, midway through the half, were left scratching their heads as to how Deon Burton had managed to divert Tony McMahon's cross wide from almost on the goalline.

Forest also had a penalty appear turned down when Tyson's pace drew a tackle from substitute Mark Beevers that was a fraction late, referee Andy D'Urso adjudging it to have taken place just outside the area.

Wednesday, clearly realising their precarious lead was in danger, roared back and after Tudgay had picked out James O'Connor, the former Burnley midfielder brought a fine reflex save from Smith.

In contrast to the free-flowing action that followed, the first half had been a scrappy affair with too many misplaced passes and players taking the wrong option.

Both sides did get themselves into promising situations, though more often than not it was through luck rather than judgment with Forest defender Lynch almost latching on to a miscued clearance in the Wednesday area only to be blocked at the last.

The Owls were marginally more of an attacking threat in the disjointed opening 45 minutes with Tudgay unfortunate to see his flick-on from Tommy Spurr's throw-in roll across the six-yard area and out for a goal-kick without a team-mate able to take advantage.

Tudgay also made a weaving run on 11 minutes that ended with the Wednesday striker tumbling to the ground under pressure from Breckin only for the referee to wave play on.

Seven minutes before the break, Forest goalkeeper Paul Smith was at least forced into a save to deny Sean McAllister's flicked header although it was nothing more than a routine effort down towards his left-hand post.

There was still time for one genuine instance of quality before the break, but even then McMahon's wonderfully flighted cross from the right flank could not be converted by Burton who somehow headed wide when unmarked six yards out.

It was a huge let-off for the visitors who improved hugely after the interval but were still unable to find their way through a dogged Wednesday defence.



Sheffield Wednesday: Grant; McMahon, Wood (Beevers 65), Gilbert, Spurr; Esajas, O'Connor, McAllister, Small (Jeffers 76); Burton, Tudgay. Unused substitutes: O'Donnell, Smith, Clarke.

Nottingham Forest: Smith; Wilson, Breckin, Lynch (Moussi 88), Bennett (Martin 69); Chambers (McCleary 69), Cohen, Thornhill, Perch; Tyson, Cole. Unused substitutes: Davies, Sinclair.

Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).