Blackpool 1 Sheffield Wednesday 2: Wednesday end long wait for successive wins

Midfielder Soares, playing the penultimate game of his loan deal from Stoke City, struck after 71 minutes before substitute Clarke wrapped things up with a header eight minutes from time.

Although Blackpool captain Charlie Adam pulled one back for Blackpool deep into stoppage time it was too late to deny the Owls victory.

Irvine, who joined Wednesday after being sacked by one of Blackpool's arch rivals Preston North End, had opened his reign with a win over Barnsley in a South Yorkshire derby.

But the Owls had not won back-to-back games in the league since August and had gone three months without a victory before his appointment as full-time successor to Brian Laws.

In his programme notes, Blackpool's Ian Holloway referred to the possibility of the Owls arriving at Bloomfield Road without a manager. The visitors may have been firing managers at an alarming rate over the last decade but it was not a case of mischief-making from the home camp. Quite simply, the fixture had been moved from December 28 due to the weather and the programme had not been updated.

Of course, as a former Preston manager, Irvine – who joined the Owls 12 days ago – took stick from the home supporters who loathe just about anything associated with their nearby Lancashire rivals.

Irvine had named an unchanged Wednesday side but striker Jermaine Johnson was an early casualty after pulling up with a hamstring strain.

Johnson had gone close to putting the Owls ahead moments earlier after a lucky escape when Blackpool's Ian Evatt smacked a shot against the woodwork .

The ball was hacked away to the speedy Jamaican who surged into the Blackpool penalty area before shooting narrowly wide. Blackpool are far from pushovers under Holloway and will be contenders for play-off qualification this season despite this defeat.

Starting with three forwards and a fourth, ex-Barnsley man Daniel Nardiello, in the hole, the Seasiders posed a lively attacking threat.

However, after just two games under Irvine, the Owls' defence is already starting to show renewed confidence and solidity at the back.

One of Irvine's first moves has been to restore Lewis Buxton at right-back in preference to Frank Simek and the former Stoke City player has responded well so far.

Over on the left, defender Tommy Spurr is now less exposed thanks to former England international Michael Gray being switched from the right while, in the centre, Mark Beevers is rediscovering lost confidence.

The Owls started the second half on the offensive and Marcus Tudgay, who had fired wide before the break, was unlucky not to break the deadlock.

After chesting down a ball into the area, the striker showed a neat touch to swivel and shoot but the ball bounced back off the foot of a post.

As the second half wore on, Blackpool were the side asking the most questions but they were rocked when Soares found the net with a shot from the edge of the box. The Owls had spent long periods defending crosses into the penalty box and goalkeeper Lee Grant also made a priceless one-handed stop to deny substitute Gary Taylor-Fletcher an equaliser shortly before Clarke rose to head home a free-kick from Darren Potter.

Both goals may have been against the run of play but they warmed the hearts of the 1,000 travelling supporters braving the cold winds on the Fylde coast .

Blackpool's Scottish midfielder Adam, a summer target for Barnsley, was arguably the best player on the field, showing both tenacity in the tackle and the ability to get the ball moving. His 20-yard consolation goal at the end underlined his quality.

The Owls, meanwhile, allowed the backroom trio of Tom Little, Tim Henderson and Billy Mercer to leave yesterday to join former manager Brian Laws at Burnley

Irvine has appointed Andy Rhodes, his former goalkeeping coach at Preston, as Mercer's replacement and there will be further additions to his staff in the near future.

Blackpool: Rachubka; Eardley, Baptiste, Evatt, Crainey; Adam, Vaughan (Bannan 73); Nardiello (Southern 59); Euell (Taylor-Fletcher 59), Burgess, Ormerod. Unused substitutes: Gilks, Martin, Edwards, Butler.

Sheffield Wednesday: Grant; Buxton, Purse, Beevers, Spurr (Hinds 90); Soares, Potter, O'Connor, Gray; Johnson (Clarke 24), Tudgay. Unused substitutes: Jameson, McAllister, Sodje, Esajas, Simek.

Referee: AR Hall (West Midlands).