Sheffield Wednesday extended their unbeaten start to the season to 5 games in all competitions on Saturday as they won 3-2 at Middlesbrough.
The Owls had never beaten Boro in their 7 previous visits to the Riverside Stadium since the home side moved ground in the mid-nineties. It looked as though this would be a comfortable victory when they went 3-0 up in around an hour and although 2 late penalties reduced the arrears the result was well deserved.
Wednesday traveled without injured midfielder Kieran Lee and were dealt a further blow when Sam Hutchinson failed a fitness test so Jose Semedo and Giles Coke formed the midfield partnership.
Atdhe Nuhiu gave the Owls the lead just after the 5-minute mark, Nuhiu forcing the ball home from close range after a Maghoma corner had been headed back across the danger zone.
Leadbitter went close to bringing the home side level when his free kick struck the bar before Stevie May almost opened his Owls account midway through the half as his glancing effort was tipped onto the post.
The Scottish striker didn't have to wait too much longer for his first Wednesday goal however as shortly before half-time a Nuhiu caused more problems from a free-kick into the box and May was on hand to lob the ball into the Boro goal.
Little more than 10 minutes of the second half had passed when Nuhiu headed in from Maghoma's free kick to make it 3-0 and underline Wednesday's dominance in the game to that point.
Kike was denied a goal by a smart save from Westwood and at the other end Maguire went close to adding a 4th. With 20 minutes to go Nuhiu was replaced by Madine and within a couple of minutes Middlesbrough were handed an unlikely lifeline when Loovens fouled Kike in the penalty area and Leadbitter reduced the arrears from the spot.
Coke went close to adding gloss to te scoreline and Lees almost put through his own goal before the home side were awarded what seemed a very dubious penalty for an alleged handball in injury time. Leadbitter once again scored the penalty but despite making hard-work of what had been a very professional performance for the most part, the Owls held on to claim 3 points.
The victory moved Wednesday above Boro, who had also made a good start to the new season. Stuart Gray's side travel to Premier League side Burnley in the League Cup in midweek ahead of welcoming early Championship pace setters Nottingham Forest to Hillsborough next Saturday lunchtime in front of the SKY Sports live TV cameras.