Steve Bruce's men remained in top spot in the Championship after a smash and grab victory at Hillsborough against in-form Sheffield Wednesday this afternoon, further cementing their promotion credentials as the race to return to the Premiership reached its halfway point.

Skipper Stephen Clemence had given Blues a half-time lead, before a wonder strike from Gary McSheffrey doubled Blues' advantage, before Cameron Jerome's late goal completed the win.

The goals coupled with some heroic defending and top-class goalkeeping was the perfect pre-Christmas tonic for Blues as they showed real steel in Sheffield today.

Steve Bruce was forced into making one change from the side that had won the top of the table clash against Preston last Saturday.

Fabrice Muamba, who collected his fifth booking of the season in that game was suspended and replaced by Medhi Nafti.

Although club captain Damien Johnson was nearing full fitness, Bruce resisted the temptation to throw him straight back into the heat of battle.

It was the visitors that kicked off in front of a large and vocal crowd, with a decent contingent of Blues fans having made the journey.

The home side were quickly onto the offensive, with Lunt's free kick causing concern to Blues' rearguard before Sadler cleared the danger.

The Blues defender required treatment for a head injury but was soon back in the action.

Blues were being forced to defend and were finding it difficult to settle, with Upson being forced to clear hastily as Burton and Tudgay combined well inside the area.

Blues' first real attacking moment came on ten minutes, as Larsson tried to send Jerome clear but the through ball was intercepted.

It was certainly a shaky start by Blues, and Burton had the chance to put the home side ahead with a free header from 12 yards from a delightful cross by Simek.

As Blues broke quickly, Larsson combined well with Jerome, forcing Spurr into a reckless challenge to concede a free kick in a dangerous position.

Larsson and Bendtner worked a clever free kick only for referee Laws to spot an infringement.

It was beginning to look like Blues had weathered the early storm, although Taylor was forced into action as Brunt dispossessed Nafti and shot from 25 yards with Taylor doing well to dive to his left and parry to safety.

Blues were just beginning to put a few passes together as the half hour approached, with McSheffrey placing a through ball just out of Bendtner's reach, but the home side responded with Andrew's shot being deflected wide for a corner.

From the corner, Taylor was beaten to the ball by Tudgay and Nafti was forced to acrobatically clear Burton's header off the line.

Moments later, Taylor rescued Blues with an incredible reflex save from Burton, who wriggled free in the area and shot from six yards out.

Upson was on hand to scramble the ball off the line after Taylor's save and as the ball fell to Brunt 12 yards out, he fired well over.

McSheffrey became the first player to be cautioned, for a late tackle on Simek, but as half-time approached Blues took the lead against the run of play.

McSheffrey's clever flick set Jerome free into space and the hitman fired powerfully goalwards from 30 yards.

Keeper Mark Crossley was unable to hold the ball and could only parry it back out, where Blues captain Clemence was on hand to prod the ball into the corner of the net right footed from 10 yards in front of the travelling fans to give Blues a lead they barely deserved.

Just before the interval, Sheffield Wednesday made an enforced substitution, with Steve MacLean replacing the injured Wayne Andrews.

Half-time: Sheffield Wednesday 0 Blues 1

There were no further changes as the sides took the field for the second period and the home side kicked off looking to put Blues under more pressure and they had the first chance of the half when Bullen headed Simek's cross wide.

The home side again came close minutes later, when Tudgay stole in at the back post but fired inches wide.

Blues were again under pressure seconds later, as Sadler was forced into a hasty clearance from inside his own six-yard box as Blues scrambled the ball to safety.

At the other end, Bendtner's clever chip was just too high from Larsson's pass.

Blues were close to going further in front on 53 minutes, as Jerome broke free down the left.

The ball appeared to go out but Jerome pulled the ball back for Larsson, whose shot was deflected wide for a corner.

In the 55th minute, Bendtner was the second player booked for dissent.

Blues were beginning to look dangerous on the break as the home side pushed forward in search of the equaliser and had appeals for a penalty waved aside as McSheffrey was felled in the area after a clever run.

As the game reached the hour mark, the home side could not have come closer to equalising.

Bougherra reached the byline, pulled the ball back for Burton whose shot was saved from six yards out by Taylor, but the ball fell to Brunt who ballooned over an empty net.

Seconds later, Blues were two in front, with a piece of wizardry from McSheffrey.

He collected a ball out wide and made ground into the area.

From a seemingly impossible position, the winger showed unbelievably quick feet inside the area and drilled a low shot into the corner.

With 20 minutes left, Blues were denied what seemed a clear penalty, as Bendtner was brought down after a clever turn inside the penalty area.

Referee Laws turned Blues' appeals away, but Bendtner was lucky to stay on the field, particularly as he brought down Simek moments later to earn a long lecture.

The home side were soon back on the attack, as Brunt forced Kelly into conceding a corner, which Bullen headed towards goal only for Larsson to kick clear off the line as Blues again rode their luck.

Soon after, Larsson was booked for a crude challenge.

The home side made their final two substitutions after 76 minutes with Talbot and O'Brien replacing Burton and Folly.

They then carved out an excellent chance with MacLean volleying the ball straight at Taylor from eight yards out.

Soon after, Upson was cautioned for a foul on Tudgay, conceding a free kick 25 yards from goal.

From the free kick, Blues were lucky to stay two in front as they scrambled clear from under their own crossbar.

Then it was Blues' turn to press, as Bendtner evaded three challenges before being brought tumbling down by Bullen for a free kick 30 yards out.

As Blues prepared to take the kick, Wednesday's keeper Mark Crossley signalled to the bench he would have to be replaced due to a hamstring injury and he was replaced in goal by Bullen, meaning the home side were down to 10 men.

Bullen's first job was to face the free kick, and he was grateful when Jerome's effort went tamely wide.

Blues made a double substitution after 85 minutes when Bruce sent on Neil Danns and Neil Kilkenny to replace Sebastian Larsson and goalscorer Gary McSheffrey.

This was followed soon after by Campbell replacing Bendtner as Blues ran down the clock.

Deep into injury time, Jerome latched onto a weak back pass to smash Blues' third of the afternoon and even though he was booked for his celebrations, it failed to take the gloss off a marvellous afternoon for Bruce's men.

Full Time: Sheffield Wednesday 0 Blues 3

Blues: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Upson, Jaidi, Sadler, Larsson (Kilkenny 85),
Nafti, Clemence, McSheffrey (Danns 85), Jerome, Bendtner (Campbell 89)
Subs not used: Doyle, Martin Taylor
Bookings: McSheffrey 38, Bendtner 55, Larsson 76, Upson 80, Jerome 90
Goals: Clemence 42, McSheffrey 65, Jerome 90

Sheffield Wednesday: Crossley, Simek, Bullen, Bougherra, Spurr, Andrews (MacLean 44), Lunt, Folly (O'Brien 76), Brunt, Tudgay, Burton (Talbot 76)
Subs not used: Adamson, Coughlan
Bookings: None
Goals: None

Attendance: 26,083

Report by: Richard Bradley