Burton Albion FC 3 - 1 Sheffield Wed.: Nigel Clough's brilliant Burton stun Sheffield Wednesday

Burton Albion produced a stunning performance to upset the form book and send Sheffield Wednesday to a 3-1 defeat at the Pirelli Stadium.

The normally miserly Owls defence had no answer to the Brewers' vibrant attack as Nigel Clough's side stormed to their first win in the Sky Bet Championship thanks to goals from Kyle McFadzean, Jackson Irvine and Lloyd Dyer.

Former Sheffield United defender McFadzean had Albion in front after seven minutes, sweeping home Matty Palmer's free-kick after Stuart Beavon had been brought down 25 yards out.

The lead lasted just five minutes as referee Neil Swarbrick spotted some shirt-pulling from McFadzean at a Wednesday corner and pointed to the spot. Gary Hooper stepped up and beat Jon McLaughlin from 12 yards despite the Albion goalkeeper going the right way.

Wednesday looked to take control of the contest but could not find their way through the Albion rearguard despite muted shouts for another penalty when John Mousinho sent Hooper sprawling with a well-timed challenge midway through the half.

Tom Naylor also had first-half shouts for a Burton spot-kick when he went to ground under a challenge from Sam Hutchinson but in stoppage time Albion capitalised on a defensive reshuffle for the visitors when Liam Palmer replaced skipper Jose Semedo, Irvine rising high to head home Mousinho's cross for his first goal in English football since joining from Ross County.

Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal sent on Fernando Forestieri for the second half after a difficult couple of days for the mercurial forward and Atdhe Nuhiu also came off the bench early in the second half to try to turn the game around.

Naylor was denied Albion's third goal after 63 minutes by an outstanding save from Keiren Westwood, tipping a rising goal-bound effort over the bar.

Burton keeper McLaughlin denied Steven Fletcher moments later as the visitors went in search of an equaliser.

Albion were temporarily down to 10 men after 70 minutes with McFadzean struggling on the halfway line after a full-blooded challenge, and Wednesday almost took full advantage with a swift counter attack, McLaughlin producing another excellent save to keep out Barry Bannan's long-range effort.

Dyer sealed victory for Albion with 13 minutes to go by stealing in at the back post when Chris O'Grady scuffed a shot that fell perfectly for the former Leicester winger to slam home his second of the season.

Albion had McLaughlin to thank for an excellent fingertip save to deny Nuhiu and O'Grady's header off the line from Fletcher late on allowed Albion to see out a famous victory.