Richard Stearman's first league goal this season was not enough to prevent Leicester City from going down 2-1 at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday afternoon.
The 18-year-old defender's scissor-kick handed the visitors the early initiative but first-half goals from Chris Brunt and then captain Graham Coughlan ensured it was the Owls who went home happy.
Stearman was forced to withdraw from the Championship clash at half-time due to injury but despite City's best efforts, which also saw the introduction of recent new signing Matty Fryatt, they were unable to force their way back into the encounter.
And with Brighton overcoming Leeds 2-1 at the Withdean Stadium, the Foxes dropped into the bottom three for the first time this season.
City were immediately on the attack and Stephen Hughes forced a corner inside the opening minute but the set-piece from the right-hand side came to nothing.
But the visitors did not have to wait long before opening the scoring through teenager Stearman on seven minutes.
After Gareth Williams' long range shot had been deflected behind for a corner, Nils-Eric Johansson saw his header blocked on the line.
But the loose ball fell to Stearman on the edge of the six-yard box and he made no mistake with an exquisite bicycle-kick into the back of the net past Nicky Weaver.
Rab Douglas was called into action in the 11th minute when he got well to deny captain Graham Coughlan from only yards out before Elvis Hammond saw his effort on the turn turned around the post for another corner.
Douglas gathered well from Burton O'Brian's deflected shot on 20 minutes as the Owls pushed forward in search of the equaliser.
Williams' free-kick was headed behind by Coughlan for a corner five minutes later but the Foxes were this time unable to make it count.
Weaver's mis-kick almost fell at the feet of Williams in the 29th minute but it was the home side who equalised two minutes later.
Chris Brunt cut in from the right-hand side before unleashing a thunderous drive from 25-yards which flew past a hapless Douglas and into the back of the net for the leveller.
Marcus Tudgay's deep cross from the left nearly found strike partner Deon Burton at the far post but Alan Maybury was on hand to usher the ball out for a goal-kick.
Hammond scooped the ball over from Mark de Vries' knock-down on 38 minutes.
But the Owls came from behind to take the lead a minute later.
John Hills' deep cross was met by the head of an onrushing Coughlan, who planted his effort into the corner past Douglas for his side's second.
And that's how it remained as the home side went into the break 2-1 up.
At the start of the second period, the fit again Patrik Gerrbrand replaced the injured Stearman.
On 48 minutes Joe Hamill saw his deflected shot fly behind for a corner, which came to nothing then Williams dragged his effort wide from 25-yards out.
Hamill was again in the thick of the action four minutes later when he saw his shot from Maybury's low cross drift just over the bar.
Paddy McCarthy was booked for a foul on Burton in the 62nd minute before de Vries followed suit three minutes later for dissent.
Manager Craig Levein made his second change on 66 minutes with Iain Hume replacing Hammond.
A neat one-two involving Hume and Stephen Hughes resulted in the striker putting the ball wide.
Tudgay made way for Barry Corr on 68 minutes then new signing Matty Fryatt replaced Hamill in the 74th minute as the visitors continued to search for the equaliser.
Weaver was cautioned for a foul on Fryatt three minutes later as the striker beat him to the ball outside the area then Lee Bullen came on for Glenn Whelan.
In the dying moments, de Vries thought he had snatched a point for the Foxes, but Weaver pulled off a great save to deny him.
At the other end, Douglas saved Brunt's dipping shot from distance but the damage had already been done and the three points secured.
City: Douglas, Stearman (Gerrbrand 45), McCarthy ©, Johansson, Maybury, Hughes, Williams, Kisnorbo, Hamill (Fryatt 74), De Vries, Hammond (Hume 66). Subs not used: Dublin, O'Grady.
Wednesday: Weaver, Simek, Gilbert, Coughlan ©, Wood, O'Brien, Tudgay (Corr 68), Burton, Whelan (Bullen 78), Hills, Brunt. Subs not used: Patridge, Diallo, Lucas.
Yellow Cards
City: McCarthy (62), de Vries (65)
Wednesday: Weaver (77)
Referee: Eddie Ilderton
Attendance: 25,398
