After a long, hard campaign, the Owls secured safety on the final day after coming from behind to comfortably beat Norwich at a packed Hillsborough.
The biggest Championship attendance of the season saw Darren Huckerby open the scoring but a brace from Deon Burton, Ben Sahar's strike and another from substitute Leon Clarke nudged Wednesday over the finishing line, leaving Leicester as the fall guys. The Foxes took the tumble into League One after their goalless draw at Stoke proved insufficent - as SWFC finished the term with a passionate performance that ultimately sealed second tier status.
Brian Laws made one change from the side that stored the vital win at Leicester last weekend, with club captain Lee Bullen making way for emergency right back Jermaine Johnson. Midfield duo Sean McAllister and Graham Kavanagh handed Laws a boost by returning to the bench after recent calf and hamstring strains respectively.
Wednesday started brightly, with Franck Songo'o sending over a dangerous cross inside three minutes that narrowly evaded the onrushing Bartosz Slusarski at the back post.
But it was the visitors that opened the scoring on eight minutes following their first attack of note. Huckerby picked up a loose ball down the left channel and cut inside to beat Lee Grant with a firm, well placed drive into the keeper's top left corner.
Norwich could and should have doubled their lead five minutes later. Ched Evans broke free down the left and teed up Matty Pattison ten yards from goal. The former Newcastle wideman got good purchase on his shot but Grant came to the Owls' rescue with an acrobatic diving save to keep Wednesday in the game.
Veteran striker Dion Dublin - making his final appearance before hanging up his boots - went close with a low header on the 20-minute mark as the Owls struggled to make a positive impression on the contest.
But Wednesday were handed a lifeline just a minute later. Burton broke free of Jason Shackell a yard inside the penalty area and Shackell tripped the striker from behind. Referee Mark Clattenburg pointed straight to the spot and after missing from 12 yards at Leicester last week, Burton held his nerve to send David Marshall the wrong way and restore parity.
Slusarski dragged a weak drive across the keeper and wide before Evans did the same at the other end after a clever Canaries set piece. Evans then broke clear down the middle and chipped Grant from distance but the hitman's effort was a foot too high to the relief of Wednesdayites.
Slusaski hit a tame shot that Marshall gathered comfortably as the game ebbed and flowed towards the half time whistle with honours even, which was a fair reflection of the first 45 minutes.
The Owls began the second period attacking the Kop but the first chance of the half fell to the Canaries. Evans fed Pattison on the edge of the penalty area but the winger spooned his shot high and wide to spurn another clear opportunity.
But Wednesday stole into the lead on 53 minutes as two of the Owls' loanees combined to maximum effect. Slusarski found space down the left side of the penalty area and aimed a slide-rule pass for Sahar to convert from close range and send the home fans into raptures.
Huckerby wasted a one-on-one with Grant straight from the resumption and Laws sent on McAllister and Kavanagh to shore up the midfield with fresh legs. Steve Watson and Songo'o made way.
Sahar fired a snapshot over the bar after turning his marker on the 18-yard line and Burton had a stinging drive blocked before Wednesday made sure of the points on 76 minutes. Tommy Spurr spotted Burton making a late dash into the box unmarked and the Jamaican international obliged from the cross with a glancing header low to Marshall's left.
Ryan Bertrand's piledriver whistled over the bar but the rampant Owls had the final word three minutes from time. Substitute Clarke, who scored from the bench at Leicester, repeated the trick, beating off two challenges in the box on this occasion before slotting past Marshall to put the result - and Wednesday's status next season - beyond all doubt.
Wednesday: Grant, Johnson, Wood, Beevers, Spurr, Sahar (Clarke 82), Bolder, Watson (Kavanagh 55), Songo'o (McAllister 55), Burton, Slusarski
Unused substitutes: Burch, Esajas
Norwich: Marshall, Otsemobor (Pearce 74), Shackell, Bertrand, Russell, Fotheringham, Pattison (Croft 59), Huckerby, Dublin, Evans, Doherty
Unused substitutes: Rudd, Chadwick, Cureton
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Attendance: 36,208
