Carlos Carvalhal was delighted with the Owls’ 3-0 win over Cardiff that sealed their spot in the play-offs.
A Gary Hooper brace and an own goal from Bluebirds defender Lee Peltier got the three points to confirm Wednesday’s top six slot.
Carvalhal said: “We deserved the win today, absolutely.
“We are a powerful team and it was a powerful performance.
“At the start of the season I said we were the underdogs, so we have done very well to reach the play-offs.
“I feel this team is as fresh now as it was at the start of the season.
“We are a close team, and that includes everyone, the players, staff, fans and the chairman and it has been this way all season.
“I gave a challenge to the fans to give applause to the players even if they make a mistake, and they accepted that challenge 100%.
“They gave the players more confidence and it showed in the end.”
The Owls face Wolves next week in the final league match of the season, before the play-offs begin, and Carlos is keen to focus on this fixture.
The head coach added: “I am looking forward to the play-offs but first we must focus on the match against Wolves.
“We are still in the competition and then we will focus on the play-offs.
“When we get to the play-offs we will just concentrate on ourselves and not the other team just like we have all season.”