Tony Pulis pointed to the commitment of the players after defeat at Nottingham Forest but conceded that his side were second best overall in the Midlands.
Forest scored early and late to secure the points, leaving the Owls rooted to the foot of the Championship.
Pulis said: “I thought we did okay first half and we did enough to be level but they were the better side in the second half.
“We looked tired. I can’t fault the effort, the commitment of the players, but it’s not enough to win games.
“I think they are giving everything and I don’t want to be critical of them. We made changes but it couldn’t influence the game.
“The second goal has killed the game and it’s a really bad challenge as well, Tom Lees is in the changing room with stud marks above the knee.”