A Lee Gregory penalty was enough to beat Crewe at Hillsborough and send Wednesday back into the play-offs.
How the Alex goal was breached only once is open to question as the hosts dominated from the first whistle to last.
At this stage of the season, though, with the finish line in sight, points outweigh performance and the Owls did the necessaries to return to that coveted top-six.
It was an incident-packed start and for Saido Berahino in particular as twice inside the first five minutes the striker had golden chances to score.
Barry Bannan delivered a stunning crossfield ball to Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, whose cushioned feed found Berahino but his close range shot somehow flew over the top.
Moments later keeper Dave Richards kept out Mendez-Laing and Berahino just failed to get sufficient purchase on the rebound.
Wednesday ramped up the pressure and Gregory was the victim of an awkward bounce six yards out after Callum Paterson nodded back across goal.
Paterson was next to try his luck, lashing a fierce hit on the angle inches over before Callum Ainley deflected another effort from the Scot wide.
Ainley then ventured upfield and Bailey Peacock-Farrell had to be on his toes to acrobatically beat the wideman’s shot to safety.
Crewe held on to the break but were straight back under the cosh after the restart. And on 62 minutes, Wednesday at last made the breakthrough.
Mendez-Laing, a real thorn in the Crewe side throughout, motored into the box, was fouled by Scott Kashket and the referee pointed to the spot.
Gregory personified calm from 12 yards and duly sent Richards the wrong way.
The Owls stayed on the gas, hungry for more, and Jordan Storey almost supplied a second but for a reflex Richards save.
Paterson was a whisker away from converting Marvin Johnson’s curling cross and substitute Florian Kamberi was denied by Richards.
As things transpired it mattered not. The Railwaymen tried making more advanced strides with the clock counting down but Wednesday’s defence never looked under threat and Gregory’s penalty proved decisive.
Wednesday: Peacock-Farrell, Hunt, Palmer, Storey, Johnson, Mendez-Laing (Dunkley 82), Byers, Bannan, Paterson, Berahino (Kamberi 82) Gregory (Luongo 61)