Wednesday turned in a resolute performance to beat Portsmouth 1-0 and stay at the summit of League One.
Josh Windass scored the only goal of a game the Owls had to see out with 10 men after Dominic Iorfa picked up two yellow cards.
The big centre half will miss the home clash with Bolton next Friday but watches on with his team mates having extended their unbeaten run to 22 games at Fratton Park.
Darren Moore named an unchanged side for the third successive game and Wednesday scored the decisive goal on 11 minutes.
Michael Smith got a crucial flick to a long Cameron Dawson punt upfield, right into the path of Windass, who kept his stride and composure to drill across Matt Macey and in.
Pompey responded well and Joe Pigot was just off target with a long ranger deflected wide.
But the Owls suffered a blow of their own just past the half-hour mark when George Byers limped out of the action, which sparked a spell of Portsmouth pressure.
Will Vaulks blocked a Connor Ogilvie snapshot and Aden Flint hooked Pigot’s low effort out of the danger zone.
The hosts came out for the second period on the front foot and Dawson had to be alert at his near post to keep out an improvised backheel from Colby Bishop.
But Wednesday, calm and assured, kept their heads and soaked up Pompey’s possession.
Dawson was rarely troubled and although the same was true for Macey at the other end, the Owls clinged on to their slender lead.
With the closing stages fast approaching, the home side looked the more likely and Wednesday hearts were in their mouths when Bishop nodded inches past the post.
The Owls countered with Reece James sending a delicious cross that Windass headed over the top before Iorfa saw an earlier yellow card upgraded to red.
That gave Portsmouth a huge boost for the last 10 minutes but they couldn’t make the numerical advantage count and Wednesday ably managed the contest to underline their promotion credentials.
Wednesday: Dawson, Palmer, Iorfa (S/0 80), Flint, Famewo, Brown (James 46), Vaulks, Byers (Dele-Bashiru 33), Bannan, Windass (Hunt 81), Smith (Gregory 72)