After the Owls returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Birmingham, Danny Röhl credited the whole of the S6 camp.
Wednesday turned in an impressive performance at Hillsborough and narrowed the gap to the safety line to five points.
Defeat would have seen the Blues extend their advantage to 12 points but victory means six between the Midlanders and the Owls.
Röhl said: “The strength is our team and our togetherness. It was a fantastic job from my boys and I am very proud of the players. This has been a difficult week after Huddersfield and then Coventry in the cup but we have given the best response.
“I had to make some tough decisions for the Coventry game. Of course, I wanted to win and progress, but I had to think of the game tonight.
“The players want to give everything for this club, they have showed this tonight…the fight, the response, the character and the goals.
“But we go step by step, game by game. We have a big game on Tuesday at Leicester and we have to go there with confidence.
“It is only three points we took tonight, not 10, it is one game and we move on.”
New recruits Iké Ugbo and Ian Poveda took the plaudits at one end of the field, while Röhl also shone a light on fellow loanee James Beadle, who posted a clean sheet between the sticks.
The manager added: “It is good that we brought Iké and Ian into the club, they have shown what they can do tonight.
“Iké got the goals and Ian showed fantastic skill to set up the first one that set us on the way. When I met him and looked into his eyes, I could see his passion to play for us and this is what I want.
“It was all about the defence as well. The first goal started from our goalkeeper James, who did very well and this is the kind of football I want to play.
“So we can be happy, we can be proud. This game was a cup final for me, now we have 15 more and we go again.”