The Owls clinched their Championship survival with two matches to spare with a deserved second win inside three days. Gary Hart's early own goal gave Wednesday an early advantage against a Brighton side that had to win and, after a nervous passage either side of half-time, Burton O'Brien's fine 69th-minute strike sealed the Owls' fifth and most important away win of the season.
Wednesday had travelled to the south coast in the knowledge that a draw would relegate the Seagulls and inch the Owls ever closer to safety. But, far from sitting back and attempting to soak up the pressure, Paul Sturrock named a third striker in the shape of Leon Best in a clear singal of intent to go for the jugular.
The high-risk strategy paid dividends almost immediately. Only eight minutes had elapsed when Deon Burton got to the by-line and played an inviting low ball across the six-yard box. Brighton keeper Wayne Henderson could only parry it back into the danger zone and, with Best waiting to tuck home from point-blank range, Hart could do nothing but put the ball into his own net.
Although Scott Carson was then tested by Paul Reid's header from Kerry Mayo's cross, Wednesday continued to do all the pressing. On numerous occasions in the opening half-hour balls into the penalty area only just eluded Owls attackers as the visitors attempted to put matters beyond doubt before half-time.
Brighton finally earned their first spell of sustained pressure in the five minutes before the interval. Dean Hammond's header was cleared away from the line and Colin Kazim-Richards shot across goal in quick succession. Then, on the stroke of half-time, Scott Carson denied Paul Reid and, when the rebound fell to Hammond, Graham Coughlan was on hand to block his goalbound shot. The referee's whistle arrived at just the right time, with Wednesday hanging on.
Albion emerged for the second period knowing they had to score at least two goals to stay up and they continued to pile forward at every opportunity. Sturrock withdrew Marcus Tudgay into a wide midfield position and the Owls began to drop deeper to protect their advantage. Carson dealt easily with Hammond's 53rd-minute shot and, with Wednesday looking to attack on the break, Henderson made a similarly simple stop from Best shortly afterwards. Then the sides traded shots again with Burton and Kazim-Richards both going close.
The clincher finally arrived after 69 minutes and it was a goal well worth waiting for. O'Brien waltzed right through the Albion defence to go one-on-one with Henderson. Although the keeper parried the Scot's initial shot, O'Brien pounced on the loose ball to fire his second goal of the season into the empty net and begin the celebrations of the travelling Wednesdayites.
Albion searched in vain for the three goals they needed but their hopes were finally extinguished eight minutes from the end when Hammond was sent off for a second booking.
Wednesday saw out the remaining time to seal Championship safety and complete a neat symmetry to events of three years ago. On that occasion, the Owls were relegated on Easter Monday at the Withdean Stadium against a Brighton side that earned only a stay of execution. This time around it was the hosts going down - and the Owls were staying up.
Brighton (4-4-2): Henderson, Hart, McShane, Butters (Hinshelwood 74), Lynch; Reid (Carole 57), Carpenter, Hammond, Mayo (Frutos h-t); Noel-Williams, Kazim-Richards. Subs: Martin, El-Abd.
Wednesday (4-3-3): Carson; Simek, Bullen, Coughlan, Hills; Whelan, Adams, O'Brien; Tudgay, Best (Brunt 71), Burton. Subs: Spurr, McAllister, McGovern, MacLean.
Attendance: 7,573 (900 away)
Referee: P Taylor
Booked: Hammond (foul) 27 mins, Lynch (foul) 63 mins, Hart (foul) 70 mins, Carpenter (foul) 83 mins
Sent Off: Dean Hammond (second yellow card): 82 mins
