The winners will play Derby County or Hull City, who play their semi-final first leg on Saturday, in the final at Wembley on May 28.
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The Owls took the lead at the Hillsborough Stadium through Lee Wallace on the stroke of half time.
Manager Chris Hughton is acutely aware of the threat Owls striker Gary Hooper poses to Brighton and Hove Albion’s chances of reaching the Championship Play-Off Final.
The South Coast club started the season in blistering fashion, going 21 games unbeaten and while their form was not as strong in the second half of the season they still finished the season with 89 points, a tally that in any other season may have led to an automatic promotion.
“With the team they have, they are worthy of being in a play-off position”, he said.
“But, even if we admitted that it was close, how can you have a structure that says that type of incident will receive the same punishment as somebody who it’s deemed, and everybody has seen, committed a reckless challenge?”
The weekend saw promotion and relegation decided across the three divisions below the Premier League, with local newspapers covering the triumphs on their front pages yesterday.
Carlos Carvalhal believes the special connection between the Sheffield Wednesday players and fans can help bring top-flight football back to Hillsborough.
“They are the things we have to expect on Friday night and they have the advantage of playing at home”. “We had every angle covered and are delighted with the end result – both on and off the pitch”.
“When you look at the five goals he has scored, and important goals, I think his contribution has been excellent”.
“The team has shown all season that it likes big games”.
“When you get to a play-off I don’t think there are any favourites and it is a tough call between all four teams”.
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The home side have good news ahead of this tie, with Ross Wallace returning from suspension and Atdhe Nuhiu back from a knee injury ahead of the grudge match. But we know we have won absolutely nothing.
