Video: Carvalhal won't get carried away despite Sheffield Wednesday's 2-0 play-off semi-final advantage over Brighton

Fernando Forestieri leads the celebrations after Kieran Lee's goal

Goals either side of half-time from Ross Wallace and Kieran Lee means Wednesday will take a commanding lead into Monday’s second leg.

In front of a sell-out crowd at Hillsborough, the Owls produced a fine performance against a side who finished the regular season in third position, 15 points ahead of them.

Head coach Carvalhal described it as “one of their best performances of the season”.

“It was the same level that we played with against Arsenal and Cardiff,” he said. “We played with a lot intensity in front of our massive fans, who gave us really good support.

“We started the game very well. There was a moment in the first half where Brighton could have scored with the corner. If you excluded that moment, we played very, very well and a lot of time with the ball.

“We deserved to be leading the game 1-0 at half-time.

“We tried to play with more intensity in the second half. Our team has been very fresh and healthy in the second half of the season. We played with intensity and scored the second goal.

“At the end, we achieved 2-0. We are happy about the score but we know we have won absolutely nothing. The first part of the two games is finished. We have the advantage of the two goals but we have the second part to play.

“We can’t play the second leg thinking we are winning 2-0. It will start with nil nil and try to achieve our best to achieve the same result at Brighton on Monday.”

Although they have established a two-goal cushion, Carvalhal is adamant Wednesday are still not favourites to reach Wembley.

“We have an advantage but we must play again on Monday,” he said.

Carvalhal praised the fans contribution on a pulsating night where the Seagulls lost Tomer Hamed, Steve Sidwell, Conor Goldson and Anthony Knockheart all to injuries and had to play the last 30 minutes with 10-men after making all their substitutions.

He said: “They gave confidence to the players. I’m sure the fans won’t forget this season for a long time.

“It is one of the games I’m sure the fans will talk about in the next month and year. It was not just the wing. It was the way we won. It was the quality of the football and the performance we put. It makes the night better and with more magic for everyone.”