Owl lang syne for Moore

DARREN MOORE has challenged his Sheffield Wednesday flops to prove they can still be genuine promotion contenders.

Thursday’s 5-0 stuffing at Sunderland ensured the Owls finished 2021 five points adrift of the League play-off places.

The abject surrender raised fears that Moore’s men will end the campaign as also-rans, but the Wednesday chief is demanding a response.

He wants the fallen Hillsborough giants to prove they can manoeuvre their way back into position for promotion in the second half of the season.

Moore (right) said: “When you suffer a defeat like that the next game becomes even more important.

“We have to take our medicine from Thursday night because it wasn’t good enough.

“We have to make sure we don’t put in any more performances like that.”

Moore was also forced to deny that striker Josh Windass has been lined up for a move this month.

The former Rangers man was left out of the squad which travelled to the Stadium of Light on Thursday night.

Moore insisted: “There is no move on the cards at all. He has just picked up a little strain so we left him out.” Morecambe v Doncaster Today, 3pm

GARY MCSHEFFREY begins his Doncaster reign against Morecambe today after being appointed to the role full-time.

After previously overseeing their last four games on an interim basis, Mcsheffrey, 39, will be charged with lifting the rock-bottom Rovers out of the trouble.

He will be without the services of Rodrigo Vilca, who has returned to Newcastle after his loan spell ended, but Joe Dodoo has been passed fit.

Fellow strugglers Morecambe are hopeful that their 13-goal top scorer Cole Stockton will be fit to return.