OWLS FLYING TO PLAY-OFFS

But Moore warns nervy fans they face a bumpy ride

FANS of Sheffield Wednesday should buckle up and sit tight – the next couple of months could be a white-knuckle ride.

A club who have been locked out of the Premier League since May 2000 yesterday took another step towards a League One playoff spot.

With the scores level at the break after Massimo Luongo cancelled out Alfie May’s early opener, Darren Moore’s men cut loose after the restart.

Second-half strikes from Lee Gregory, Jack Hunt and George Byers lifted the Owls two points above Sunderland and into the top six with just seven matches remaining.

The past two decades have not been kind to this famous old club and, after their latest relegation into the third tier last season, this campaign should have been about shooting for the automatic promotion places.

But timing is all and, with 18 goals scored in their past five home games, Moore’s side appear armed with momentum in the bid to seal a top-six finish.

Owls boss Moore said: “We are delighted to get three points.

“I was really pleased with the group’s response after going behind early on and we made one or two little adjustments at half-time and felt that if we kept going, the game was there for us if we kept attacking them.

“It was important to continue the home form and there was a real belief in the team at half-time. It was a tough game, but we are in a good position and it is great to be in the play-off places.

“Now we will continue to focus on each game.”

This was a day for milestones with Wednesday captain Barry Bannan racking up his 300th appearance for the club and Sam Hutchinson making his 200th appearance. The

Owls needed a touch of good fortune and some excellent goalkeeping from Bailey Peacock-farrell before their superior class eventually told.

Michael Duff’s visitors, who were promoted last season and have the second-lowest budget in League One, stunned another huge Hillsborough crowd by edging in front in the fourth minute.

May broke the offside trap and hit a fierce right-foot shot which deflected past Peacock-farrell.

But Wednesday drew level when Luongo planted a firm header into the net. The hosts took the lead in the 58th minute through Gregory, whose long-range effort found the bottom left corner – his first goal since mid-december. At 2-1,

Cheltenham’s Elliot Bonds hit the bar with a 25-yard piledriver. But the points were safe seven minutes from time when Hunt volleyed past goalkeeper Owen Evans for his first goal for the club.

Byers wrapped up the scoring in the 87th minute, collecting the ball at the back post, beating his man and slotting the ball home.

The victory also took Wednesday’s number of home points to 44, the best record in the division.

Yet Cheltenham boss Duff insisted: “It’s never been a 4-1. At 2-1 we’ve had an unbelievable chance and I am not quite sure how we haven’t scored.

“In the first half of the season we have come to places like this and been played off the park. That definitely didn’t happen today. We did enough to not lose by three goals.”

I was really pleased with the group’s response to going behind early. I knew the game was there for us – if we kept attacking.