Wednesday wonders in play-off miracle
SAY WHAT you like about Sheffield Wednesday, and many have since they tumbled out of the Premier League in 2000, but they do not do things by halves. After suffering the indignity of being thumped 4-0 at Peterborough in the first leg of this incredible League One play-off semi-final last Friday, the Owls turned the tables here to reach Wembley in quite extraordinary fashion. They were 3-0 up on the night but heading out when, in the closing stages of stoppage time and roared on by a raucous crowed, defender Liam Palmer bundled home to make it 4-4 on aggregate. An own goal in extra time from Owls striker Lee Gregory put Posh on course for victory only for callum Paterson to level the tie and take it to penalties, where Wednesday prevailed.
No team had ever overturned a four-goal first-leg deficit to win a play-off semi-final tie but this was in keeping with Wednesday’s rollercoaster season when, at one point, they appeared nailed on for automatic promotion before choking in the final weeks to slide into the play-off lottery. here, though, moore’s players rediscovered the kind of energy and verve which had them looking like promotion certainties.
The fast start they so badly needed materialised as Wednesday went ahead in the seventh minute.
Joe Ward’s clumsy foul saw referee David Webb point to the spot and michael Smith stepped up to coolly side-foot home low and hard into the bottom right-hand corner. The roof almost lifted off hillsborough but Peterborough looked dangerous when half-chances came their way.
In the 19th minute, Kwame Poku engineered the space to unleash a low shot which drew a smart stop from Owls goalkeeper cameron Dawson. Josh Windass, playing just behind Smith and Gregory, then fired over from callum Paterson’s right-wing cross before the hosts grabbed their second. Peterborough goalkeeper Will Norris smothered a long delivery into the area but Paterson fired the ball into the six-yard box and Gregory stretched out a leg to divert it into the net. cue more delirium and delight in the home stands. Dawson then produced another fine save to deny Ephron mason-clark but Wednesday were good value for their 2-0 lead at the break and went on to dominate the second half.
Norris made several fine saves before Reece James burst into the box and fired in a third goal in the 71st minute. Wednesday continued to probe and they were not denied as Peterborough failed to clear another ball into the box and Palmer bundled home from close range in the eighth and final minute of stoppage time. he ran away to the corner and was mobbed by team-mates and fans before the drama of extra time and penalties.