Josh Windass’ last-gasp winner ensured Sheffield Wednesday secured their place in next season’s Sky Bet Championship, while Barnsley were unable to bounce back to the second tier at the first time of asking.
The Owls were looking to feed off the noisy following that travelled from Sheffield. They had the first chance of the game as Barry Bannan’s volley appeared to be flying into the Barnsley net but Bobby Thomas headed away.
Another chance came soon after – Liam Palmer’s cross fell to Callum Paterson who headed down to Dominic Iorfa but his powerful volley inside the box was saved.
Despite Wednesday having the upper hand in the early proceedings, Barnsley were growing into the game but struggled to test Cameron Dawson in goal.
It was a cagey affair in the opening period but this hypothesis certainly changed in the second half.
The Tykes were given a major disadvantage as midfielder Adam Phillips received his marching orders for a robust tackle on Lee Gregory. Despite a VAR check, the decision stood, adding salt to the wound after they should have been awarded a penalty moments earlier.
Midfield maestro Bannan nearly gave his side the lead on the 56-minute mark. He went past Luca Connell with ease but he didn’t have the finish to match as his effort narrowly went wide.
Thomas was a relieved man soon after as Wednesday continued to apply the pressure. The centre-back nearly put the ball into his own net from Marvin Johnson’s low cross.
This end-to-end encounter continued as Barnsley were next to nearly get the opener. Nicky Cadden’s volley was initially going wide but Liam Kitching’s header went towards goal and hit the crossbar.
James Norwood was a key substitution at half-time and he added another dimension to Barnsley’s attack. With just over ten minutes remaining, the former Tranmere Rovers man had his rifled effort saved by the Wednesday ‘keeper.
Both teams were desperate to ensure the game didn’t go to extra-time but late attacks came to nothing, meaning another Football League play-off final went to extra-time.
Darren Moore’s side were all over the South Yorkshire-based outfit in the first-half of extra-time. Mads Juel Andersen had to clear Michael Ihiekwe’s header off of the line and an extraordinary save from Harry Isted denied Michael Smith.
Isted was on hand again soon after to prevent Wednesday from taking the lead. Bannan tried his luck from outside the box but his shot was saved onto the post by the Luton Town loanee.
Despite being dominated in the first half, Barnsley should have taken first blood. Luke Thomas put the ball on a plate for Connell but his effort flew wide.
The team in blue and white stripes had the ball in the back of the net, but it didn’t stand. One minute into the second half of extra-time and Will Vaulks’ shot flew into the top right-hand corner but Jack Hunt was offside in the build-up.
In the third minute of additional time, Windass headed home from a cross on the left to send Wednesday to the Championship, while the Tykes will now remain in the third tier.
Barnsley: Isted, Williams, Kitching, Andersen, Cadden (Watters 105′), Kane (Benson 72’) (Russell 90+1’), B.Thomas, Phillips, Tedić (Norwood 45’), Cole (L.Thomas 72’), Connell
Unused substitutes: Collins, Cundy
Sheffield Wednesday: Dawson, Ihiekwe, James (Hunt 103′), Palmer, Paterson (Vaulks 79’), Bannan (Dele-Bashiru 116′), Johnson, Windass, Gregory, Smith
Unused substitutes: Stockdale, Flint, Adeniran, Brown
Attendance: 74,292
