:2023 EFL League One play-off final

{{main|2022–23 EFL League One|2023 English Football League play-offs#League One|Miracle of Hillsborough}}

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|title=EFL League One final table, leading positions

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|update=complete |title_source={{cite web | url = https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/20222023/regular-season/r69656/ | website = Soccerway | publisher = Perform Group | access-date = 18 May 2024 | title = League One – 2023/2024 – Regular season | archive-date = 29 August 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230829153143/https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/20222023/regular-season/r69656/ | url-status = live }}

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Sheffield Wednesday finished the regular 2022–23 season in third place in EFL League One, the third tier of the English football league system. They were two points behind runners-up Ipswich Town and ten points ahead of fourth-placed Barnsley. Both Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley, therefore, missed out on the two automatic places for promotion to the EFL Championship and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the third promoted team. They were joined in the play-offs by fifth-placed Bolton Wanderers, and sixth-placed Peterborough United, who qualified as a result of Derby County's defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on the final day of the regular season.{{cite web |title=League One: Plymouth take title, Posh into playoffs and Cambridge stay up |agency=PA Media |work=The Guardian |date=7 May 2023 |access-date=27 April 2025 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/may/07/league-one-plymouth-take-title-peterborough-into-play-offs-cambridge-stay-up}} The format for the play-offs was two semi-finals, played over two legs, followed by the final.{{cite web |title=About the Play-Offs |work=English Football League |date= |access-date=27 April 2025 |url= https://www.efl.com/competitions/sky-bet-play-offs/about-the-play-offs/}}

Sheffield Wednesday were drawn against Peterborough for their semi-final. In the first leg at Peterborough's London Road Stadium, the home team were dominant despite an early chance from Sheffield Wednesday striker Michael Smith. Peterborough won the game 4–0 with goals from Jack Taylor, Joe Ward, Kwame Poku and Jonson Clarke-Harris.{{cite web |title=Report {{!}} Peterborough 4–0 Wednesday |url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2023/may/report--peterborough-4-0-wednesday/ |access-date=5 June 2024 |publisher=Sheffield Wednesday F.C.}} In a match dubbed by the club as the Miracle of Hillsborough,{{cite web |title=Relive the Miracle of Hillsborough from start to finish! – Sheffield Wednesday FC |publisher=Sheffield Wednesday F.C. |date=14 May 2024 |access-date=27 April 2025 |url= https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2024/may/relive-the-miracle-of-hillsborough-from-start-to-finish/}} Sheffield Wednesday recovered in the second leg. First-half goals from Smith and Lee Gregory, followed by strikes from Reece James and Liam Palmer after half-time, established a 4–0 lead at the end of 90 minutes and with the tie level on aggregate, it went to extra time. Despite conceding an own goal in the first half of extra time, when a free kick was diverted off Gregory's head into the net, Sheffield Wednesday equalised the tie once more with a goal from striker Callum Patterson. The tie thus finished 5–5 on aggregate and Sheffield Wednesday were victorious in the penalty shootout by a score of 5–3.{{cite news |title=Sheffield Wednesday 5–1 Peterborough United (5–5 agg): Owls win 5–3 on penalties to reach play-off final |last=Woodcock |first=Ian |work=BBC Sport |date=18 May 2023 |access-date=27 April 2025 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65553765}}

Barnsley's play-off semi final was against Bolton, with the first leg at the University of Bolton Stadium. After a goalless first half, Barnsley took the lead due to a goal from Nicky Cadden, but the hosts equalised four minutes later through a goal by Dion Charles.{{cite news |date=11 May 2023 |title=Bolton Wanderers 1–1 Barnsley: League One play-off semi-final in balance after draw in first leg |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65520040 |access-date=5 June 2024 |work=BBC Sport }} The game finished 1–1 and the two sides went into the second leg at Oakwell on level terms. The second leg was decided by a 24th-minute goal by Liam Kitching,{{cite news |date=18 May 2023 |title=Barnsley 1–0 Bolton Wanderers (Agg 2–1): Tykes to face Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday in final |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65567452 |access-date=5 June 2024 |work=BBC Sport }} Barnsley going through to the final with a 2–1 aggregate win.{{cite news |last=Crann |first=Joe |date=22 May 2023 |title=Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley's play-off final records heading into huge Wembley clash |url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/sheffield-wednesday-and-barnsleys-play-off-final-records-heading-into-huge-wembley-clash-4151510 |access-date=5 June 2024 |work=Sheffield Star}}

This was Sheffield Wednesday's second play-off final, the first being a 1–0 defeat against Hull City in the 2016 Championship play-off final.{{cite web | url = https://www.fchd.info/SHEFFIEW.HTM | title = Sheffield Wednesday | website = Football Club History Database | access-date = 27 April 2025}} Sheffield Wednesday had last played in the Championship in the 2020–21 season, when they were relegated to League One after being deducted six points for breaking EFL spending rules and then finishing bottom of the league.{{cite web |title=Sheffield Wednesday: Points deduction for breaking spending rules reduced from 12 to six |author= |work=BBC Sport |date=4 November 2020 |access-date=27 April 2025 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54814357}}{{cite web | url = https://www.11v11.com/teams/sheffield-wednesday/tab/leagueTables/2021/ | title = League Championship table at close of 2020–21 season | website = 11v11.com | access-date = 13 May 2022 | archive-date = 13 May 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220513212631/https://www.11v11.com/teams/sunderland/tab/leagueTables/2018/ | url-status = live }} Aside from the 2016 match, the club's prior visits to Wembley Stadium included the 1935 and 1966 FA Cup finals, which ended in victory and defeat respectively, and then five visits between 1991 and 1993 – a victory over Manchester United in the 1991 League Cup final, a 1993 FA Cup semi-final win against Sheffield United, and successive defeats to Arsenal in the 1993 League Cup final and FA Cup final – the latter including a replay.{{cite web |title=Grand Day Out – The life and times of Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley |author= |work=Yorkshire Post |date=26 May 2016 |access-date=27 April 2025 |url= https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/grand-day-out-the-life-and-times-of-sheffield-wednesday-at-wembley-1798037}} Barnsley had appeared in three play-off finals before this match. They lost 4–2 to Ipswich Town in the last competitive game at the old Wembley Stadium, beat Swansea City in a penalty shootout to secure promotion in the 2006 Football League One play-off final at the Millennium Stadium, and then defeated Millwall 3–1 in 2016.{{cite news |title=Barnsley 3–1 Millwall |last=Stevens |first=Rob |work=BBC Sport |date=29 May 2016 |access-date=27 April 2025 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36352352}}{{cite web |title=20 years since history-making and heart-breaking Wembley final |author= |work=Barnsley Chronicle |date=28 May 2020 |access-date=27 April 2025 |url= https://www.barnsleychronicle.com/article/18816/20-years-since-history-making-and-heart-breaking-wembley-final}}{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/768682.stm | title = Ipswich triumph at last | access-date = 28 May 2020 | date = 29 May 2000 | work = BBC Sport | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040227203139/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/768682.stm | archive-date = 27 February 2004 | url-status = live }}{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/5010240.stm | title = Swansea 2–2 Barnsley (aet) | date = 27 May 2006 | work = BBC Sport | access-date = 28 May 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061114231537/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/5010240.stm | archive-date = 14 November 2006 | url-status = live }} Barnsley also visited Wembley earlier in the 2015–16 season, with a 3–2 victory over Oxford United in the Football League Trophy final.{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35906363 | first = Phil | last = Cartwright | access-date = 28 May 2020 | date = 3 April 2016 | work = BBC Sport | title = Barnsley 3–2 Oxford United | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160404021451/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35906363 | archive-date = 4 April 2016 | url-status = live }} During the regular season, Barnsley won both matches against Sheffield Wednesday, 2–0 at Hillsborough in September 2022 and 4–2 at Oakwell the following March.{{cite web | url = https://www.11v11.com/teams/barnsley/tab/matches/season/2023/ | website = 11v11.com | publisher = AFS Enterprises | access-date = 27 April 2025 | title = Barnsley football club match record: 2023}} Smith was Sheffield Wednesday's highest scorer with 17 goals while Barnsley's top marksman was Devante Cole with 15.

The final was refereed by Tim Robinson, with Shaun Hudson and Akil Howson as his assistants, and John Busby the fourth official. From 2022, the EFL had announced that the video assistant referee (VAR) system would be used at all play-off finals, and Tony Harrington was appointed in this role with Dan Robathan his assistant.{{cite web | url = https://www.efl.com/news/2023/may/referee-appointments-sky-bet-league-one-play-off-final/ | publisher = English Football League | title = Referee appointments: Sky Bet League One Play-Off Final | date = 20 May 2023 | access-date = 10 May 2025 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61429573|title=VAR to be used in all three EFL play-off finals|work=BBC Sport|access-date=18 May 2022|archive-date=17 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517062306/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61429573|url-status=live}}

The match kicked off at 3 p.m. in front of a crowd 72,492, of whom around 44,000 were Sheffield Wednesday fans and approximately 23,000 were Barnsley supporters.{{cite web |title=Barnsley vs Sheffield Wednesday on 29 May 23 – Match Centre – Barnsley Football Club |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522052733/https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/news/20232/may/wembley-tickets/ |archive-date=22 May 2023 |url=https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/matches/fixtures/first-team/202223/may/barnsley-vs-sheffield-wednesday-on-29-may-23/ |access-date=5 June 2024 |publisher=Barnsley F.C. |quote=on Monday 29 May in a 3pm kick off}}{{cite web |title=Sheffield Wed 1–0 Barnsley (29 May, 2023) Game Analysis – ESPN (UK) |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/report/_/gameId/669263 |access-date=5 June 2024 |website=ESPN }}{{cite web |title=Fan Photos from Wembley – Barnsley FC |publisher=Barnsley F.C. |date=31 May 2023 |access-date=5 May 2025 |url= https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/news/20232/may/fan-gallery/}} Sheffield Wednesday had the better of the opening 15 minutes, with several chances to score, while Barnsley's best opportunity was a shot from Adam Phillips which went over the crossbar.{{cite news |title=League One play-off final: Sheffield Wednesday's 1–0 win over Barnsley as it happened |last=Aloia |first=Andrew |work=BBC Sport |date=29 May 2023 |page=8 |access-date=4 May 2025 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/65526234?page=8}} The game then settled down, however, as Barnsley were able to contain the Sheffield Wednesday attacks and there were few serious chances for the remainder of the half.{{cite news |title=League One play-off final: Sheffield Wednesday's 1–0 win over Barnsley as it happened |last=Aloia |first=Andrew |work=BBC Sport |date=29 May 2023 |page=7 |access-date=4 May 2025 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/65526234?page=7}}

The second half began with two controversial decisions which shaped the remainder of the game. The first was a challenge by Gregory on Kitching in the penalty area, was not given as a foul or a penalty by the referee, a decision confirmed by the VAR. Former Barnsley goalkeeper David Preece commented on BBC Sport at the time that he was surprised by this decision because he had "seen in the Premier League penalties given for much lesser reasons than that". The second incident was the referee's decision to send off Phillips due to a sliding challenge on Gregory, again confirmed by VAR.{{cite news |date=28 May 2023 |title=Barnsley 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday: Josh Windass wins League One play-off final in last minute of extra time |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65667707 |access-date=5 June 2024 |work=BBC Sport }} Despite Sheffield Wednesday's numerical advantage due to this decision, the two sides were still level by the end of normal time, although Barnsley had come close to a goal after Nicky Cadden's volley deflected off of the head of Kitching, hitting the crossbar.

In extra time, Sheffield Wednesday were close to taking the lead after a close-range shot from Wednesday striker Smith was saved by Harry Isted, the Barnsley goalkeeper. Barnsley themselves came close to taking the lead a few minutes later, with Luca Connell six yards from the net but was ultimately unable to convert. Sheffield Wednesday believed they had taken the lead a few minutes later following a strike from Will Vaulks into the back of the net, but this was ruled offside by the assistant referee.{{cite web |title=Barnsley 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday AET: Josh Windass scores last-gasp winner to send Owls into the Championship |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12886756/barnsley-0-1-sheffield-wednesday-aet-josh-windass-scores-last-gasp-winner-to-send-owls-into-the-championship |access-date=5 June 2024 |website=Sky Sports }} The deciding goal came in the third minute of stoppage time, with Josh Windass heading the ball past Isted to secure Wednesday's position in the Championship for the first time since 2021.

{{Football box

| date = {{Start date|2023|05|29|df=y}}

| time = 15:00 BST

| team1 = Barnsley

| score = 0–1

| report =

| aet = yes

| team2 = Sheffield Wednesday

| goals1 =

| goals2 = *Windass {{goal|120+3}}

| stadium = Wembley Stadium, London

| attendance = 72,492

| referee = Tim Robinson

}}

style="width:92%;"

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style="width:100%"
style="vertical-align:top;width=40%"| {| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size:90%;"
width=25|	width=25|
GK	1	{{flagicon|ENG}} Harry Isted
CB	12	{{flagicon|ENG}} Bobby Thomas {{yel|95}}
CB	6	{{flagicon|DEN}} Mads Juel Andersen (c)
CB	5	{{flagicon|ENG}} Liam Kitching
RM	2	{{flagicon|ENG}} Jordan Williams
CM	30	{{flagicon|ENG}} Adam Phillips {{sentoff|0|49}}
CM	48	{{flagicon|IRE}} Luca Connell
LM	8	{{flagicon|ENG}} Herbie Kane {{suboff|72}}
AM	7	{{flagicon|SCO}} Nicky Cadden {{suboff|106}}
CF	31	{{flagicon|SRB}} Slobodan Tedić {{suboff|46}}
CF	44	{{flagicon|ENG}} Devante Cole {{suboff|72}}
colspan=4|Substitutes:
GK	40	{{flagicon|ENG}} Bradley Collins
DF	24	{{flagicon|ENG}} Robbie Cundy
MF	3	{{flagicon|JAM}} Jon Russell {{subon|90+1}}
MF	10	{{flagicon|ENG}} Josh Benson {{subon|72}} {{suboff|90+1}}
MF	16	{{flagicon|ENG}} Luke Thomas {{subon|72}}
FW	9	{{flagicon|ENG}} James Norwood {{subon|46}}
FW	47	{{flagicon|ENG}} Max Watters {{subon|106}}
colspan=4|Head Coach:
colspan="4"| {{flagicon|NIR}} Michael Duff

|valign="top"|

|valign="top" width="50%"|

style="font-size:90%;margin:auto" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
width=25|	width=25|
GK	25	{{flagicon|ENG}} Cameron Dawson
CB	6	{{flagicon|ENG}} Dominic Iorfa
CB	20	{{flagicon|ENG}} Michael Ihiekwe
CB	33	{{flagicon|ENG}} Reece James {{suboff|103}}
DM	13	{{flagicon|SCO}} Callum Paterson {{suboff|79}}
RM	2	{{flagicon|SCO}} Liam Palmer
CM	10	{{flagicon|SCO}} Barry Bannan (c) {{suboff|116}}
CM	18	{{flagicon|ENG}} Marvin Johnson
LM	11	{{flagicon|ENG}} Josh Windass {{goal|120+3}}
CF	24	{{flagicon|ENG}} Michael Smith
CF	9	{{flagicon|ENG}} Lee Gregory
colspan=4|Substitutes:
GK	31	{{flagicon|ENG}} David Stockdale
DF	3	{{flagicon|ENG}} Jaden Brown
DF	32	{{flagicon|ENG}} Jack Hunt {{subon|103}}
DF	44	{{flagicon|ENG}} Aden Flint
MF	8	{{flagicon|ENG}} Dennis Adeniran
MF	17	{{flagicon|ENG}} Fisayo Dele-Bashiru {{subon|116}}
FW	4	{{flagicon|WAL}} Will Vaulks {{subon|79}}
colspan=4|Head Coach:
colspan="4"| {{flagicon|JAM}} Darren Moore

|}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center" |+ Statistics{{cite web |title=Form and head to head stats Barnsley vs Sheff Wed |author= |work=Sky Sports |date=29 May 2023 |access-date=4 May 2025 |url= https://www.skysports.com/football/barnsley-vs-sheffield-wednesday/stats/482307}}
scope="col" width=100| ! scope="col" width=70| Barnsley F.C. ! scope="col" width=70| Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
scope="row" | Possession | 46%|| 54%
scope="row" | Goals scored | 0|| 1
scope="row" | Shots on target | 2|| 8
scope="row" | Shots off target | 6|| 8
scope="row" | Fouls committed | 11|| 12
scope="row" | Corner kicks | 5|| 5
scope="row" | Yellow cards | 1|| 0
scope="row" | Red cards | 1|| 0

File:Sheffield Wednesday victory parade 31st May 2023.jpg celebrating their promotion]]

Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore described his side's win as "the stuff of dreams". Reflecting on the team's comeback from four goals down in the semi-final and the last-minute winner in the final, Moore commented that "you couldn't write it" and that "the impossible can be achieved".{{cite news |title=Darren Moore: Sheffield Wednesday boss says promotion is 'the stuff of dreams' |last=Woodcock |first=Ian |work=BBC Sport |date=29 May 2023 |access-date=4 May 2025 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65749706 }} Barnsley manager Michael Duff was proud of his players and described a sense of frustration, saying "it's a cruel game".{{cite web |title=Duff: "It's a cruel game" |author=EFL |publisher=English Football League |date= |access-date=4 May 2025 |url= https://www.efl.com/news/2023/may/duff-press-conference/}} On the subject of the penalty decision and sending off early in the second half, he stated his belief that Gregory's challenge on Kitching should have been a penalty and that Phillips's challenge merited only a booking. He did, however, compliment Sheffield Wednesday, saying that Moore had done a "brilliant job" and that they were "factually the third best team in the league".

Josh Windass's father, Dean Windass, who had scored a goal under similar circumstances to his son's for Hull City against Bristol City in the 2008 Championship play-off final, emphasised how proud he was, stating "there's no words, there's no words. Wow. I knew he'd score, this morning when I woke up at 5.30 I was nervous and even with his head as well – I can't believe he's headed it."{{cite news |last=Froston |first=Nancy |title=History repeats: Windass scores winner at Wembley 15 years after his dad |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4560646/2023/05/29/josh-windass-dean-wembley-playoff-final/ |access-date=5 June 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url-access=subscription}}

On 31 May, Sheffield Wednesday hosted a victory parade with an open-top bus to celebrate their promotion, which drove from Devonshire Green to Sheffield Town Hall.{{cite web |title=Owls to celebrate with victory parade! |url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2023/may/owls-to-celebrate-with-victory-parade/ |access-date=5 June 2024 |publisher=Sheffield Wednesday F.C.}} Upon arriving at the town hall, the club's players and staff, as well as owner Deijphon Chansiri, thanked the fans for their support.{{cite news |last=Marshall |first=Sarah |date=31 May 2023 |title=Jubilation as Owls parade through Sheffield city centre to mark Wednesday's Championship promotion |url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/people/jubilation-as-owls-parade-through-sheffield-city-centre-to-mark-wednesdays-championship-promotion-4165069 |access-date=5 June 2024 |work=Sheffield Star}}

{{reflist}}

{{English Football League play-offs|1}}

{{Barnsley F.C. matches}}

{{Sheffield Wednesday F.C. matches}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:EFL League One play-off final 2023}}

2023

Category:2023 English Football League play-offs

Category:May 2023 sports events in the United Kingdom

Category:2023 in sport in London

Category:Barnsley F.C. matches

Category:Sheffield Wednesday F.C. matches