Miracle of Hillsborough

Following relegation to League One in the 2020–21 season, Sheffield Wednesday were unsuccessful in their first attempt to return to the Championship, finishing 4th{{Cite web |title=League One (Sky Sports) |url=https://www.skysports.com/league-1-table/2021 |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=SkySports }} and losing to Sunderland in the 2022 play-off semi-finals.{{Cite news |date=9 May 2022 |title=Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Sunderland (agg 1-2): Black Cats to face Wycombe in play-off final |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61294931 |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport }} It had seemed, however, that Wednesday's luck had turned around following the start of the following season: after being third for 14 consecutive matchdays, Wednesday were able to break into the automatic spots after a 5–0 win against Cambridge United on 2 January 2023,{{Cite news |date=2 January 2023 |title=Sheffield Wednesday 5-0 Cambridge United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64092556 |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport }} topping the league after a 1–0 win against Plymouth Argyle on 4 February.{{Cite news |date=4 February 2023 |title=Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Plymouth Argyle: Owls go top of League One |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64435870 |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport }} Wednesday would retain their position in the automatics throughout February and March 2023, yet Wednesday would soon see a slip in form after losing to local rivals Barnsley at Oakwell on 21 March,{{Cite web |title=Barnsley 4-2 Sheffield Wednesday: Michael Duff's men end Owls' 23-game unbeaten league run |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11713/12839582/barnsley-4-2-sheffield-wednesday-michael-duff-s-men-end-owls-23-game-unbeaten-league-run |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=Sky Sports }} followed by a "shock" 1–0 loss to bottom-of-the-table Forest Green on 26 March{{Cite news |date=26 March 2023 |title=Forest Green Rovers 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65004807 |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport }} and three consecutive draws to Cheltenham Town, Lincoln City and Oxford United respectively.{{Cite web |title=Sheffield Wednesday 2022-23 Fixtures and Results - Football |url=https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/sheffield-wednesday/2022-23/fixtures-and-results.html |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=Sports Mole }} While Wednesday's form would improve towards the end of the season, with the club winning their final four games, Wednesday were ultimately consigned to the play-offs, despite finishing on 96 points.

As for Peterborough, the Posh were able to win promotion to the Championship in the 2020–21 season, but finished 22nd the season after, their relegation confirmed after a 1–0 loss to Nottingham Forest on 23 April 2022.{{Cite news |date=23 April 2022 |title=Peterborough United 0-1 Nottingham Forest: Sam Surridge's winner confirms relegation for Posh |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61124793 |access-date=31 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport }} The Posh broke into the top six after a 4–1 win against Forest Green Rovers on 11 October,{{Cite news |date=11 October 2022 |title=Peterborough United 4-1 Forest Green Rovers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62776243 |access-date=31 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport }} but fell out of the play-off positions after four consecutive defeats in November and December. As a result, manager Grant McCann was sacked on 4 January and replaced with Darren Ferguson in his fourth stint as Peterborough manager.{{Cite news |date=4 January 2023 |title=Darren Ferguson: Peterborough United sack Grant McCann and reappoint former boss for fourth spell |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64161960 |access-date=31 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport }} Ferguson lead the Posh back into the top six after a 0–0 draw with Oxford United on 1 April,{{Cite news |date=1 April 2023 |title=Peterborough United 0-0 Oxford United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65072979 |access-date=31 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport }} but after a 2–0 defeat to rivals Cambridge United on 15 April{{Cite news |date=15 April 2023 |title=Cambridge United 2-0 Peterborough United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65217612 |access-date=31 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport }} and a 3–0 defeat at home to Ipswich Town on 22 April, they fell back down to 7th. Peterborough were however able to sneak back into sixth on the final day after Derby county lost 1–0 to Sheffield Wednesday,{{Cite news |date=7 May 2023 |title=Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Derby County: Curtis Davies sent off as Rams miss out on League One play-offs |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65439678 |access-date=31 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport }} with Posh beating Barnsley 2–0 at Oakwell.{{Cite news |date=7 May 2023 |title=Barnsley 0-2 Peterborough United: Posh beat Barnsley to snatch play-off spot at Derby's expense |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65439611 |access-date=31 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport }} Peterborough's forward Jonson Clarke-Harris was League One's joint-top goalscorer in 2022–23, scoring 26 goals.{{Cite web |date=24 February 2023 |title=League One 2022/2023 - Top Scorer |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/goalgetter/eng-league-one-2022-2023/ |access-date=31 May 2024 |website=worldfootball.net }}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|res_col_header=Q

|float=right

|teamwidth=auto

|title=EFL League One final table, top 7

|name_PLY=Plymouth Argyle

|name_IPS=Ipswich Town

|name_SHW=Sheffield Wednesday

|name_BAR=Barnsley

|name_BOL=Bolton Wanderers

|name_PET=Peterborough United

|name_DER=Derby County

|team1=PLY |team2=IPS |team3=SHW |team4=BAR |team5=BOL |team6=PET |team7=DER

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|win_IPS=28|draw_IPS=14|loss_IPS=4 |gf_IPS=101|ga_IPS=35

|win_SHW=28|draw_SHW=12|loss_SHW=6 |gf_SHW=81|ga_SHW=37

|win_BAR=26|draw_BAR=8 |loss_BAR=12|gf_BAR=80|ga_BAR=47

|win_BOL=23|draw_BOL=12|loss_BOL=11|gf_BOL=62|ga_BOL=36

|win_PET=24|draw_PET=5|loss_PET=17|gf_PET=75|ga_PET=54

|win_DER=21|draw_DER=13|loss_DER=12|gf_DER=67|ga_DER=46

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|col_P=green1 |text_P=Promotion to the
2023–24 EFL C'ship

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Despite finishing 19 points behind Wednesday, they went into the first leg with a slightly better head-to-head record against Wednesday that season, with Posh having beaten Wednesday 2–0 at London Road in August,{{Cite news |date=16 August 2022 |title=Peterborough United 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62473376 |access-date=31 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport }} yet losing 1–0 at Hillsborough in March.{{Cite web |title=Sheffield Wed 1-0 Peterborough (4 Mar, 2023) Final Score - ESPN (UK) |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/643045/peterborough-united-sheffield-wednesday |access-date=31 May 2024 |website=ESPN }} The first and second legs were the 22nd and 23rd time the clubs had met respectively. Going into the first leg, Wednesday had a better head-to-head record overall, having won 10 of their previous games against Peterborough drawing 4 and losing 7.{{Cite web |date=31 May 2024 |title=Sheffield Wednesday football club: record v Peterborough United |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/sheffield-wednesday/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Peterborough%20United/ |access-date=31 May 2024 |website=11v11.com}}

This was both Wednesday's and Posh's fifth time appearing in EFL play-off semi finals.

{{-}}

{{football box

| date = 12 May 2023

| time = 20:00

| team1 = Peterborough United

| score = 4–0

| team2 = Sheffield Wednesday

| goals1 =

• Taylor {{goal|20}}
• Ward {{goal|36}}
• Poku {{goal|50}}
• Clarke-Harris {{goal|82}}

| goals2 =

| location = Peterborough

| stadium = London Road

| attendance = 12,569

| referee = Anthony Backhouse

| report = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65520041

}}

Having finished third, Wednesday were paired with sixth-placed Peterborough United in the first leg of the League One play-offs. The first leg, hosted at London Road Stadium on 12 May 2023, was disastrous for Wednesday. Striker Michael Smith had a chance on goal early in the first half, but his effort was saved by Peterborough goalkeeper Will Norris.{{Cite web |title=Report {{!}} Peterborough 4-0 Wednesday |url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2023/may/report--peterborough-4-0-wednesday/ |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=swfc.co.uk }} Peterborough dominated the game from that point on, with Jack Taylor scoring from just outside the box in the 20th minute, followed by a 36th-minute goal from Joe Ward. In the second half, Kwame Poku and Jonson Clarke-Harris were able to score in the 50th and 82nd minute respectively, the game ending 4–0. Wednesday players were booed from the pitch by their own fans alongside chanting that they were "not fit to wear the shirt". Following the game, Wednesday manager Darren Moore also suffered racist abuse online.{{Cite news |last=Bosher |first=Luke |title=Sheffield Wednesday vow to ban individual who racially abused Moore |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4521297/2023/05/15/sheffield-wednesday-darren-moore/ |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}

Moore was praised for the preparation the Wednesday team endured for the second leg. According to Barry Bannan, the team captain, the Wednesday team "watched comebacks all week from the big teams in the Champions League". Moore himself revealed that the team "worked on penalties every day".{{Cite news |date=19 May 2023 |title=Sheffield Wednesday: How the Owls pulled off the biggest comeback in EFL play-off history |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65642675 |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport }} Bannan stated that Moore's work helped to "turn around the mindset of the players".

{{football box

| date = 18 May 2023

| time = 20:00

| team1 = Sheffield Wednesday

| score = 5–1

| team2 = Peterborough United

| goals1 =

• Smith {{goal|9|pen.}}
• Gregory {{goal|25}}
• James {{goal|71}}
• Palmer {{goal|90+8}}
• Paterson {{goal|112}}

| goals2 =

• Gregory {{goal|105|o.g.}}

| stadium = Hillsborough Stadium

| location = Sheffield

| penaltyscore = 5–3

| penalties1 =

• Smith {{pengoal}}
• Vaulks {{pengoal}}
• Bannan {{pengoal}}
• Windass {{pengoal}}
• Hunt {{pengoal}}

| penalties2 =

• {{pengoal}} Clarke-Harris
• {{penmiss}} Butler
• {{pengoal}} Norburn
• {{pengoal}} Tshimanga

| attendance = 31,835

| referee = David Webb

| report = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65553765

| aet = yes

}}

5–5 on aggregate. Sheffield Wednesday won 5–3 on penalties.

The match kicked off at 20:00 BST, in front of a Hillsborough crowd of 31,835.{{Cite web |title=Sky Bet League One (Sky Sports) |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/sheffield-wednesday-vs-peterborough-united/stats/482285 |access-date=31 May 2024 |website=Sky Sports }} Following a foul on Marvin Johnson by Joe Ward just inside the box, Wednesday were awarded a spot kick. Converting the ball into the bottom-right corner, striker Michael Smith was able to score the first goal for Wednesday in the 9th minute. Peterborough were close to levelling soon after, but Cameron Dawson was able to save Poku's low shot. The second goal came for Wednesday in the 25th minute, after Lee Gregory was able to tap a ball from Callum Paterson into the net after goalkeeper Will Norris was out of position.{{Cite web |title=Sheffield Wednesday 5-1 Peterborough (Agg: 5-5): Owls win 5-3 on penalties after launching stunning comeback to reach League One play-off final |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12876938/sheffield-wednesday-5-1-peterborough-agg-5-5-owls-win-5-3-on-penalties-after-launching-stunning-comeback-to-reach-league-one-play-off-final |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=Sky Sports }}

Peterborough would regain composure by the end of the first half, and were too able to temporarily prevent a third Wednesday goal after Norris was able to save an overhead kick from Gregory early in the second half. Wednesday would eventually break through, however, with left back Reece James scoring his first goal for Wednesday after placing the ball through Norris' legs in the 71st minute. It would take until the 8th minute of stoppage time for Wednesday to find a fourth. Will Vaulks threw the ball into the Peterborough box, which was kicked away by Clarke-Harris. Bannan was able to intercept the ball, passing it to Marvin Johnson, who crossed the ball to Aden Flint. Flint headed the ball across the face of the goal, for right-back Liam Palmer to kick the ball into the net, sending the game into extra-time, making the game 4–4 on aggregate.{{Cite web |title=Sheffield Wednesday vs Peterborough United on 18 May 23 - Match Centre - Sheffield Wednesday |url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/matches/fixtures/first-team/202223/may/sheffield-wednesday-vs-peterborough-united-on-18-may-23/ |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=swfc.co.uk}}

Peterborough were able to regain their advantage in the first half of extra time, with a free kick being deflected off Lee Gregory and into the back of Wednesday's net. However, seven minutes into the second half of extra time, Wednesday were able to equalise once more, with Callum Paterson placing the ball into the net after it initially deflected back to him from a Peterborough defender.{{Cite news |date=17 May 2023 |title=Sheffield Wednesday 5-1 Peterborough United (5-5 agg): Owls win 5-3 on penalties to reach play-off final |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65553765 |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport }}

The game finished 5–1 after extra time, 5–5 on aggregate. Wednesday were chosen to take penalties first towards the kop end of the stadium, with Smith and Clarke-Harris both converting their penalties. Will Vaulks was able to convert his, but Dan Butler's effort hit the crossbar, giving the advantage to Wednesday. Both Wednesday and Peterborough were able to convert their third and fourth penalties, hence Jack Hunt's successful conversion of his penalty concluded the game as a Wednesday win, with Wednesday progressing to the 2023 EFL League One play-off final.

Immediately following Hunt's penalty, Wednesday fans invaded the pitch, as Doris Day's "Que Sera, Sera" played on the public address system. Wednesday were later fined £50,000 for crowd misconduct due to this pitch invasion in February 2024.{{Cite web |title=Important supporters reminder |url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2024/february/important-supporters-reminder2/ |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=swfc.co.uk }} Darren Moore gave a speech to the Wednesday players following the game, commending the player's for their efforts but reminding them that there was still one more game to play{{Cite news |title=Watch Moore's passionate post-match speech |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/65647001 |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport }}

Following the game, several outlets commended the game as "the greatest comeback in English football history".{{Cite news |date=19 May 2023 |title=Sheffield Wednesday: How the Owls pulled off the biggest comeback in EFL play-off history |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65642675 |access-date=31 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport }}{{Cite web |last=Laird |first=Conor |date=5 July 2023 |title=Sheffield Wednesday credited with 'greatest comeback in playoff history' after staggering win over Peterborough |url=https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/sheffield-wednesday-credited-with-greatest-comeback-in-playoff-history-after-staggering-win-over-peterborough/ |access-date=31 May 2024 }} It was the first time a team had come back from a four goal deficit in the playoffs at any point in the two legs.{{Cite web |date=19 May 2023 |title=The biggest comebacks in EFL play-off history |url=https://www.90min.com/posts/the-biggest-comebacks-efl-play-off-history |access-date=31 May 2024 |website=90min.com }} Ahead of Manchester City's game against Chelsea on 21 May, City manager Pep Guardiola commented on the game, saying that moments like the game made football "special", and that such a result could only happen in England.{{Cite news |last=Crann |first=Joe |date=20 May 2023 |title='It's impossible' - Pep Guardiola hails Sheffield Wednesday result before Manchester City are crowned champions |url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/its-impossible-pep-guardiola-hails-sheffield-wednesday-result-before-manchester-city-are-crowned-champions-4151188 |access-date=31 May 2024 |work=The Sheffield Star}}

Wednesday would then go on to beat local rivals Barnsley 1–0 in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium, returning to the EFL Championship for the first time since 2021.

To commemorate the first anniversary of the game, the Sky Sports footage of the game was rescreened in the Wednesday Tap on 18 May 2024.{{Cite web |title=Watch the Miracle of Hillsborough in The Wednesday Tap! |url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2024/may/watch-the-miracle-of-hillsborough-in-the-wednesday-tap/ |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=swfc.co.uk }}

{{Reflist}}

{{2022–23 in English men's football}}

{{Sheffield Wednesday F.C. matches}}

{{Peterborough United F.C.}}

Category:2022–23 EFL League One

Category:Sheffield Wednesday F.C. matches

Category:Peterborough United F.C. matches

Category:English Football League matches

Category:May 2023 sports events in the United Kingdom

Category:2020s in Sheffield