Sheffield Wednesday’s play-off hero Josh Windass aimed a brutal dig at Barnsley boss Michael Duff just moments after clinching promotion to the Championship with a dramatic late winner. The attacking midfielder produced a sensational 123rd-minute winner in extra time in the League One play-off final to seal a 1-0 win and in the midst of the celebrations at Wembley, Windass had a message for Duff and their detractors.
The Owls struggled to find a way past 10-man Barnsley until the third of minute stoppage time in extra-time, when Windass headed home the winning goal to send Wednesday back to the Championship with their first promotion since 2012.
It represents a remarkable comeback for Darren Moore’s side, who lost the semi-first first leg 4-0 to Peterborough before a 5-1 success at Hillsbrough forced penalties, and the hosts made it through to the final to face Yorkshire rivals Barnsley.
And after settling a tightly-contested final, Windass had a message reserved for Barnsley boss Duff, who had apparently dashed their hopes of a comeback following that Peterborough defeat two weeks ago.
“I heard their [Barnsley] manager [Duff] left our game against Peterborough cause he said we were out,” Windass told Sky Sports. “So…, unlucky.”
Wednesday had been on top in the closing stages after Barnsley’s Adam Phillips was sent off for a lunge on Lee Gregory. But Moore’s men struggled to find a way past the indomitable Harry Isted in goal for Barnsley, while several defenders made last-ditch blocks to deny Dominic Iorfa and Barry Bannan.
Windass produced the moment with a sumptuous diving header in the dying seconds with penalties looming, and it came 15 years after his father Dean fired Hull City to the Premier League with the winning goal against Bristol City at the same ground.
The former striker was present at the final to watch his son play, but the 29-year-old insisted his father’s iconic goal wasn’t on his mind when he lined up the header.
“Probably the worst standard game you’d ever watch, the standards from both teams was shocking. Lucky for me, I got the winning goal,” Windass Jr added.
“He [his father Dean] scored a better goal than me, but I wasn’t thinking about that to be honest. We worked all week on me playing off the front and trying to get on the end of cutbacks, and in the last minute it came off.”
Wednesday will now be playing in the second tier after missing out on a top-two finish, having accumulated 96 points from their 46 games – a record tally for any side in the EFL that failed to gain automatic promotion.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
