Darren Moore admitted he was cherishing “an experience that he’ll never forget” after guiding Sheffield Wednesday to victory in the Sky Bet League One Play-Off Final following Josh Windass’ dramatic last-gasp winner in extra-time.

‘A special moment’

We’ve been on a long journey this season but it’s a journey that’s been worthwhile. It means so much to help this Club back into the Championship. It was a joint effort and it goes to show, if a Club comes together, it can be achieved. It’s a special moment.

‘The stuff dreams are made of’

It was always going to be a tight game, but we spoke about being in those moments and staying together and doing the right things at the right time during the game. I thought both sets of player gave everything today and left everything on the pitch. It was one moment that fell to us and credit to the boys for going all the way to the end because just before that, we had a breakaway and it didn’t quite happen for us. For the moment to come after that and for us to get the bodies into the box and Josh (Windass) to get on the end of it, it’s the stuff dreams are made of and it finished a real titanic game, that was ebbing and flowing and not much was given away. We got the all-important touch and goal to win us the game.

‘He had real belief’

I’m pleased for Josh. We’ve missed him for large parts of the season, but to get him back at this stage of the season, he had real belief. He had that instinct to get in the right place and score the goal – he threw everything at it – and to see that go in the back of the net was something special. He’ll get the accolades for the goal, but for me it was a joint effort by everybody.

‘Incredible stuff’

In the second half of extra-time, the boys were wiltering, but it was about digging deep and pushing to get that just reward, and the players did it. We spoke about the first leg of the Semi-Final and what we didn’t want it to look like, and we spoke about the second leg and what it takes for it to look like that. The energy and the endeavour was there from the players, but I thought Barnsley did exactly the same. I don’t think there was anything given by both teams.

It was a really good game, but the sending off changed the course of it because they sat in deep and looked to counter us and the onus was on us to try to break them down and find that all-important goal. I think it’s a special moment because for us to come with literally the last kick of the game, it’s incredible stuff because I would imagine everybody was preparing for a third Play-Off Final to be decided on penalties.

‘The crowd has driven us’

We knew we had to get players in at Sheffield Wednesday who can handle the occasion. All those players have thanked me personally and now I’m thanking them, because we spoke about what it means to play for Sheffield Wednesday and they’ve experienced it first-hand throughout the season. The crowd has driven us across the line – I thought they were excellent today. I really do think they were superb. I’ve got a memory and an experience today that I’ll never forget with them, which is something special.

‘It’s time look forward’

There’s been hard work done by everybody and now it’s time to look forward and continue to push on as a Football Club. It’s been an absolute joy to be manager of this Football Club and I’m pleased to be able to share it with everybody.


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