EFL

BARNSLEY threw the Kitching sink to set up a South Yorkshire derby with Sheffield Wednesday in the League One play-off final next weekend.Liam Kitching rose highest to head home a 24th-minute winner at Oakwell to send Bolton’s promotion dreams down the plughole.
Barnsley edged past Bolton in a nervy semi-finalCredit: Getty
Michael Duff could take the Tykes back up to the Championship at the first time of askingCredit: Reuters
Barnsley will play Sheffield Wednesday in the League One play-off finalCredit: Getty
Michael Duff has done a fantastic job since taking the Barnsley job in the summer.
Not only has he managed to build a team that has rediscovered the knack of winning after relegation but rebuilt bridges between the club and fans.
And this was a trademark performance from a Duff team — well organised, lots of energy and hard work — while Ian Evatt’s Bolton were slow and ponderous.
They had a golden chance to take an early lead after Bolton lost possession in their own area but Slobodan Tedic was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Ricardo Santos.
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But, down the other end, Dion Charles chested down a long Bolton ball before firing an effort from distance which Harry Isted kept out.
Devante Cole then smacked a low shot from the edge of the box that keeper James Trafford got down well to keep out.
In a breathless start, Herbie Kane drove forward before Kitching’s thumping effort was saved by Trafford.
Bolton were almost punished after being careless in possession. Kane overturned the ball and again produced a powerful run but his shot was kept out by Trafford.
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Barnsley moved in front with two pieces of quality – the cross and the header.
Luca Connell swung the ball in from the right and Kitching rose highest to bullet the ball past Trafford.
It was a piece of lousy defending from Bolton, who failed to get out of their box quick enough after they had defended an initial ball into the box and Kitching had so much time to set himself to meet the cross.
Bolton tried to probe for a leveller but were struggling to create anything meaningful.
And Trotters fans had hearts in mouths when after nice play from Kane and Connell, Kitching was through but his shot was saved by Trafford — although the assistant flagged offside.
Bolton did not do enough in the first half and needed to put more pressure on their hosts after the break.
They started dominating possession and seemed to have found an extra yard of pace.
Dion Charles charged into the Barnsley box and cut the ball back for Conor Bradley, who took a tumble under pressure from Mads Anderson — but ref Michael Salisbury waved away the protests.
Aaron Morley drove forward and fired a 30-yard effort high and wide and then George Thomason saw an effort charged down.
Barnsley had struggled to get out of their own half but Bolton were just lacking a cutting edge in the final third.
And the hosts almost punished them when Adam Phillips struck a cracking volley from 25 yards that crashed back off the bar.
But a moment of foolishness from Barnsley keeper Isted put his team under the cosh. He rashly handled the ball in his box after his team-mate Andersen attempted to play a pass to a team-mate.
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An indirect free-kick was awarded but Morley smashed it over the bar.
Jordan Williams almost grabbed a second at the death but they did not need it. Barnsley are going to Wembley where they will face Sheffield Wednesday. More

JAMIE CARRAGHER brutally mocked Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson after his side’s astonishing play-off defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.The Posh went into the second leg of their semi-final tie with a 4-0 lead over Darren Moore’s men.
Darren Ferguson watched his Peterborough side unravel against Sheffield WednesdayCredit: PA
Jamie Carragher couldn’t help himself as he handed out a Fergie-related digCredit: Getty
The Liverpool legend jovially tweeted following Sheffield Wednesday’s late goal
But a remarkable turnaround at Hillsborough saw Sheffield Wednesday send the game to extra-time thanks to a 98th-minute Liam Palmer strike.
It then went to penalties after finishing 5-1 at the end of 120 minutes.
And Wednesday clinched a 5-3 victory in the shoot-out to book their place at Wembley where they will face Barnsley or Bolton.
Carragher tweeted his excitement when Palmer’s stoppage-time goal brought the tie level, taking to Twitter to simply say: “OMG!!!!!!!”
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He then followed that up moments later with a cheeky dig, adding: “Fergie time!”
The post was in reference to the dad of the Peterborough boss, Sir Alex Ferguson.
The ex-Manchester United manager was famous for clinching games in added time during his 27 years at Old Trafford.
It was such a regular occurrence that the phrase “Fergie time” was coined.
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But on this occasion that very same “Fergie time” came back to bite son Darren as Peterborough suffered play-off heartbreak.
They were hoping to return to the Championship at the first time of asking following relegation from the second tier last season.
But despite sneaking into the play-offs on the final day, they came up short against Wednesday in an all-time classic tie.
Ferguson returned to the club for a FOURTH spell in January, just 11 months after his third stint came to an abrupt end.
Ferguson is widely regarded as one of football’s greatest ever managersCredit: PA More

DARREN MOORE has revealed the inspiring secret behind Sheffield Wednesday’s incredible play-off comeback.The Owls booked their place in the League One play-off final after a record-breaking display against Posh.
Sheffield Wednesday pulled off a play-off miracle against PeterboroughCredit: Getty
Darren Moore has revealed some key secrets behind the remarkable comebackCredit: Rex
They battled back from 4-0 down in the first-leg to Peterborough to eventually go on and beat them in a shootout last night after a 5-1 win.
That sparked jubilant scenes at Hillsborough with supporters invading the pitch as they celebrated making it to Wembley.
However, one over-excited invader appeared to take out a linesman after bolting onto the pitch.
Wednesday are now preparing to face either Bolton or Barnsley in the final to battle it out for Championship football.
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Boss Moore has now revealed several key bits of inspiration and magic that helped his team do the impossible against Peterborough.
The former West Brom defender, who was the victim of vile racist abuse following their first-leg trouncing, said: “When it came to penalties we were prepared for it.
“We’ve worked on them in training.
“We got the goals, we kept our head in the moments.”
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The 49-year-old added: “We had a strong belief, we honestly did.
“We showed them videos of great comebacks in the week.
“The mindset was right.”
Wednesday will discover who they will meet at Wembley later tonight when Bolton travel to Barnsley following last week’s 1-1 draw. More

A SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY fan who ripped up his ticket for his side’s play-off miracle against Peterborough has gone viral.Darren Moore’s men were thumped 4-0 in their semi-final first leg last week.
Sheffield Wednesday overturned a four-goal deficit to reach the play-off finalCredit: Getty
One Sheffield Wednesday fan was not happy after their first-leg hammeringCredit: Twitter
He filmed himself ripping up his ticket for the second legCredit: Twitter
He then put two fingers up to the cameraCredit: Twitter
But the Owls staged an incredible turnaround at Hillsborough on Thursday evening.
Leading 4-0 after 90 minutes and 5-1 after extra-time, they booked their spot at Wembley with a 5-3 victory on penalties.
And the result brought about the re-emergence of a clip from Wednesday fan Josh Jackson ripping up his ticket after the first-leg loss.
He can be seen tearing up the paper before putting two fingers up to the camera.
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It now looks like a foolish decision given the breathtaking second leg.
But he took it all in his stride when one social media user asked: “How are you feeling now mate? 😂😂”
To which he replied: “On top of the world.”
Reacting to the original video, one person responded: “Live and learn. It’s a long journey.”
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While another added: “His act willed his team to perform. He must be ecstatic!!”
Sheffield Wednesday, who narrowly missed out on automatic promotion, will now face either Bolton or Barnsley in the play-off final on May 29.
They are bidding to return to the Championship after two seasons in the third tier. More

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY produced a sensational FOUR-GOAL comeback to book their place in the League One play-off final.The Owls went into tonight’s semi-final second leg trailing 4-0 from last week’s disastrous clash at London Road.

Sheffield Wednesday celebrate their dramatic comebackCredit: Sky Sports
Liam Palmer wheels away in celebrationCredit: Reuters
Wednesday score their dramatic levellerCredit: Rex
Sheffield Wednesday fans invaded the pitch after the matchCredit: SKY SPORTS
In getting through, Wednesday became the first team in EFL play-off history to overcome a three-plus goal first leg deficit to reach a final.
Darren Moore’s side stormed into an early lead on the night via Michael Smith’s ninth minute penalty, with Lee Gregory making it two on 25 minutes.
Reece James put them back within one goal with 20 minutes remaining, but their hopes appeared to be ebbing away during stoppage time.
Ninety seconds over the allocated six additional minutes, however, Liam Palmer sparked pandemonium by prodding home the most dramatic of equalisers.
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The Scotland international was mobbed by his team-mates, while a smattering of fans even invaded the pitch to celebrate with the players.
Moore himself was the calmest man in Hillsborough – coolly clapping his players for their late leveller.
The dramatic leveller prompted a huge reaction on social media.
One fan wrote: “Peterborough deserve that. They were absolutely dreadful.”
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Palmer screams in pure delightCredit: Reuters

While a second tweeted: “When football is at it’s absolute best, there’s no sport within a million miles of it. Absolutely unbelievable.”
Making reference to Posh’s manager Darren Ferguson, son of Sir Alex, Jamie Carragher tweeted: “Fergie time!”
The match then went into extra time… but Peterborough provided yet another twist…
On the stoke of half-time, the Posh sensationally went back in front after Gregory inadvertently headed a free-kick into his own net.
Peterborough were only back in the lead until the 112th minute, however, when Callum Paterson coolly slotted home ANOTHER Wednesday equaliser to make it 5-1 on the night.
The match then went to penalty kicks, with Dan Butler the unfortunate man to miss from 12 yards for Posh.
Everyone else scored, with Jack Hunt netting Wednesday’s winner to mark a historic comeback – sparking a dramatic pitch invasion.
Following the incredible 5-3 shoot-out outcome, one fan gushed: “Wow. What a great comeback from Sheffield Wednesday. Unbelievable. The greatest play off comeback in EFL playoff history.”
Another added: “What a story. Surely the greatest playoff comeback of all time.”

Wednesday will face Barnsley or Bolton at Wembley on May 29 for a place in the Championship.
Barnsley host the Trotters tomorrow night having drawn 1-1 in last week’s first leg.

Jack Hunt’s winning penalty sparked pandemoniumCredit: SKY SPORTS More