Back
Few days in Sheffield Wednesday’s recent history come close to 29 May 2023.
The Owls headed to Wembley for the League One play-off final against South Yorkshire neighbours Barnsley, with promotion back to the Championship on the line. More than 72,000 supporters packed into the national stadium, and around 44,000 of them were Sheffield Wednesday fans.
That the Owls were there at all felt like a small miracle. Darren Moore’s side had been thrashed 4-0 by Peterborough United in the first leg of their semi-final, and few gave them any chance of turning it around. Instead, Hillsborough witnessed one of the greatest comebacks in play-off history. Wednesday won 5-1 on the night after extra time to level the tie and then held their nerve to win the shootout 5-3.
The final was a far tighter affair. Barnsley had beaten Wednesday home and away during the regular season, and a cagey first half finished goalless. The game turned shortly after the break, when Adam Phillips was sent off for a sliding challenge. Even with an extra man, though, the Owls couldn’t find a way through in 90 minutes.
Extra time brought more frustration, with a Sheffield Wednesday goal ruled out for offside, and a penalty shootout looked certain. Then, with the final seconds ticking away, a diving header in the 123rd minute sent the blue half of Wembley into delirium and the Owls back to the Championship.
Moore kept faith with the same starting XI that had pulled off the “Miracle of Hillsborough” days earlier, and those eleven names have been part of Owls folklore ever since.
Below, we’ve set you the challenge of naming Wednesday’s starting line-up from that afternoon at Wembley, and you’ve got 90 seconds to do it. Type a player’s surname and, if he started, he’ll drop straight into his position on the pitch. Small spelling slips won’t count against you.
When the clock runs out, any players you missed will be revealed in red. Check your score, share it and see if your mates can do better.
Football League World
Barnsley 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday (after extra time), Wembley, 29 May 2023. Type the surnames of Darren Moore's starting XI. Every player you get drops onto the pitch.
You have 90 seconds. Surnames are enough.
?GK
?RCB
?CB
?LCB
?RWB
?CM
?CM
?LWB
?ST
?ST