A special night for former Reggae Boy

Former Reggae Boy Darren Moore is on the brink of the biggest achievement of his managerial career after overseeing Sheffield Wednesday’s passage to the League One playoff final in the most dramatic of circumstances yesterday.

Trailing 4-0 to Peterborough after the first leg, Sheffield Wednesday came storming back to win the tie 5-3 on penalties after the second leg finished 5-1 after extra time and tied 5-5 on aggregate. It came a week after Moore was subjected to racial abuse on social media following the heavy first-leg defeat that resulted in the individual being banned from the club for life.

Moore praised the resilience and the fight of his squad but also was complimentary to his opponents on what was a special night for football.

“I thank Peterborough for the game because they were part of it. What we have done has not sunk in as yet because it has been a remarkable night for football. A real never-say-die by the boys,” Moore told Sky Sports. “We prepared all week. We planned after the first leg, and we changed our mindset and there was a real belief,” he added.

Moore took over as head coach at Sheffield Wednesday in March 2021, and while he could not prevent them from being relegated to the Championship that year, he has taken them to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

Sheffield Wednesday’s captain Barry Bannan dedicated the win to Moore after the racial abuse he suffered.

“What he’s done in the last week has been unbelievable. He had a massive job to do to turn this around and what he has done is unbelievable,” Bannan told Sky Sports. “I’m so proud of him and the way he’s handled this week after the racism he received as well. That shouldn’t be anywhere near football never mind a manager that’s won 96 points this season. So that’s one for him.”

Moore was one of the nominees for the EFL League One Manager of the Season after finishing in third place with 96 points, missing out on automatic promotion to the EFL Championship.

Sheffield Wednesday will face the winners of today’s other second-leg semi-final between Bolton Wanderers and Barnsley. The first leg finished in a 1-1 draw.