Barnsley v Sheffield Wednesday

It was just 12 months that Barnsley completed one of the worst seasons in the club’s recent memory, finishing bottom of the Championship with a measly 30 points and even finishing four points behind a Derby County side that started the campaign on -12. The following summer brought about a major boardroom shift-around, and most crucially in mid-June, the appointment of Michael Duff after a very successful spell at Cheltenham Town. He has now started the Tykes towards another D-Day at Wembley, where they will meet a side who have defied all the odds in Sheffield Wednesday.

Thursday 18^th May 2023 is a date that will go down in English football history. Six days prior, Sheffield Wednesday had been demolished 4-0 by Peterborough United at London Road in a game that had seemingly ended their promotion hopes before the second leg even began. Less than a week later, however, an all-out-attack side pulled off the seemingly impossible.

Goals in the 9^th, 25^th, 71^st, and 98^th minutes completed the biggest comeback in EFL Play-Off history, bringing the aggregate score back level and sending the tie to extra time, where Sheffield Wednesday once again had to recover from going behind to send the tie all the way to a victorious penalty shootout.

A game between two sides who have bounced up and down divisions in recent years, but both will be clamouring for a chance to play in the second tier once again, and you can get involved by backing our Barnsley v Sheffield Wednesday bet builder tips below. We'll be backing it with Paddy Power, and you can toot through the offer below. Not only will you get access to the bet builder, but you'll also get your stake refunded in full even if it loses.

The magic Duff

In just one season, Michael Duff has transformed the Tykes into a realistic promotion pusher, far above pre-season expectations of simply steadying the ship when back in the third tier. Duff’s team have become an excellent, gung-ho outfit that recorded 86 points during the regular season. Having overcome Bolton Wanderers with a second-leg victory at Oakwell, Barnsley now head back to a stadium they played at twice in 2015-16, winning both the League One play-off final and EFL Trophy final under the famous arch. A second promotion in three seasons is still on the cards for the very impressive Michael Duff.

Barnsley team news

Michael Duff has a full squad to pick from and barring any last-minute setbacks, the starting line-up should almost write itself.

Luton Town loanee Harry Isted will retain his place in goal, sat behind a back three of Liam Kitching, Mads Andersen, and Burnley loanee Bobby Thomas. Nicky Cadden and Jordan Williams will take up the wing-back roles, with the trio of Herbie Kane, Luca Connell, and Adam Phillips likely to form the midfield three.

Barnsley have a quartet of strikers to choose from as part of the front two. Devante Cole and Manchester City loanee Slobodan Tedić started both play-off games against Bolton Wanderers and could be fancied to form the starting pair again at Wembley. James Norwood and Cardiff City loanee Max Watters are the alternatives.

The greatest comeback you will ever see

The Hillsborough game is a magnificent story of redemption for the entire Sheffield Wednesday squad, and indeed manager Darren Moore who came under severe fire for the first-leg performance after painfully missing out on automatic promotion despite collecting 96 points. Breaking the record for third place in the third tier this season, and now witnessing one of the greatest play-off games in the history of the sport, Owls fans and players should believe that it is their destiny to emerge the victors from this Wembley final against feisty South Yorkshire rivals. They will flock to London in their thousands.

Sheffield Wednesday team news

The Sheffield Wednesday team sheet on Monday will be incredibly intriguing. Darren Moore’s second-leg team was understandably as attack-heavy as possible from the off. Every single available forward started in a top-heavy 3-4-1-2, and even centre-back Aden Flint was deployed as an additional emergency striker by the end of normal time. There isn’t the need to go so gung-ho from the off at Wembley, but could that second leg have uncovered some hidden truths about the actual best set-up for Wednesday to overcome Barnsley?

Cameron Dawson should retain his place in goal. Blackpool loanee Reece James joined Michael Ihiekwe and Dominic Iorfa in a very dynamic back three at Hillsborough. Moore may choose however to deploy the towering Aden Flint back in defence from the off though and move James further up into midfield or wing-back. 

Marvin Johnson feels a certain at left-wing-back. Right-wing-back though is an interesting discussion. Liam Palmer is usually preferred to that, but Sheffield Wednesday found success in the second leg with Callum Paterson instead being deployed out there and with Palmer moved into midfield alongside Barry Bannan. That set-up could be repeated at Wembley, which would leave Will Vaulks on the bench if Josh Windass is once again preferred in his free-roam attacking midfield role.

Lee Gregory had to wear a mask in the second leg but was able to play 109 minutes and make a key impact alongside Michael Smith. There is the option to deploy one of Paterson or Windass up top instead if Darren Moore prefers a different combination.

Barnsley v Sheffield Wednesday Cheat Sheet

Priced at 1.44 for a shot on target, Wednesday's leading attacking outlet Michael Smith could be a shrewd choice to add to any potential bet builder. The former Rotherham man ranks top of Wednesday's shooting metrics (1.30 shots on target per game) and even managed three shots on target in the miracle comeback against Peterborough.

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Barnsley v Sheffield Wednesday bet builder tips

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* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets *

* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing *