Barnsley conceded with 15 seconds left before a penalty shoot-out as they lost their League One play-off final 1-0 to Sheffield Wednesday – having played with ten men since the 50th minute.

Josh Windass headed home in injury-time at the end of extra-time to break the hearts of a Reds team who had produced a heroic effort at Wembley.

Adam Phillips was controverisally sent off five minutes into the second half – just after his side were denied what looked a clear penalty – but Barnsley had the better chances in the 90 minutes before defending heroically in extra-time.

Reds fans, despite being outnumbered by more than 20,000, were loud throughout and cheered their heroes off at the end.

Michael Duff kept the same 11 as for both of the semi-final legs against Bolton Wanderers. Robbie Cundy replaced Barry Cotter on the bench.

Wednesday had the first chance in the ninth minute when a cross from the left was headed down to Dominic Iorfa whose volley eight yards out was too close to Harry Isted who pushed it away.

Adam Phillips then volleyed a tough chance over from 15 yards in the 15th minute after Slobodan Tedic headed a Luca Connell cross into his path.

Nicky Cadden shot well over from just outside the box after a Connell corner was headed out.

Bobby Thomas then headed a Connell corner over under pressure from a marker 12 yards out in first half stoppage time.

Tedic then had a shot blocked in the box after Cadden was gifted the ball and found Phillips who fizzed a good pass into the striker in the box. Tedic was taken off at the break for James Norwood.

Barnsley appealed for a penalty three minutes into the second half when Liam Kitching appeared to be kicked in the box by Lee Gregory. The VAR looked at the incident but ruled against a penalty.

Phillips was sent off minutes later for a tackle on Gregory.

The ten men almost took the lead five minutes later when Cadden’s shot was flicked by the head of Kitching onto the crossbar.

Wednesday almost took the lead when Bannan beat Connell in the box but curled over from 12 yards out on the left.

Cadden then burst into the box on the left and forced Cameron Dawson to push a powerful shot over.

Isted then made a fine save, sticking out a left hand to stop the ball after Bobby Thomas deflected a low cross towards his own goal. Josh Windass shot wide of the bottom right corner from 20 yards.

Barnsley were the better side for the final quarter of the 90, despite having a man fewer – showing great character and being roared on by their fans.

Norwood brilliantly outmuscled two Owls defenders to win the ball on the right of the box, then unleashed a powerful shot from a tight angle which Dawson impressively tipped over.

Substitute Josh Benson came off injured in the 90th minute, having been brought on in the 72nd, and was replaced by Jon Russell.

Wednesday were on top in extra-time.

Mads Andersen cleared off the line from Michael Ihiekwe’s header off a Will Vaulks cross. Bannan then shot just over from outside the box.

Isted produced an incredible point-blank save from Michael Smith two yards out then Jordan Willliams brilliantly threw himself in front of Lee Gregory’s follow-up.

Isted also kept Bannan’s 20-yard shot out of the bottom right corner then, on the counter-attack from the resulting corner, Kitching and Luke Thomas worked the ball to Connell who sliced wide with the goal gaping eight yards out.

Will Vaulks found the top right corner from 20 yards just after half-time in extra-time, but the linesman rightly ruled it out for offside in the build-up.

The winner saw Windass power home a header from a left-wing cross then play re-started for two seconds before the full-time whistle.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Isted; B Thomas, Andersen, Kitching; Willliams, Phillips, Connell, Kane (Benson 72 (Russell 90)), Cadden (Watters 105); Tedic (Norwood HT), Cole (L Thomas 72).

Unused: Collins, Cundy.

Yellow cards: B Thomas

Red cards: Phillips.

Wednesday (3-5-2): Dawson; Iorfa, Ihiekwe, James (Hunt 103); Paterson (Vaulks 79), Palmer, Bannan (Dele-Bashiru 116), Johnson, Windass, Gregory, Smith. Unused: Stockdale, Flint, Brown, Adeniran.

Goals: Windass 120+3.

AS IT HAPPENED
  • 1 Sheffield Wednesday get the game underway, kicking towards the Barnsley fans.
  • 3:01pm
    1 Fast start to the game. The Reds win an early free kick in their own half and they're putting immense pressure on the Owls. Still 0-0.
  • 3:03pm
    3 Barnsley have started the better of the two sides, they've settled down a little better.
  • 3:04pm
    5 First real chance goes to the Owls. Michael Smith whips a ball into Gregory, but his header is straight at Isted.
  • 3:08pm
    8 So close to 1-0 to Sheffield Wednesday. Barry Bannan's volley is expertly headed behind by Thomas. Corner to the Owls.
  • 3:09pm
    9 Wednesday come close again. They've taken control of the game now. Barnsley lucky to be level.
  • 3:12pm
    13 Paterson is down in the Barnsley box. He's claiming the was clattered into by Isted, but it looked clean from the press box.
  • 3:14pm
    15 Best chance of the game is far falls to Phillips. It's Tedic who heads the ball back to the midfielder on the edge of the box, but his effort blazes over the bar. Good chance.
  • 3:17pm
    17 Tedic is down injured, holding his head, after a coming together with Ihiekwe.
  • 3:20pm
    21 The game has slowed down in the last few minutes. Both teams have now settled and had good chances. Nothing too separate the two as of yet.
  • 3:24pm
    24 Good spell of possession for Barnsley before they give it away. They probably kept the ball for well over a minute. Still even with no real chances since the Phillips effort.
  • 3:29pm
    29 Nothing to report in the last five minutes. The ball is mainly being played in the middle of the park.
  • 3:31pm
    32 Corner Reds.
  • 3:32pm
    33 Close. The corner is cleared by Bannan but only as far as Cadden win the edge of the box. But his effort is wild and over the bar. Still 0-0-.
  • 3:36pm
    36 Break in play as both Tedic and an Owls defender receive treatment.
  • 3:38pm
    39 Good chance for Wednesday. A good flick by Smith sets Gregory away but it comes to nothing.
  • 3:44pm
    44 Wednesday have a throw=in in a good position. But the Reds feel they should have had a free-kick way earlier in the move.
  • 3:45pm
    ADDED TIME
    Five minutes added on.
  • 3:46pm
    45+1 Corner Barnsley.
  • 3:46pm
    45+2 It's a great ball in from Connell who finds Bobby Thomas, but his effort is just over the bar.
  • 3:49pm
    45+5 Another corner for Barnsley but it should have been more. Tedic has space in. the box but he can't control it and Bannan clears.
  • 3:50pm
    HALF TIME: Barnsley 0 - 0 Sheffield Wednesday. It's been an even game and both sides go into half time level.
  • 4:05pm
    SUB ON
    James Norwood
  • 4:05pm
    SUB OFF
    Slobodan Tedic
  • 4:06pm
    46 Barnsley get the game back underway.
  • 4:07pm
    46 Norwood brilliant from the start, forcing a throw-in which Thomas will take.
  • 4:07pm
    47 Chants of VAR from the Barnsley fans who think Kitching has been fouled.
  • 4:08pm
    48 VAR was used, but no penalty given.
  • 4:10pm
    RED CARD
    Adam Phillips is sent off. It was a bad challenge but that didn't look a red at all.
  • 4:14pm
    51 The Reds will have to play the rest of the game with ten men. They were denied a clear penalty and the red card seemed harsh. Barnsley still don't have any luck on their side despite VAR in use.
  • 4:15pm
    56 Off the bar! It's so close to an opener for Barnsley as Cadden's strike deflects onto the bar.
  • 4:17pm
    57 Bannan should score. However his effort is high and wide. Really poor given the time he had.
  • 4:18pm
    57 Barnsley's turn to attack now as Cadden finds himself free in the box. Dawson does well to turn it behind.
  • 4:22pm
    61 Barnsley have been the better team since going down to ten men. They've had the better chances and probably should be ahead.
  • 4:25pm
    64 Josh Windass has a great chance for the Owls, but he fires wide.
  • 4:28pm
    67 Norwood has been superb since he came on. This time he weaves past two players and wins a throw-in.
  • 4:32pm
    71 Corner Wednesday.
  • 4:32pm
    SUB ON
    Josh Benson
  • 4:32pm
    SUB OFF
    Herbie Kane
  • 4:32pm
    SUB ON
    Luke Thomas
  • 4:33pm
    SUB OFF
    Devante Cole
  • 4:34pm
    73 Luke Thomas' first job is to run with the ball down the line and win a throw-in.
  • 4:39pm
    SUB OFF
    Callum Paterson
  • 4:39pm
    SUB ON
    Will Vaulks
  • 4:40pm
    79 There's 11 minutes plus any additional time. The Reds are playing well but it'll get harder as they go on.
  • 4:40pm
    79 SO CLOSE FROM NORWOOD. The striker almost gives the Reds the lead but Dawson does brilliantly to stop it.
  • 4:47pm
    86 Just over four minutes of normal time remaining. The Reds have done amazingly to stay in the game.
  • 4:50pm
    89 Benson is down injured just minutes after coming on.
  • 4:51pm
    SUB OFF
    Josh Benson
  • 4:51pm
    SUB ON
    Jon Russell
  • 4:51pm
    ADDED TIME
    Five minutes added time.
  • 4:56pm
    95 Bannan shoots from 35 yards. It's really poor and that should be that for normal time.
  • 4:57pm
    FULL TIME: Barnsley 0 - 0 Sheffield Wednesday. The game will go to extra time. The Reds have played the majority of the second half with ten men and were denied a clear penalty.
  • 5:01pm
    91 Sheffield Wednesday get the game back underway.
  • 5:02pm
    91 Early corner for the Owls.
  • 5:04pm
    93 Off the line by Andersen. Wednesday think they've taken the lead but the Great Dane clears off the line.
  • 5:04pm
    93 Off the line by Andersen. Wednesday think they've taken the lead but the Great Dane clears off the line.
  • 5:06pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Bobby Thomas is booked for bringing down Bannan. Good chance for Wednesday.
  • 5:08pm
    97 Isted was left praying as Bannan's shot is inches away from the back of the net.
  • 5:10pm
    99 Absolutely incredible from the Barnsley defenders and 'keeper. Wednesday looked certain to score but they put their bodies on the line. Still 0-0.
  • 5:13pm
    102 WHAT A SAVE. Harry Isted has just kept the score at 0-0 with a fantastic save. One of the best.
  • 5:14pm
    103 How has Luca Connell not given Barnsley the lead? It's superb from Kitching but runs through the defence before playing through Thomas, who puts it on a plate for Connell who misses a sitter.
  • 5:14pm
    SUB ON
    Jack Hunt
  • 5:14pm
    SUB OFF
    Reece James
  • 5:16pm
    ADDED TIME
    One minute added on.
  • 5:17pm
    HALF TIME OF EXTRA TIME: It's still 0-0. Both sides had incredible chances to take the lead. We're 15 minutes from penalties.
  • 5:20pm
    SUB OFF
    Nicky Cadden
  • 5:20pm
    SUB ON
    Max Watters
  • 5:20pm
    105 Barnsley get the second half of extra time back underway.
  • 5:22pm
    Wednesday think they've scored but it's offside. Bannan hasn't stooped celebrating.
  • 5:24pm
    110 Stop in play as the linesman gets his equipment back working.
  • 5:25pm
    111 Bannan volleys from range but it's straight at Isted. Bannan now down with cramp.
  • 5:28pm
    112 More and more players going down with cramp. Barnsley fans in full voice throughout.
  • 5:30pm
    SUB OFF
    Barry Bannan
  • 5:30pm
    SUB ON
    Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
  • 5:32pm
    117 Gregory looks almost certain too score. But Mads Andersen does what he does best and got in the way of the shot. Heroic defending from Barnsley's captain.
  • 5:35pm
    /119 One minute left of the game. Barnsley have a free kick unbeaten their own box - could there be one more chance
  • 5:35pm
    ADDED TIME
    Three minutes.
  • 5:39pm
    GOAL!
    Sheffield Wednesday win it with seconds to go.
  • 5:39pm
    GOAL!
    Sheffield Wednesday win it with seconds to go.
  • 5:39pm
    Josh Windass with the goal. Heartbreak for the Reds who didn't deserve this.
  • 5:40pm
    FULL TIME.
  • 5:41pm
    Sheffield Wednesday win it with the last kick of the game. So unlucky for Barnsley who didn't deserve that at all. Barnsley had a man sent off wrongly and weren't awarded a penalty. The football Gods weren't on Barnsley's side today.

READ MORE: Reds aim to win Blackpool’s ‘cup final’ and avoid final day drama