Summary

  • Two goals in each half see Peterborough stun Sheff Wed

  • Taylor, Ward, Poku & Clarke-Harris with the goals

  • Owls finished third on 96 points - EFL record for team not going up automatically

  • Posh leapfrogged Derby on final day to seal last play-off spot on 77 points

  • Second leg at Hillsborough on Thursday (20:00 BST)

  • Bolton v Barnsley in other semi-final, first leg on Saturday (15:00 BST)

  • Winners will meet in Wembley final on 29 May

  • Predict your three play-off winners using #bbcefl

  1. We've only just begun...published at 22:15 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    #bbcefl

    Josh WindassImage source, Rex Features

    So, game one of the EFL play-offs is done and dusted, and what a game it was (if you're a Peterborough fan certainly) but we've still got 14 left to go!

    If tonight's game is anything to go by then we are in for an absolute treat.

    Posh absolutely blew the Owls away tonight with a thumping 4-0 victory and you can read the report from the match just here.

    We've got three more play-off matches for you tomorrow, with one from each division.

    For starters we have the other League One tie as Barnsley head to Bolton at 15:00 BST, then for main course it's Sunderland v Luton in the Championship at 17:30 and for dessert (this has got pretty laboured now hasn't it?) the League Two match-up between Salford and Stockport.

    Hope you can join us then and thanks for your company this evening.

    Cheers!

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:10 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    Tweet using #bbcefl or Text 81111 (UK standard rates apply)

    Mike, Hull: As a Wednesday fan, this hurts. After putting together such a good season, we’ve capitulated in the worst of fashions. The games against Forest Green and Burton have cost us dearly.

    Anon: Wednesday can't handle the big games. Bottled it against Barnsley, which cost us our momentum and ultimately the league, and tonight they have bottled it again. I am embarrassed to be a Wednesday fan but I expect nothing better.

    Understandably downbeat mood among Wednesday fans. Again, they finished 19 points above Peterborough in the regular season.

  3. Postpublished at 22:07 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    FT: Peterborough 4-0 Sheff Wed

    Sheff Wed dejectedImage source, Rex Features

    Prior to tonight the only other time the Owls conceded four times in a game was when their club record 23-match unbeaten run came to an end with a 4-2 reverse at Barnsley in March.

    They've certainly chosen their moments to have these games...

  4. 'Players will be pilloried'published at 22:05 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    FT: Peterborough 4-0 Sheff Wed

    Brian Laws
    Ex-Sheff Wed manager on BBC Radio Sheffield

    The players have let themselves down with the performance. The fans have let them know that.

    The problem with the players is they're caught in a position where they will get pilloried whether they go over or not. They're going to have to stick their chests out and take that on the chin because that performance tonight was really poor.

    There's always hope. I know it's very, very small - it's barely alight. What's the point in doing the second leg if you don't believe? They might not win it but they can try to overturn this awful game tonight.

    The fans will be pessimistic and think it's impossible. The only people who can change that are the players. They've got to try to get a win.

    Let's give credit where credit's due: Peterborough did a job on Wednesday tonight. Their three forwards held back five players. Wednesday were two men down, because three have taken care of five.

  5. That Fry-day feelingpublished at 22:04 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    FT: Peterborough 4-0 Sheff Wed

    Darragh MacAnthony and Barry FryImage source, Rex Features

    Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony and director of football Barry Fry were in understandably high spirits at the end of the game.

    The mood was very different in the Sheffield Wednesday camp...

  6. 'Posh storm the party'published at 22:01 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    FT: Peterborough 4-0 Sheff Wed

    Gaby Zakuani
    Ex-Peterborough defender on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

    Peterborough fansImage source, Rex Features

    It's dreamland, really. It's unheard of: gatecrashing the play-off party and coming in a storm.

    Taking a 4-0 lead to Hillsborough, it really would take something to blow this now. They can concede up to three goals, but I'm hoping they keep a clean sheet.

    What you will see with Darren Ferguson is that he will probably downplay this result.

  7. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:57 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    Peterborough 4-0 Sheff Wed

    Peterborough celebrateImage source, Getty Images

    The most remarkable play-off semi-final first leg I think I've ever seen.

    Right, I'll just go from the start, shall I?

    Jack Taylor's shot squirmed under Cameron Dawson at the near post to give the home side an early lead and Joe Ward's deflected effort doubled the advantage before the break.

    Kwame Poku made it three after the break and then Jonson Clarke-Harris made it four with just under 10 minutes to go.

    Most Sheffield Wednesday fans left long before the end and those left now are making their feelings about their side's showing be known.

    The second leg is at Hillsborough on Thursday but surely this is all over?

  8. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 90+4 mins

    Peterborough 4-0 Sheff Wed

    Ephron Mason-Clark is off and Ricky-Jade Jones is on for the home side.

  9. Postpublished at 90+3 mins

    Peterborough 4-0 Sheff Wed

    Peterborough are just looking to see the game out with some keepball.

    They will go to Hillsborough on Thursday with the most handsome of leads.

  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:53 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    Tweet using #bbcefl or Text 81111 (UK standard rates apply)

    Damian: Momentum counts for everything. Posh were euphoric to have made the play-offs and the Owls were deflated not to get automatic promotion. Attitudes change outcomes.

    Bert Schouwenburg: Play-offs are always going to throw up some anomalies. Perhaps the best way to proceed would be to have single games rather than two legs, with the best-placed team at home.

    Julian Hudson, Norwich: The play-offs were brought in to reduce the number of meaningless end-of-season games at half-empty grounds. On the final day of the current Championship season, only two games had nothing riding on them. And there have been some cracking play-off finals over the years - true supporters' finals with so much at stake. The clubs voted them in, it has to be said. I'm in complete favour. They work a treat.

    Keep the thoughts coming - both on this tie and the play-offs in general.

  11. INJURY TIMEpublished at 90 mins

    Peterborough 4-0 Sheff Wed

    Six minutes of time added on.

    Six minutes of partying for the home fans.

    For the away fans who are left it's six minutes of hoping their side can find a goal to at least give themselves a glimmer of hope.

  12. Postpublished at 88 mins

    Peterborough 4-0 Sheff Wed

    Darren MooreImage source, Getty Images

    What on earth does Owls boss Darren Moore do between now and Thursday?

    In other news, Sheffield United's Twitter account has just posted a photo, external from their Premier League promotion parade.

    How about that for timing?

  13. Postpublished at 86 mins

    Peterborough 4-0 Sheff Wed

    Just to remind you.

    Sheffield Wednesday won 96 points in the regular season, they finished 19 points above Peterborough

    The play-offs man.

  14. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 85 mins

    Peterborough 4-0 Sheff Wed

    Wednesday bring on Reece James for Michael Ihiekwe.

  15. 'The nights you dream of'published at 21:47 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    Peterborough 4-0 Sheff Wed

    Gaby Zakuani
    Ex-Peterborough defender on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

    It's absolutely bouncing in here. These are the nights you dream of - for a semi-final to have such a one-sided scoreline.

  16. Postpublished at 84 mins

    Peterborough 4-0 Sheff Wed

    Dean Windass dejectedImage source, Rex Features

    I'm not sure I've ever seen a play-off game like this.

    In fact, I'm almost certain I haven't.

    The Owls end is rapidly emptying.

  17. 'They've been taken to the cleaners'published at 21:45 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    Peterborough 4-0 Sheff Wed

    Brian Laws
    Ex-Sheff Wed manager on BBC Radio Sheffield

    Incredible, absolutely incredible.

    I'm speechless with the way Wednesday have been defending. We've a back five who've been outdone by their front three. They've taken Wednesday to the cleaners.

    It's shambolic. Goodness knows what Darren Moore is thinking on the touchline, because this doesn't reflect a team that doesn't concede many goals. They've capitulated.

    So much has gone wrong tonight. This is an impossible task now.

  18. goal

    GOAL: Peterborough 4-0 Sheff Wedpublished at 21:43 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    Jonson Clarke-Harris (82 mins)

    Jonson Clarke-Harris scores for PeterboroughImage source, Rex Features

    He just had to have his say!

    Forget what I just said, this is all over now.

    Cameron Dawson makes a great reaction save from Jack Taylor initially but can do nothing when the latter chips the ball up to Jonson Clarke-Harris at the back post.

    That's 29 for the season for the big striker now.

    Quite unbelievable.

  19. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Peterborough 3-0 Sheff Wed

    Sheff Wed dejectedImage source, PA Media

    Into the final 10 minutes.

    You really do feel that Sheffield Wednesday MUST get a goal back if they're to have any chance of getting to Wembley.

    The second leg is at Hillsborough on Thursday.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:40 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    Peterborough 3-0 Sheff Wed

    Let's have a quick and highly unscientific poll.

    If this finishes 3-0 tonight do you give Wednesday any chance of getting through to the play-off final?

    Click the thumb up for yes and down for no.