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. goal

    GOAL: Peterborough 3-0 Sheff Wedpublished at 21:12 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    Kwame Poku (50 mins)

    Peterborough scoreImage source, Getty Images

    MY WORD!!!

    Three shots on target for the home side, three goals!

    They get forward down their left and Ephron Mason-Clark sends a beautiful cross to the back stick where Kwame Poku is totally unmarked and heads home from six yards.

    Sheffield Wednesday in disarray!

  2. Postpublished at 49 mins

    Peterborough 2-0 Sheff Wed

    Sheffield Wednesday win a free-kick right on the angle of the area on their left.

    Barry Bannan sends it to the back post where Michael Ihiekwe heads wide under pressure.

    He got up tremendously... Think he'll want that one back.

  3. Postpublished at 46 mins

    Peterborough 2-0 Sheff Wed

    Joe Ward smashes a bouncing ball well over the bar.

    The full-back had rather more luck when his effort in the first half deflected into the back of the net.

  4. Second halfpublished at 21:07 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    Peterborough 2-0 Sheff Wed

    We're back under way.

    What do Sheffield Wednesday do here?

    They can not afford to go any further behind but they won't want to go into the second leg trailing by two.

    For Peterborough, this is set up perfectly.

  5. get involved

    Get Involved - is the play-off system fair?published at 21:02 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

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

    Ben Hewlett: I know everyone enters knowing the potential outcome, but there needs to be a limit. When you’re that much better over a season, the league above isn’t getting the best team, which is bad for the game. Look at Notts County - they could miss out on promotion despite finishing more than 30 points ahead of third.

    Fat Sam's Disco: The play-offs are a rip-off. Teams should get rewarded over a season.

    Dave Edwards: The play-offs always deliver drama.

    Some strong words from Ben there... A Wednesday fan by any chance? The Owls finished 19 points above Posh in the regular season.

    Keep your thoughts on the game coming to us on Twitter using #bbcefl.

  6. 'Tale of two goalkeepers'published at 20:58 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    HT: Peterborough 2-0 Sheff Wed

    Brian Laws
    Ex-Sheff Wed manager on BBC Radio Sheffield

    Wednesday have given the Peterborough fans opportunities to sing.

    We said before the start that every Wednesday player had to be right on top of their game. It's a tale of two goalkeepers. Will Norris has kept Sheffield Wednesday out twice with those saves from Michael Smith and Josh Windass. At the other end, Cameron Dawson has made a right rick for Peterborough's first goal.

    The next goal has to be Wednesday's. It's unthinkable that Peterborough would get the next one.

  7. 'Posh are pressing better'published at 20:54 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    HT: Peterborough 2-0 Sheff Wed

    Gaby Zakuani
    Ex-Peterborough defender on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

    Peterborough will take that all day long, especially with the way we gatecrashed the play-off party.

    A lot of people didn't expect us to be here and we're playing a team who finished 19 points above us, but here we are - it's 2-0.

    The two teams are really trying to press each other because they know they're both comfortable on the ball. Posh are doing it better so far.

  8. HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:51 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    Peterborough 2-0 Sheff Wed

    Peterborough celebrateImage source, PA Media

    It's ALL going Peterborough's way so far.

    It's been classic play-off stuff.

    The away side had a great chance to open the scoring in the opening minutes but Michael Smith's shot was too close to home goalkeeper Will Norris.

    Jack Taylor then put the home side in front when his low shot beat Cameron Dawson at his near post and Posh doubled their money through Joe Ward's deflected effort.

    The Owls have kept their heads and looked to work their way back into it but Norris denied Josh Windass with a fine save.

  9. Postpublished at 45+3 mins

    Peterborough 2-0 Sheff Wed

    Just not happening for Wednesday as a pass goes out of play under no pressure at all.

    They need to get in and regroup here.

  10. INJURY TIMEpublished at 45 mins

    Peterborough 2-0 Sheff Wed

    Into four minutes of time added on.

    Can the Owls get back in this before the break?

  11. Postpublished at 44 mins

    Peterborough 2-0 Sheff Wed

    Another opening for the Owls.

    Michael Smith is left with time and space to measure a cross into the box and his centre is on to Josh Windass' head but it lacks power.

    You feel like Wednesday might wish that was the other way around.

  12. Postpublished at 40 mins

    Peterborough 2-0 Sheff Wed

    Good save from Will Norris to keep out Josh Windass' effort from inside the penalty area.

    The Owls opened the home side up there.

    They'll need to do more of that to get back in this.

  13. 'Wednesday must keep composure'published at 20:41 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    Peterborough 2-0 Sheff Wed

    Brian Laws
    Ex-Sheff Wed manager on BBC Radio Sheffield

    Wednesday are shellshocked. They're in panic mode at the moment.

    They've got to keep their composure on the ball, they can't just kick it everywhere. They'll get their chances, no doubt about it.

  14. 'I didn't see that coming'published at 20:41 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    Peterborough 2-0 Sheff Wed

    Gaby Zakuani
    Ex-Peterborough defender on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

    What a goal that is, Joe Ward. I didn't see that coming. He's got some backspin on it.

    Goals always look more spectacular when they go in off the crossbar. Unbelievable.

  15. goal

    GOAL: Peterborough 2-0 Sheff Wedpublished at 20:38 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    Joe Ward (36 mins)

    Joe Ward shootsImage source, Getty Images

    WOW!

    The home side double their money and they are in full control of this tie now.

    There's more than a slice of luck about it to be fair, but they're not going to care at all!

    Posh come forward with intent and move the ball to right-back Joe Ward just over 25 yards out.

    His shot takes a wicked deflection off Marvin Johnson's back and flies into the top corner.

  16. Postpublished at 32 mins

    Peterborough 1-0 Sheff Wed

    I'll say this for Peterborough's commitment to passing out from the back, it must have their own fans on the edge of their seats.

    Again they nearly play themselves into trouble before hurriedly hacking it away to the halfway line.

  17. Postpublished at 29 mins

    Peterborough 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Darren MooreImage source, Rex Features

    Sheffield Wednesday boss Darren Moore spoke about the expectation that is on his side to get out of this league.

    There's a long way to go in this yet and he'll have been pleased with the reaction his men have shown to falling a goal behind.

  18. 'Ferguson is very animated'published at 20:29 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    Peterborough 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Gaby Zakuani
    Ex-Peterborough defender on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

    Posh have been pretty comfortable. The only problems they've had have been ones they've created for themselves. There have not been too many alarms set by Sheffield Wednesday.

    Darren Ferguson will be very happy. He's very animated today - and the players are sticking to their gameplan.

  19. Postpublished at 24 mins

    Peterborough 1-0 Sheff Wed

    You often find that the first leg of play-off matches can be cagey affairs.

    Nothing of it in this one, certainly not now Peterborough have opened the scoring.

    The away side win a corner of their own and Callum Paterson manages to muscle free of his marker to get a shot at goal but it's blocked by team-mate Josh Windass.

    I think that might well have been goalbound.

    Moments later the Scot has a pop at goal that hits the top of the stand... Swings and roundabouts.

  20. 'Awful goal to concede'published at 20:25 British Summer Time 12 May 2023

    Peterborough 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Brian Laws
    Ex-Sheff Wed manager on BBC Radio Sheffield

    That was a terrible goal to let in. Cameron Dawson has been in fine form but he made a hash of the save.

    Jack Taylor received the ball in the 18-yard box and sent in a shot with no real pace on it, but somehow it's almost hit Dawson's chest and crawled into the corner.

    It's an awful goal to concede. This is a real test for Wednesday now. They left the backdoor slightly ajar and there was Taylor to score out of nothing.

    I don't know if Dawson slipped but he didn't look comfortable. I thought he'd smother the ball but it went under his body.