Posh will welcome Sheffield Wednesday to the Weston Homes Stadium in the play-offs after a perfect afternoon in Yorkshire.
It was always going to be a day of emotions. Peterborough United needed to look after their own business at Oakwell and did so in stunning style, beating Barnsley 2-0 and then it was whether Sheffield Wednesday could defeat Derby County – they did and now provide the opposition for Darren Ferguson’s men in the play-offs.
Posh made a bright start to the contest at Oakwell and opened the scoring on six minutes as a cross from Harrison Burrows was allowed to reach Jonson CLARKE-HARRIS, he took a touch and fired past goalkeeper Harry Isted for his 28th goal of the season in all competitions.
The Tykes had penalty appeals waved away as James Norwood took a tumble in the box under a challenge from Will Norris after Joe Ward’s dangerous back-pass. The home side had the ball in the back of the net through Norwood on the quarter-hour mark, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Devante Cole curled an effort over the crossbar from an incisive pass from Herbie Kane on 21 minutes as the home side came close to a leveller. At the other end, Jack Taylor fired over the crossbar from 30-yards after being afforded plenty of space in the middle of the park.
Joe Ward had a great chance to double the lead on 28 minutes after racing onto a Kwame Poku pass, but the winger decided to clip the ball across goal for a team-mate rather going for goal himself. Burrows saw a snap-shot from 25-yards held by Isted on 36 minutes while Cadden sliced a half-volley wide at the other end.
Cotter headed a corner wide of the target on the stroke of half-time as the first half entered one minute of added time. The hosts made a change at the interval with Max Watters replacing James Norwood in attack.
Poku was cautioned for a foul and received a warning moments later after another infringement by referee Mr Oldham. Thomas flashed a header wide of the target on the hour mark from an out-swinging corner kick from the left.
Darren Ferguson made a change two minutes later with Josh Knight replacing Poku. Taylor was denied by the legs of goalkeeper Isted on 64 minutes after a smart Posh move, which began with a good run from Mason-Clark.
Taylor was denied again by Isted, this time the midfielder had a crack with his left-foot before Barnsley made a triple change. Norris produced a superb one-handed save to keep out substitute Tedic from close-range on 68 minutes as the Tykes came close.
Taylor saw an effort deflect into the side-netting on 74 minutes after dispossessing Kitching on the half-way line. Two minutes later, and from the resulting corner kick, Posh doubled the lead as an in-swinging corner by Burrows was powered home at the near post by Jack TAYLOR.
Five minutes of added time was indicated by the fourth official. The full-time whistle was blown, but the squad and management had to wait two minutes for the final whistle to go at Hillsborough and when it did, there were wild celebrations as Posh secured their play-off spot.
Barnsley: Isted, Williams, Kitching, Cadden, Kane (sub Thomas 66min), Norwood (sub Watters 46min), Thomas, Cotter (sub Benson 65min), Phillips, Cole (sub Tedic 66min) Connell. Unused subs: Collins, Russell, Cundy.
Posh: Norris, Burrows, Ward, Kent, Edwards, Taylor, Norburn, Poku (sub Knight 62min), Mason-Clark, Clarke-Harris, Kyprianou. Unused subs: Blackmore, B. Thompson, Butler, Tshimanga, Jones, Randall.
Half-time: Barnsley 0-1 Peterborough United
Full-time: Barnsley 0-2 Peterborough United
Attendance: 14,419 (1,932 Posh fans)
Referee: Scott Oldham