Brian Laws has shared what he heard Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan tell manager Darren Moore at Wembley yesterday. The Owls have been promoted to the Championship after defeating Barnsley in the most dramatic of circumstances.
Josh Windass sent the Wednesday supporters into sheer pandemonium in the third minute of stoppage time at the end of extra time. It proved to be the last kick of the game and sparked jubilant scenes in the capital.
In truth, the game had been pretty poor. After Adam Phillips was sent off for a shocking challenge on Lee Gregory, Wednesday struggled to break down a dogged and determined Barnsley outfit.
For Bannan, this was arguably his defining moment in a Wednesday shirt. With the armband strapped to his arm, he produced another energetic display, although he did have to leave the field with an injury.
Laws was covering the game for BBC Radio Sheffield. He’s shared what he saw the Wednesday skipper telling Moore as he toyed with the idea of seeing the game out, with penalties looming large.
He said live on air: “(Barry) Bannan is saying I don’t want to come off but sometimes you have to be the manager and say you’re coming off and make that decision for the player.
“He’s got to get some fresh legs on. Right now, he’s really struggling, he cannot carry on, he’s got to come off in this situation.”
Laws shared what Bannan said to Wednesday manager during extra time
The relationship between the Wednesday skipper and the manager is strong. Wednesday are lucky to have such influential characters at the club and long may that continue into next season.
Laws has managed the Owls previously. He can often be found these days giving his opinion on all things Wednesday on BBC radio and it was quite interesting what he had to say yesterday.
It doesn’t really come as a surprise to see Bannan want to stay on the pitch yesterday. That typifies the type of player he is and even at 35-years-old, he’s still one of the most influential players that Wednesday has.
Bannan will hope to have a strong pre-season with Wednesday now. Then, he will hope to come back in the summer and roar the Owls towards another successful season back in the Championship.
