Former Rangers man Josh Windass etches name into Sheffield Wednesday legend to secure promotion with last-gasp Wembley header

Former Rangers star Josh Windass nodded himself into Sheffield Wednesday history as his last-gasp winner send the Owls to the Championship at Wembley on Sunday.

The former Rangers man joined the Owls in 2020 after a successful loan spell culminated in a permanent move from Wigan, though he suffered relegation in his first full season with the Hillsborough-based outfit given their six-point deduction for breaching FFP rules in the second tier.

Play-off heartache last season saw the Owls miss out on an instant return to the Championship, and all seemed lost again this season when they lost 4-0 to Peterborough in the first leg of the play-offs. But a penalty shootout win after a 5-1 comeback booked a date for Wembley, and against fellow rivals Barnsley, the tie was taken to extra time.

READ MORE: Rangers Champions League key dates including draws and fixture schedule in bid to reach group stage

It was always going to take something special to win the tie, and when striker Lee Gregory clipped a cross to the centre of the penalty area, Windass unleashed his inner Robin van Persie to nod home in front of a sold-out Wednesday allocation – prompting him as their hero.

Windass has history of scoring in big games; he nabbed a goal against Celtic in the Old Firm derby back in 2017-18, and scored a huge goal for Wednesday earlier this season when they downed Premier League hopefuls Newcastle United in the FA Cup.

His father Dean had done the exact same for Hull City almost 15 years ago to the day, when his volley downed Bristol City to secure Premier League promotion for the Tigers.

Show Player

But for a club with an esteemed history such as Wednesday – who had secured 96 points but succumbed to the immense form of Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town in the race for an automatic spot – it means that there is now another legendary Windass running the rule in Yorkshire.