Former Millwall forward plays crucial role in Sheffield Wednesday’s Championship promotion

Sheffield Wednesday won promotion to the Championship on Monday after they beat Barnsley 1-0 in extra time at Wembley – with ex-Millwall forward Lee Gregory playing a crucial role in the 120 minutes.

The 34-year-old led the line alongside ex-Wimbledon striker Michael Smith for Darren Moore’s side at Wembley.

His first contribution came in the 49th minute when Barnsley midfielder Adam Phillips was issued with a straight red card by referee Tim Robinson for a foul on Gregory. The decision was upheld by VAR and the Tykes were reduced to 10 men.

Gregory, who played 238 times for Millwall and scored 76 goals during his time at The Den, most decisive moment came in the 120th minute of extra time when he received the ball on the left-hand side of the penalty box and crossed for the arriving Josh Windass to head Wednesday into the Championship.

“It’s the stuff dreams are made of,” Moore said.

“You couldn’t write it. It finished a titanic game that ebbed and flowed both ways.

“This is a special moment for me because it means so many people in Sheffield are happy and positive. When a football club does well you see the knock-on it has in the city, in the community.

“It goes to show that the impossible can be achieved. It’s a fairytale story.”