Darren Moore swiftly turned his thoughts to the play-off challenge now facing Wednesday after our fading automatic promotion hopes were finally ended this afternoon.
With leaders Plymouth and second-placed Ipswich both winning today, our 3-0 win at Shrewsbury was not enough to take that bid for a top two place to the final day of the league season and it will be the play-offs for the Owls after next Sunday’s league finale at home to Derby in front of a Hillsborough full-house.
Moore said: “Now we have got another wonderful opportunity to win promotion through the play-offs and that’s what we have got to be looking at.
“I said it on Friday, I won’t look back because it takes energy and unspent energy isn’t what we need.
“We know with the points tally we have got where we would be over the course of any other season. But we’re not in any other season and that’s why we need to look forward.
“To get to 93 points is a credit to the players, now we focus on Derby next week at S6 and then the play-offs.”
Reflecting on the success at Shrewsbury, Moore said: “It was all about us doing our bit today. We wanted to come here and win and it was a good, comprehensive victory.
“Overall, the team put on a good performance and we controlled the game from start to finish. I thought we played with a confidence and assurance, we didn’t allow them any real momentum and came away with a clean sheet.”
Moore also praised hat-trick man Michael Smith, saying: “I’m delighted for Smudger. He works tirelessly for the team and I thought the first goal was an exceptional team effort.”
Referring to today’s backing from the sellout Wednesday following, Moore said: “The fans were tremendous. I said to the boys, ‘you’ve seen the reaction and they have complete belief and trust, they are with you all the way’.
“We had another full awayday travel today and we have a full house next week. So, it goes to show where the fans’ mindset is at.
“The biggest message I have for everybody is stick together and keep moving forward.”