Sheffield Wednesday hero relives Play-Off joy, explains that picture…

Wallace was the hero for the Owls over the two legs against Brighton & Hove Albion back in 2016, scoring the opener in the first leg and equaliser in the second, twice scoring from range as the Owls booked their place in the final against Hull City.

It wasn’t to be that year as Wednesday were eventually beaten 1-0 at Wembley, but the Scotsman says that he’ll never forget that evening at Hillsborough, calling it a ‘crescendo’ of noise inside the famous stadium in S6.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Wallace – now at St. Mirren – said, “Time has flown by so quickly, I can’t quite believe it’s four years, but I remember that night and that game like it was yesterday. Even before the game, with the build-up in the stadium, you just had that feeling you were going to part of something special.

“The atmosphere built into a crescendo and just before the game kicked off I remember taking a step back and looking all around the stadium. As a footballer you don’t get to experience too many things like that, the noise, the vibe, was just incredible.

“When we scored the roof came off but when we got the second it was something I have never seen or experienced in my career. The lights were everywhere, the noise went to another level and the feeling was just… Well, you can’t really put it into words. I swear the place was moving…”

Amongst the madness, ‘Fessi’ found time to play a little prank on Wallace though, telling him his goal was offside after the forward had previously had his goal ruled out.

He recalls, “It was almost half time and I remember picking up the ball and I saw Hunty charging down the right from the corner of my eye. Normally I would play him in but not this time I thought, I’m having a go. I hit it sweet and knew straight away it was in. The adrenaline rush takes over and I didn’t know what to do or where to go to be honest! I just kind of wheeled to that far corner which I always did for some reason.

“Then Fernando was telling me to look at the linesman, it was offside and I thought ‘no, no… no way…’ but of course he was winding me up so I had all those emotions again in the space of a few seconds.”

The home leg of the tie was wrapped up by Kieran Lee as Wednesday took a 2-0 lead into the second game down south, with Wallace again proving his worth to help finish the job a few days later at the Amex.