BARNSLEY lost to Sheffield Wednesday in the League One play-off final yesterday in a ‘cruel’ end to the season.

Michael Duff said losing in the 123rd minute to Sheffield Wednesday in the League One play-off final was ‘the cruellest way I have ever been beaten.’

Josh Windass headed home with almost the final touch of the match, which had looked likely to go to penalties at Wembley.

Barnsley had played for 70 minutes with ten men after a red card to Adam Phillips then lost 1-0.

Duff told the Chronicle: “I am very proud of the players but gutted for them. It is the cruellest way I have ever been beaten and I am 45 so I have been beaten quite a lot.

“It’s a cruel game, frustration is the overriding emotion again. The players gave us absolutely everything today which is all you can ask. Walking into an arena like this, there will obviously be regrets but one of them are their’s. They did everything they could.

“There is no guarantee we would have won the penalty shoot-out but that would have been a fairer way to lose if there is one. There are lots of tears. They are a young group and sometimes in football you have to learn the hard way.”