80% pass accuracy, 5 recoveries: Sheffield Wednesday craftsman inspires win over Wimbledon

Sheffield Wednesday picked up another crucial win in League One’s race for the play-offs on Saturday, sinking AFC Wimbledon eventually with a 92nd minute goal from Lee Gregory.

Gregory’s stoppage time header might’ve been the headline act at Hillsborough as Darren Moore’s side moved fifth in the table, but once again, it was Barry Bannan pulling the strings for the Owls.

There’s no denying that in the Scot, Moore has a player whose quality deserves a bigger stage. Yet, such is Bannan’s commitment to Sheffield Wednesday, he’s crafting their route back into the Championship.

On Saturday, everything went through the 32-year-old as he patrolled the centre of the pitch.

Bannan finished the 90 minutes with a passing accuracy of 80%, whilst 71% of his passes forwards were accurate too, according to Wyscout.

It wasn’t just in possession where Bannan was effective, though, with the Wednesday skipper winning his only defensive duel, as well was completing five recoveries (three of which came in the Wimbledon half) and making two interceptions.

Those stats helped Wednesday on their way to gaining control of the fixture, but it was Bannan’s contribution in the final third that was truly worth its weight in gold.

Moore watched on as Bannan created five shooting opportunities for his teammates, largely through his pinpoint crossing.

In the first-half, Bannan’s cross eventually found Jack Hunt at the far post, with the defender stooping low to head Wednesday into the lead.

Ayoub Assal would haul Wimbledon level on 22 minutes, with a goal that looked like pegging Wednesday back, despite all Bannan created.

However, in the 92nd minute, as Bannan picked up a ball on the left, he whipped another of those killer crosses onto the head of