Barry Bannan on special Darren Moore relationship fuelling Sheffield Wednesday's promotion drive as he gets set for Wembley

Physically, they couldn’t be more different.

One is a 6ft 2in Brummie, a former centre-half who wouldn’t look out of place at the door of a nightclub. The other is a wee Scottish guy who’s built like the side of a fiver but with a wand of a left foot. Chalk and cheese doesn’t quite cover it. But together? Darren Moore and Barry Bannan are a force to be reckoned with. And the strength of their bond isn’t just about manager and player.

It symbolises much more than that. Their connection goes beyond football. It’s man to man. One human being to another. When Bannan addressed his Sheffield Wednesday team-mates after their epic League One play-off semi-final miracle against Peterborough, his words came from the heart. He didn’t do it to curry favour with his boss who, just days before, had been the victim of vile racist abuse. And it wasn’t him getting carried away in the ecstasy of a penalty shoot-out win that defied all odds.

Bannan did it because he cares. And because - irrespective of their appearance, background, physique or colour of skin - they’re the same. Same values, same morals, same standards, same respect. And the same will to win that both hope will come to the fore at Wembley on Monday afternoon.

Bannan will lead out Sheffield Wednesday as captain against Barnsley in the play-off final, with promotion to the Championship up for grabs. And Moore will be in the dugout hoping to somehow top that memorable win over Peterborough.

As he reflected on the achievement, and what it meant to them both, Bannan told Record Sport : “The gaffer has been through a lot in the last eight weeks. We were in first place in the league and he was the best manager in the world.

“Everyone loved him and said he was doing an amazing