The Premier League side suffered a 3-2 penalty shoot-out loss at Bramall Lane after a drab 90 minutes ended goalless.
Defeat continued a poor start to the season for the Blades, who have lost their opening three Premier League games.
They made nine changes for this match, but McCall said none of those players who came in pushed their case.
“A poor flat performance has given us a poor result, there’s no getting away from it,” he said.
“Credit to Lincoln, they made it difficult to play against, but we never moved the ball quick enough and got into areas we wanted to.
“If I’m being honest, we were bored ourselves watching it, we needed more impetus. We didn’t do enough to win the game. It seemed quite flat.
“We have to move on to a huge game on Saturday against Everton.
“There’s no excuses, the side we put out there should perform better. Take nothing away from Lincoln but we were pretty dull.
“We were desperate to win tonight and we put a team out that we believed we could do that.
“We were just boring really, we had no thrust. That is not what we want to be at Bramall Lane. Hugely disappointing throughout the night from start to finish. We can’t afford many of them.”
Lincoln were worthy of victory, which came after Lukas Jensen saved spot-kicks from Louis Marsh and Benie Traore to send his side through.
Boss Mark Kennedy was in philosophical mood after a first victory at Bramall Lane in 40 years.
“There’s only two things human beings fear when they’re born, that’s noise, and falling,” he said. “All the other fear some idiot puts in your head. There’s nothing to fear but fear itself.
“So go and embrace the moment, go and enjoy the day.
“And it’s nights like this that me personally and the players…live for. That’s what you get up for in the morning, win, lose or draw.
“You want to get your head out there, stick your chest out and sometimes you win and the rewards are incredible, the highs are high, the lows are so low, but for me that’s what you get up for, that’s what I come to work for every day.”
The first batch of players arrived at the camp in Leicester on Monday, April 3 while others arrived on Tuesday. The camp will end on April 11.
Besides Shaw, the other Reggae Girlz include Chantelle Swaby, Havana Solaun, Peyton McNamara, Sydney Schneider, Solai Washington and Tiffany Cameron. Also in camp are Allyson Swaby, Atlanta Primus, Drew Spence, Rebecca Spencer, Paige Bailey Gayle, and Kayla McKenna.
Cheyna Matthews, Kameron Simmonds Tiernny Wiltshire and Victoria Williams are also in the camp.
Jamaica has been drawn in Group F in the World Cup alongside Brazil, France and Panama.
The Reggae Girlz kick off their campaign against France on July 23 before facing Panama on July 29. They will then take on France on August 2.
Decisions made by UEFA and CONMEBOL to push back Euro 2020 and the Copa America until 2021 opened the door for domestic competition to continue longer than initially planned.
Upon announcing a four-week extension to the initially planned hiatus on Thursday, the Football Association (FA) revealed it would allow its leagues to continue beyond the June 1 deadline set out in its regulations.
The eventual run-in could prove to be heavily congested. Some Premier League teams are still competing on three fronts, others possess a game in hand, while UEFA is still hoping for a round of international matches in June.
If no games are cut out, we look at how the calendar for English teams could hypothetically shape up if competitions across Europe were able to resume following April 30.
May 2/3 - Matchday 30
May 7 - Postponed Europa League last-16 first legs and unplayed matchday 29 games
May 9/10 - Matchday 31
May 12/13/14 - FA Cup quarter-finals
May 16/17 - Matchday 32
May 19/20/21 - Champions League and Europa League last-16 second legs
May 23/24 - Matchday 33
May 26/27/28 - Champions League and Europa League quarter-final first legs
May 30/31 - Matchday 34
June 2/3/4 - Champions League and Europa League quarter-final second legs
June 6/7 - Matchday 35
June 13/14 - International week
June 20/21 - Matchday 36
June 23/24/25 - Champions League and Europa League semi-final first legs
June 27/28 - Matchday 37
June 30/July 1/2 - FA Cup semi-finals
July 4 - Matchday 38
July 7/8/9 - Champions League and Europa League semi-final second legs
July 11 - FA Cup final
July 15 - Europa League final
July 18 - Champions League final
The Premier League announced the results after 748 tests were administered across Sunday and Monday.
Those who were positive have been ordered to self-isolate for a week.
A statement read: "The Premier League can today confirm that, on Sunday May 17 and Monday May 18, 748 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19.
"Of these, six have tested positive from three clubs.
"Players or club staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for a period of seven days.
"The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and oversight.
"No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the Premier League due to legal and operational requirements."
The Premier League, like most major sporting competitions across the globe, has been on hiatus since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A decision to suspend the competition was taken after Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi were both found to have contracted COVID-19.
The Bundesliga became the first major European league to resume action at the weekend, while Premier League clubs have voted to return to training in small groups without contact work from Tuesday, despite reports over conflicts of interest among the 20 teams on aspects to do with 'Project Restart'.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said on Monday there was flexibility on the June 12 target for fixtures to be played.
The Sheffield United boss feels people have been too quick to target players, with widespread calls for them to take a pay cut.
On Friday the Premier League proposed a 30 per cent wage reduction to its member clubs and Wilder backed players across all levels of the sport to "do the right thing".
"They're conscious people. These boys are from working-class cities, very few of our players are privately educated," he told talkSPORT.
"They've got brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, mums and dads working at the NHS and not getting paid.
"They'll do the right thing through the PFA [Professional Footballers' Association]. Straight away everyone was onto footballers, pointing the finger, and I thought it was very poor and distasteful.
"There is a lot of money floating about, especially at the top, but this football country is not all about the Premier League, it goes right down to the National League and even below.
"Proper football people do the right thing."
The Owls reached Monday’s final in dramatic circumstances following a remarkable comeback against Peterborough in the semi-final, which saw them overturn a four-goal deficit in the first leg to then win 5-3 on penalties.
Their victory sets up a clash against Barnsley at Wembley with promotion to the Championship the prize and Moore is looking forward to the occasion between the South Yorkshire rivals.
He told a pre-match press conference: “Having two clubs so close together, it’s a Wembley final, two teams from Yorkshire competing for that final spot to get up into the Championship, it bodes well for a wonderful game.
“We’re just focusing on the game, focusing on the here and now and we’re looking forward to it.
“Like I said to the players, we’re to embrace this moment, embrace this time, because you’re embracing the moment in time not on your own.
“We have a multitude – an army – of fans with us as well as the staff, the players…it’s a oneness that we’ve always maintained throughout the season and that’s what we’ll see on Monday.”
Moore also recognised how special it is to play at Wembley, but stressed that he is preparing for it like “a normal game”.
“These times now are to be enjoyed, embraced, remember these times because they are special times,” he added.
“I said the beautiful thing about this for the players is you don’t stand there alone, I don’t have this as a lone figure as a manager because I feel I have a multitude that is with me.
“Players, staff, we’re all in it together, so we’re all approaching this together.
“My message has always been clear…to embrace this moment, enjoy the moment and within the club internally we’ve been planning and preparing as we would for a normal game.
“The game will quickly be upon us on Monday where we’ll get to compete and contest.”
The Tykes earned a league double over the Owls in the regular season for the first time since 2009, winning 2-0 at Hillsborough in September before securing a 4-2 win in the reverse fixture in March.
Despite Barnsley’s winning record against them this season, Moore is only focused on what is at stake on Monday.
“For me now what’s gone on has gone on before, we forget those things now and we focus on the here and now, the present.
“That’s what it is because the reason why the game’s being played at Wembley, it’s a final, the arena’s different, the atmosphere’s different, the mental side is different so it’s the here and now moment to deal with the games.”
Gareth Southgate names his next squad on Thursday ahead of a friendly against Australia and the Euro 2024 qualifier with Italy.
Bowen, who earned four caps last year, was overlooked for the September internationals but Moyes feels his current form makes him hard to ignore.
“I would say Jarrod is as close now as he has ever been,” said Moyes.
“He’s in really good form, quick, sharp and looks like he can do a lot of things.
“I’m not going to pick the England team, but to play for England you have to be able to score in big games. Jarrod’s doing great for us.”
Bowen grabbed his goal after 24 minutes, timing his run into the box to perfection and burying Vladimir Coufal’s low cross.
Tomas Soucek added the second after he was slipped in by Michail Antonio as West Ham all but sewed up a comfortable victory before half-time.
“I liked what I saw in the first half. The first goal was brilliantly worked. There were lots of good things, but not so much in the second half,” added Moyes.
“I wanted us to score more goals but a lot of credit has to go to Sheffield United and their manager after a tough week and a big defeat. But ultimately we got the goals and the win.
“It’s three points in the Premier League and when you look at some of the results today, it shows you can’t just turn up and get three points.”
The Blades did at least improve on their 8-0 defeat at home by Newcastle six days earlier, not that they could have been any worse.
Their boss, Paul Heckingbottom, maintains they can still pick up enough points to stay up.
“We’ll see. I believe it,” he said. “If you look at our games we’ve not lost because other teams are far better, we’ve lost because of key moments. There’s evidence there that we can get the points.
“Results like last week happen. There’s been some surprising ones today. What I didn’t like was the nature of some of the things I saw, I was adamant it was a one-off and I don’t want to see again.
“No one’s going to feel sorry for us. We have to fight for those points.”
Mikel Arteta made five changes for the visit of the Blades and it was Nketiah – in for the injured Gabriel Jesus – who proved the difference and ended a memorable afternoon wearing the captain’s armband.
Substitutes Fabio Vieira and Takehiro Tomiyasu wrapped up the points late on with a penalty and a close-range finish respectively on an afternoon where Arsenal’s fringe players took centre-stage.
Martin Odegaard dropped to the bench in the most eye-catching of Arteta’s alterations, which also saw Emile Smith Rowe make his first league start since May 2022.
The victory took Arsenal up to second place, two points behind leaders and north London rivals Tottenham as Arteta’s men remained unbeaten after 10 league games.
For the Blades, this was a galling afternoon where – once their resolute defence was breached for the first goal just before the half-hour mark – the writing was on the wall.
The travelling fans sang the name of under pressure manager Paul Heckingbottom but they have still yet to see their team win on their return to the top-flight, with just one point on the board.
With Jesus facing a few weeks out with a hamstring issue, Nketiah has once again been tasked with filling his boots as Arsenal’s go-to centre-forward.
His touch and finish for the opening goal proved he can do the job as the England international set the Gunners on their way to a comfortable victory over the rock bottom Blades.
Wes Foderingham would have expected to be busier in the opening half but he was on hand to push a rasping Gabriel Martinelli strike wide of the post five minutes before the break.
The second goal arrived five minutes after the interval, Foderingham this time flapping at a Bukayo Saka corner with the ball dropping to Nketiah, who arrowed a shot into the top corner. A VAR check for a potential foul on the United goalkeeper failed to save the visitors.
Nketiah, who made his England debut of the bench in 1-0 friendly win over Australia earlier this month, saved the best for last.
Collecting a pass from Smith Rowe, the 24-year-old rifled home from 20 yards to complete his hat-trick.
Saka, captain in the absence of Odegaard and Jesus, was replaced soon after and – to cheers from the home supporters – gave the armband to Nketiah.
Nketiah initially picked up the ball to take a late penalty awarded after a lengthy VAR check by referee Tim Robinson after Vieira had been caught by Oliver Norwood.
But instead Vieira dusted himself down to send Foderingham the wrong way and further extend the lead.
Tomiyasu rounded off the scoring deep into added time after Mohamed Elneny’s flick on from a near-post corner was deflected into the path of the Japan defender.
A Forest fan was jailed after headbutting Blades striker Billy Sharp during the incident at the end of the second leg at the City Ground on May 17 last year, while Sheffield United’s Oli McBurnie was cleared last December of stamping on another pitch-invading Forest fan.
The Football Association had charged Forest with failing to ensure their supporters conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and refrained from using threatening or violent behaviour while encroaching onto the pitch following the final whistle.
The charge was partially admitted by Forest, and a £50,000 fine was imposed by an independent regulatory commission. The FA said half of the fine had been suspended by the panel until the end of next season, provided there were no further breaches of FA rule E20.
Prior to the match Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor, promised they would not take their second-tier opponents lightly.
"With some of the teams you play, there's not a huge amount of difference in level between the kind of top end of the championship to the bottom end of the WSL,” he said.
“I think it's just making sure that as a team, we are prepared, we're focused. We're not being neglectful of the opposition.”
They were not.
In a dominant display in which Manchester City took 27 shots, 14 on target, Shaw opened the scoring in the 16th minute. The three-time FA Women’s Cup champions doubled their lead when Chloe Kelly scored in the 38th minute as City threatened to run rampant.
Deyna Castellanos then scored on the stroke of half-time to send City into the break with a 3-0 lead.
Shaw was against first on the scoresheet with her second goal six minutes after the resumption before Julie Blakstad scored the first of her two goals in the 53rd minute.
Blakstad scored her second in the 78th minute to make it 6-0.
Shaw completed her hat-trick in the 87th minute to complete the rout.
Chances were few and far between for much of the first period but United made their first shot on target count thanks to a McAtee beauty right at the end of the half.
A Brentford side without the injured Bryan Mbeumo struggled to pierce a resolute-looking Blades defence in the second period.
The home side had chances themselves to put the game to bed through Anis Slimane but nevertheless claimed their first clean sheet of the season and just a second Premier League victory.
A tightly-contested opening greeted supporters at a windy and rainy Bramall Lane with the first chance falling in the way of the hosts when Auston Trusty saw an early effort deflected behind for a corner.
Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka could count himself lucky for still being on the field after he lunged in late on Vini Souza which was deemed only to a yellow card offence following a VAR check on the half-hour mark.
Onyeka almost made his presence count straight away but he hit a tame effort into the hands of Wes Foderingham for Brentford’s first shot on target in the 36th minute.
Moments later it was the Blades’ turn to come forward after Gustavo Hamer slipped Will Osula through, only for him to divert wide of the front post from close range.
The hosts finished a cagey first half the better of the two, this time Hamer deciding to have a crack from distance which flew comfortably wide of Mark Flekken’s goal.
After a quiet first 40, the game seemed to spark into life and Brentford almost nicked an opener when Neal Maupay found himself with space inside the area but saw his effort deflect marginally wide.
Sheffield United broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with their first shot on target of the game when McAtee spectacularly curled into the top corner as Flekken watched on helplessly for the Manchester City loanee’s first Premier League goal.
The Blades came close to a second just before the hour mark after Cameron Archer dispossessed Ben Mee. He teed up substitute Slimane, who was denied by the onrushing Flekken.
Yoane Wissa seemed determined to deny Blades victory and had a couple of chances on target.
After seeing a header saved by Foderingham, he was denied minutes later when the United stopper kept out his goalbound volley.
Space began to open up as Brentford went in search of an equaliser and United saw a wonderful chance go begging as Slimane lashed into the side netting when one-on-one with Flekken.
It was wave after wave of Brentford attacks in the final minutes and a nervous Bramall Lane blew a huge sigh of relief when a late Saman Ghoddos free-kick seemed to bounce off the arm of Anel Ahmedhodzic only for VAR not to rule it a penalty as United claimed their second win of the season.
Pedro scored twice from the spot and crashed in an 18-yard drive after Facundo Buonanotte’s fine goal had given the Seagulls an early lead, with Danny Welbeck scoring at the death to seal an emphatic victory.
The Blades had battled back from 2-0 down to level thanks to goals from Gus Hamer and Will Osula but they lost to the better team at Bramall Lane.
Both sides were beaten semi-finalists in last year’s competition but it is Roberto De Zerbi’s side who are dreaming of another cup run while United can concentrate on trying to avoid Premier League relegation.
Brighton had already seen a goal chalked out for offside when they went ahead in sublime fashion in the 14th minute.
Buonanotte picked the ball up in the middle of the hosts’ half and jinked past a tackle before unleashing an unstoppable drive that found the top corner from 25 yards.
United would have been level four minutes later had it not been for some heroic defending from Jan Paul van Hecke and Igor Julio as they blocked shots from Osula and Hamer in quick succession.
That proved important as Brighton went 2-0 up just before the half-hour as a fine piece of skill from Pedro saw him burst into the area where he was clipped by Jayden Bogle.
The striker picked himself up and converted from the spot for his 16th goal of the season.
Sheffield United got one back in the 42nd minute when Osula broke clear down the right and his cross was palmed out by Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen straight into the path of Hamer, who fired home.
And in the eighth minute of time added on they got themselves level as Osula headed home Bogle’s cross from close range.
The drama continued in the second half as Brighton regained the lead seven minutes after the restart as Pedro scored his second penalty, stroking home after Bogle handled a cross.
Bogle tried to make amends at the other end as he was on the end of a lightning counter attack but saw his goalbound effort blocked by Pervis Estupinan.
Pedro claimed his first career hat-trick in the 67th minute, killing the tie with a low finish into the bottom corner.
United never threatened to get back into the game and Brighton made it five deep into added time when Welbeck fired under Blades debutant goalkeeper Ivo Grbic.
The Blades were on course for an important victory as goals from Oli McBurnie and Anel Ahmedhodzic overturned Alfie Doughty’s first-half opener for the Hatters.
But substitute Morris was the orchestrator as Jack Robinson and Anis Slimane put through their own net to give Luton back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time.
The match was also notable for being the first Premier League match to be officiated by a black referee for 15 years as Sam Allison took the whistle and he mainly stayed away from controversy, apart from a contentious decision to award a corner in the build-up to Robinson’s own goal.
Luton were not complaining as the festive season which began with a win over Newcastle on Saturday added another vital three points and they will believe survival is a real possibility going into the second half of the campaign.
It looks like the Blades will need a miracle to get themselves out of the bottom three as they have just nine points at the halfway mark and this could be a damaging loss.
The Hatters took the lead in the 17th minute, though Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham will not want to see it again.
Doughty received the ball on the right wing, breezed by Gus Hamer on his way into the area before firing a low shot, which should have been a routine save for Foderingham at the near post, but the ball squirmed through his legs and into the back of the net.
The hosts tried to respond, with Hamer’s 20-yard free-kick palmed away by Thomas Kaminski while James McAtee whipped an effort just wide after a jinking run.
They kept the pressure up before the break and Andre Brooks was denied a certain goal by Elijah Adebayo’s block before Auston Trusty headed the resulting corner against the crossbar.
Half-time provided little respite for Luton as the Blades were straight back on to the attack, with Teden Mengi slicing George Baldock’s cross just over his own crossbar while Albert Lokonga produced a goal-saving block to deny Max Lowe.
The deserved leveller came just after the hour-mark as McBurnie raised the roof.
It was down to the good work of McAtee, who surged into the area after Cameron Archer’s chest down and recovered well from a tackle to slide the ball to McBurnie while still on the floor.
The Blades striker did the rest, converting from close range.
The hosts sensed blood and they turned the match around eight minutes later as Ahmedhodzic converted from close range after a goalmouth scramble.
Luton responded well and levelled things up in the 77th minute.
United could not clear a hotly-disputed corner and Morris swung the ball back in, which Robinson could only flick into his own net.
Four minutes later Morris jinked into the area and his cross was diverted into the corner by an unlucky Slimane, with Luton seeing it out for a huge victory.
Pep Guardiola's top-flight champions eased past Bristol City 3-0 on Tuesday, while United backed up their EFL Cup success with a 3-1 comeback victory over West Ham.
City will face former defender Kompany, who lifted four Premier League titles at Etihad Stadium, after being drawn at home to runaway Championship leaders Burnley following their late 1-0 win against Fleetwood Town on Wednesday.
United ended a six-year trophy drought on Sunday by defeating Newcastle United and will continue their quest for further silverware when they host Fulham at Old Trafford.
Fourth-tier Grimsby Town remain the shock package in this season's FA Cup after Premier League Southampton fell to a 2-1 home loss and became the Mariners' fifth victim from a higher division in the 2022-23 campaign.
The League Two side's reward will be a trip to in-form Brighton and Hove Albion, who edged past Stoke City 1-0 in the fifth round on Tuesday.
Sheffield United were another surprise winner in the last 16 of the competition, defeating Tottenham 1-0, and will host Blackburn Rovers, which ensures at least one Championship side will reach the semi-finals.
All ties are set to be played between March 17 and 19 with the quarter-final contestants one win from a trip to Wembley.
FA Cup quarter-final draw in full:
Manchester City v Burnley
Manchester United v Fulham
Brighton and Hove Albion v Grimsby Town
Sheffield United v Blackburn Rovers
In a largely scrappy affair Jamaica were fairly fluent in build-up but poor final passes denied the Reggae Girls clear opportunities. Shaw had a shot on goal that was saved and on another was put through on goal but hit the shot wide of the upright from inside the box.
The Reggae Girlz opened the scoring in the second half when Swaby headed in from a corner.
Matthews added the second after Bunny Shaw beat an onrushing goalkeeper before cutting back to an open Matthews who tapped into an empty net.
Jamaica used the match as preparation for their upcoming FIFA World Cup campaign in Australia in the summer. Jamaica have been drawn in Group F alongside France, Panama and Brazil.
The pair go head-to-head at Wembley on Monday when the two South Yorkshire rivals clash in the third tier’s winner-takes-all season finale.
Barnsley edged past Bolton 1-0 on aggregate in their semi-final, while Wednesday overcame the biggest first-leg deficit in play-off history before beating Peterborough on penalties.
Moore silenced the Owls fans who had called for him to be sacked after his side’s 4-0 first-leg defeat appeared to have left them dead and buried and Duff paid tribute to his rival manager.
Duff said: “Darren deserves loads of credit because one thing he’s done the whole season, when weirdly there’s been a bit of noise about him when they got 96 points this season, is keep his counsel because he’s a good fella.
“First and foremost, he’s a good fella. He’s obviously a football man, he’s been around it a long, long time.
“I don’t know what he’s like as a manager in terms of day-to-day stuff, but you take people as you find them and we’ve beaten them twice and he’s been humble, he’s taken it.
“He says ‘fair play to you’ and shakes your hand. No excuses afterwards that some managers come out with. He said ‘better team won’ and I think that goes a long way just as a human being.”
Barnsley completed the league double over the Owls this season for the first time since 2009, winning 2-0 at Hillsborough in September and 4-2 at Oakwell in March.
But they finished 10 points adrift of their local rivals in the table, with the Owls’ 96-point tally more than any other side not to finish in the top two of any league in English football’s history.
That did not stop the vitriol that came Moore’s way after his side’s 4-0 semi-final first-leg defeat at Peterborough.
Some fans called for his head before the return leg, while Wednesday were forced to issue a statement condemning a racist message directed at Moore on social media.
“It shows you the emotional state people can get into,” Duff said. “Darren’s a good manager, full stop.
“Was he a terrible manager when they got beaten 4-0? No. And he’s become an even better manager now because of the belief he gave them.
“Things he said in interviews and in the dressing room, things he showed the players. Good management. He managed to get the best out of it.”
Barnsley finished fourth in the table, one place below Wednesday, and their 86-point haul would have been enough for automatic promotion in three of the last 10 seasons.
Wednesday will start as the bookmakers’ favourites for Monday’s Wembley showdown against their local rivals after overturning a 4-0 first-leg deficit in their thrilling semi-final win against Peterborough.
Barnsley finished fourth in the table, 10 points behind Wednesday, but backed up their 2-0 league win at Hillsborough in September with a 4-2 victory over the Owls at Oakwell in March.
Duff, who took over last summer following the club’s relegation from the Championship, said: “I bet if you look at the odds we’ll be the underdogs. It’s not me trying to create a narrative of my own, they are the facts.
“They finished on 96 points, God knows how many goals they scored, loads of clean sheets, 23-game unbeaten run and they were 4-0 down after the (semi-final) first leg.
“But they’re in a one-off game with us now and the positive is that we know we can hurt them.
“We think we know what we’re going to get and hopefully someone can step up and be the hero.”
Barnsley’s first league double over their South Yorkshire rivals in March also halted the Owls’ club record 23-game unbeaten run.
But Duff, who will choose his starting line-up from a fully-fit squad, said that would have little bearing on Monday’s winner-takes-all encounter.
“Other than the fact that we know we can beat them,” Duff said. “You can dress it up which ever way you want. They’re older, much more experienced.
“Their players will have thousands more league appearances than we have and that might help them. It might not.
“Our youth and naivety might help us. We won’t know until the game pans out, but we know we can hurt them.
“We also know they’re a huge club with big players, and big players, a lot of the time, step up in big moments.
“So we’ll enjoy the day as much as we can, but we’re not going to Wembley for a day out, we’re going there to win.”
Duff acknowledged significant local bragging rights were at stake for both clubs’ fans, but does not feel that will be such a big factor for the players.
“There’s no point hiding away from it,” the former Cheltenham boss added. “But we’re not going to drum it up into something it isn’t.
“It’s a game of football. It’s 22 lads running around, there will be three blokes in black annoying everybody, probably, the pitch will be green and there will be white lines.
“Obviously the local derby element adds just a little bit of spice to what already will be a brilliant game.”
The hosts made a lightning start and got two goals in the first 25 minutes courtesy of Michael Smith penalty and Lee Gregory.
Reece James made it three and pulled the hosts to within one of Peterborough’s aggregate lead with 20 minutes to go, and they sent the game to extra time with the last kick of normal time when Liam Palmer nudged home from close range.
A Gregory own goal gave Peterborough the initiative once again in the tie but Wednesday remarkably equalised once again through Callum Paterson, taking the game to penalties – The Owls’ date at Wembley was booked when Jack Hunt converted with the last spot kick after Dan Butler hit the crossbar with the only miss of the shootout.
Moore insists the comeback victory will go down as the best in his managerial career but wants to go one step further by achieving promotion.
He said: “For me, it’s my best moment in terms of management.
“To witness it and for it to come here, I couldn’t have wished for it to be at a better a place, under the lights here at Hillsborough.
“Tonight will be special, but as I keep saying to them, we have got another game to go. We enjoy tonight and then focus on the Wembley game now.
“We had a rallying call to get the fans to come out and be in full voice and they were tonight. When the boys were cramping up tonight, the fans kept them going. The boys showed great character.”
Moore explained how his team went to the “hurt locker” to get the result as several players received treatment for muscle injuries and thought his side took the penalties well, when the pressure was on.
He said: “They’ve gone to hurt locker tonight, the boys.
“They had to go to the hurt locker to get this one done tonight, it wasn’t going to take anything less than that to get the job done.
“We worked on them (penalties) in training. We were ready for it and I was super confident with every single one of them.
“Credit to the boys in terms of how they went about it, Peterborough have pushed us all the way and for us to win the game it had to come down to a moment like that.”
Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson defended that his team selection went unchanged after their 4-0 win in the first leg at the Weston Homes Stadium.
He said: “I cannot be criticised for picking the same team that have won two games like that.
“In terms of team selection, we wanted the quality on the ball. But when you make decisions like we did and give them momentum, it can be hard to get it back and I’ve seen far better teams than us lose it psychologically.
“I thought we’d just done enough but unfortunately the added time and last kick of the ball has put it into extra-time.”
Ferguson dismissed questions on whether he will be in the Peterborough dugout next season after he returned to the club in January.
He continued: “Tonight is not the night for that question.
“How can I answer that? There has been no talks, no offer to stay. I was brought in to do a job and the chat will take place after this season has finished.”
The 21-year-old comes to St James' Park with limited Premier League experience, having made 21 appearances last season for the Blades, including nine starts, though he failed to find the net in the top flight.
Osula, who has five caps for Denmark's Under-21s, did show his goal-scoring credentials in the FA Cup, however, scoring three goals in two games last season.
The forward, who can also play on either flank, has expressed his excitement at the move to the north east.
"It's a big club, a great club, so I'm very happy for the opportunity to join Newcastle," he said.
"It's a great opportunity, and as soon as I heard about Newcastle's interest, I knew I had to take the chance to join this club if it came.
Osula joined Sheffield United's academy in 2018 before signing his first professional contract in 2021. He also enjoyed a loan spell with Derby County in 2022-23, scoring twice in 16 league appearances.
"We have watched his development closely and we are delighted to have the opportunity to work with him in this next step in his career," said Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.
The Blades were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2006-07 season when West Ham beat Manchester United 1-0 to secure top-flight safety, with Tevez scoring the only goal of the game.
However, the Hammers were fined a record £5.5million by the Premier League for fielding Tevez and Javier Mascherano as they were ineligible to play under league rules regarding third-party ownership.
Sheffield United wanted to have their place in the Premier League reinstated, insisting a monetary fine was insufficient, but after failing in this regard they aimed to achieve financial settlement.
Regarding the ruling, then-Blades chairman Kevin McCabe said: “I can confirm that both clubs have been notified of the ruling. The arbitration panel has awarded in our favour.
“The matter is still legally in process so I do not wish to comment any further until we have completed that process.”
A statement released by West Ham said: “The club need to digest the full findings of the arbitration panel and will consult lawyers before considering the next steps that we might take on this matter. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.”
Both clubs eventually reached an out-of-court settlement over the Tevez affair in March 2009, with the agreement being described as “satisfactory settlement for compensation”.
