…………It is only the second time this season that a last minute goal has cost Barnsley points- the other was at Leicester in December- and it drops David Flitcroft’s side to second from bottom of the Championship, one point adrift of safety.
It also comes just seven days after a stoppage time equaliser had earned the Reds a point at Cardiff.
It is 22 years since the side who sat second from bottom with three games remaining survived in the second tier of English football, and that was back when only two sides were relegated! In 1990-1991, Watford were in 23rd position after 43 games, but only in the drop zone on goal difference. The Hornets went on to win two of their final three matches and survived by three points. NO team has managed it in the “three go down” era.
It is though 16 years since the team who were second bottom at this stage of a season were only one point off safety. The smallest gap before this was Crewe who were two points adrift in 2002, but they still went down, along with Stockport and……Barnsley! The last team to lie second from bottom after 43 games but be only one point from safety were Stoke City in the 1997-1998 season. Unfortunately they finished second from bottom, three points adrift after losing two of those final three games.
Tonight’s point meant Barnsley hit the usually “magic” 50 point mark. That tally had been enough to ensure survival in each of the last four seasons and seven of the last eight.
Worringly for The Reds heading into these pivotal final games is that they have won just one of their last six matches, their worst run under David Flitcroft.
Elsewhere it has been another stage round of games in the Npower Championship. Only one of the division’s top nine sides won last night whilst only two of the bottom six lost.
Barnsley Team:
Luke Steele
Bobby Hassell
Scott Wiseman
Martin Cranie
David Perkins
Tomasz Cywka
Jacob Mellis (YC)
Jim O’Brien
Chris O’Grady
Reuben Noble-Lazarus
Jason Scotland
Substitutes:
Andrai Jones (for Hassell 32) – YC
Chris Dagnall (for Scotland 76)
Marlon Harewood (for Cywka 90)
Unused Substitutes:
Ben Alnwick, Danny Rose Sam Patterson, Jordan Clark.
Match Reports:
Official Website
BBC
Sky Sports
Npower Championship results Tuesday 16th April 2013:
BARNSLEY 1-1 Derby
Blackburn 1-0 Huddersfield
Bristol City 0-1 Birmingham- Bristol City are relegated.
Cardiff 0-0 Charlton – Cardiff are promoted.
Ipswich 3-0 Crystal Palace
Leeds 1-0 Burnley
Leicester 3-2 Bolton
Middlesbrough 1-0 Nottingham Forest
Millwall 1-0 Watford
Peterborough 0-0 Brighton
Wolves 1-0 Hull
Blackpool 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Barnsley lie in 23rd place in the Npower Championship with 50 points from 43 games.
We are 14 points off the Play-Offs 27 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 34 points off First place and 1 point inside the Relegation Zone.
Up to 16.4.13
Next Up:
On The Road:
Npower Championship Matchday Forty Four: Nottingham Forest v Barnsley Saturday 20th April 2013: Kick-Off: 3pm
Tickets:
Adult: £27
Over 65: £19
Under 18s: £14
Under 12s: £7
At Oakwell:
Npower Championship Matchday Forty-Five: Barnsley v Derby County Saturday 27th April Kick-off: 3pm.
Tickets:
Adult, non-member: £23
Adult, member: £20
OAP, non-member: £16
OAP, member: £15
Students (18-20), non-member: £16
Students (18-20), member: £15
Juveniles (12-17), non-member: £16
Juveniles (12-17), member: £15
Juveniles (5-11): £5
Source: TykesMAD
Source: FOOTYMAD
