Tykes up and running

Patrick McCarthy's own goal handed Barnsley their first points of the npower Championship season as they held on for a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Oakwell. The Tykes, who had not won their first home league match of the season since beating Swindon 2-0 in August 2005, were without a win in 11 Championship games, their last victory coming at home to Nottingham Forest on March 16. However, McCarthy's blunder proved enough to ensure the Reds got up and running on this occasion. The home side started the brighter with Adam Hammill continually raiding down the left, while Jay McEveley shaved the top of the crossbar with a retaken corner inside the opening five minutes. Barnsley were in the ascendancy and they got their reward in the 35th minute when McCarthy put the ball into his own net. Hugo Colace won the ball in midfield before Diego Arismendi picked out a wonderful first-time ball out wide to McEveley, whose driven cross was diverted beyond a stranded Julian Speroni by McCarthy. Luke Steele did well to save at the feet of Neil Danns in the closing stages as the Tykes hung on for their first three-point haul.

Source: PA