Barnsley drew 1-1 at home to Birmingham City in their final game before the international break.
Callum Styles put the hosts in front with a superb early goal but the visitors levelled before the break.
After an even first half, Birmingham were well on top but missed a series of chances so Barnsley go into the two-week break with six points from their first five games.
Markus Schopp kept the team that drew at QPR a week before. George Miller replaced Devante Cole on the bench.
Barnsley took the lead in the sixth minute following a fine passing move and an excellent Styles strike. It began with goalkeeper Brad Collins in his six-yard box then saw Toby Sibbick's pass cushioned by Cauley Woodrow near halfway to Romal Palmer who brilliantly released Dominik Frieser on the right. The Austrian's cross was poor but the clearance fell to Clarke Oduor who set up Styles to curl into the top left corner.
Birmingham then had the ball regularly in the home half but did little with it, until the 25th minute when Lukas Jutkiewicz got away from his marker to head a right-wing corner over from ten yards out.
Styles almost collected another pass from Oduor – who had burst beyond the Blues defence – but he could not control it about eight yards out.
The leveller arrived on 33 minutes when a lofted pass into the box by Ivan Sunjic should have been headed by Sibbick but he allowed the ball to float to Jutkiewicz who beat Collins one-on-one.
City had the better of the second half as Barnsley struggled to attack and conceded a series of good chances.
Birmingham almost took the lead a minute after the break when, after a long throw by former Reds captain Marc Roberts caused problems, Kristian Pedersen's header was saved by Collins then the ball was scrambled clear.
Woodrow saw a 30-yard shot easily kept out by the goalkeeper then, at the other end, Collins was beaten to a left-wing cross by Maxime Colin whose header went well over.
Tadith Chong fired wide from 25 yards out for Birmingham then former Barnsley trialist Scott Hogan should have put the visitors in front but he headed wide sliding in six yards out to meet a left-wing Jeremie Bela cross. Hogan also screwed a shot horribly wide on the left of the box after Barnsley allowed a long ball to drift all the way through to him.
Hogan had yet another chance in the 73rd minute when a mix-up on the left of the Barnsley defence allowed him to go clean through on goal but Collins made a good one-on-one save.
Hogan was replaced by Chuks Aneke who also came extremely close to scoring in the 81st minute during a goalmouth scramble in which he was denied twice at close-range by Collins before kicking the third effort over.
Barnsley (3-4-3): Collins; Sibbick (Moon 84mins), Helik, Kitching; Brittain, Palmer, Benson, Styles; Frieser (Adeboyejo 80mins), Woodrow, Oduor. Unused: Walton, B Williams, Moon, Halme, Miller, Thompson. Yellow cards: Palmer, Styles. Goals: Styles 6.
Birmingham (3-4-1-2): Sarkic; Roberts, Dean, Pedersen; Colin, Woods, Sunjic, Bela; Chong; Jutkiewicz (Leko 89mins), Hogan (Aneke 75). Unused: Trueman, Friend, Sanchez, McGree, Gardner. Yellow cards: Woods, Chong, Dean, Pedersen. Goals: Jutkiewicz 33.
AS IT HAPPENED
  • 1:52pm
    Good afternoon and welcome to the Chronicle's live text coverage of Barnsley's home game with Birmingham City from 3pm today.
  • 1:52pm
    Team news is due at 2pm. Barnsley are likely to field the same team that drew 2-2 at QPR a week ago.
  • 2:00pm
    Barnsley: Collins; Sibbick, Helik, Kitching; Brittain, Palmer, Benson, Styles; Frieser, Woodrow, Oduor. Subs: Walton, B Williams, Moon, Halme, Miller, Adeboyejo, Thompson.
  • 2:00pm
    Markus Schopp keeps the same team that drew at QPR last week
  • 2:03pm
    Birmingham: Sarkic; Roberts, Dean, Pedersen; Colin, Woods, Sunjic, Bela; Chong; Jutkiewicz, Hogan
  • 2:04pm
    Birmingham subs: Trueman, Friend, Leko, Anneke, Sanchez, McGree, Gardner
  • 2:05pm
    The Reds have five points from four games so far this season, while Birmingham have seven.
  • 2:13pm
    City triumphed 5-0 last Saturday at Luton Town – who won at Oakwell four days earlier – before losing 2-0 at home to Fulham on Tuesday in the EFL Cup with a much-changed team.
  • 2:13pm
    The Blues had won 1-0 at Sheffield United on the opening day then failed to score in the first two home games in front of their fans in almost 18 months as they drew 0-0 with Stoke City and lost 2-0 to Bournemouth.
  • 2:18pm
    Schopp said: "They are a very good team with a lot of players who have a lot of experience. They are exactly what I have criticised my team for not being. We are too naive and Birmingham are so focused in the big situations."
  • 2:26pm
    Schopp added: "It is a tough opponent. It is a team which had a really good result at Luton and they will come here to get the next result. It's so important for the lads to know that they can bring a lot on the pitch. It doesn't matter which team we are facing, it's about being clear with how we want to play.
  • 2:29pm
    Schopp continued: "Birmingham have players who are really focused in the big moments, and we need to be like that. We have told the players that is something they have to improve. The most important thing is to be more clinical and more mature than we have been so far this season. It is not a question of age, it is mentality."
  • 2:35pm
    Former Barnsley captain Marc Roberts, from Penistone, has started all Birmingham's league games while former Reds loanee Gary Gardner has also played in them all. They both scored at Luton while former Reds trialist Scott Hogan bagged a brace. Roberts and Hogan start, with Gardner on the bench,
  • 2:37pm
    Lee Bowyer, the former Leeds United and England midfielder, moved to his former club the Blues from Charlton Athletic with ten games remaining last season and kept them in the Championship.
  • 2:49pm
    Bowyer won all three games he played against Barnsley as a player then oversaw two wins over them for Charlton at The Valley while drawing 2-2 at Oakwell in 2019 having lost there the previous year.
  • 2:49pm
    This will be the 86th meeting of the clubs, with Barnsley winning 26 and losing 39.
  • 2:49pm
    The Reds have won five of the last eight meetings including the double last season.
  • 2:50pm
    They came from behind at St Andrew's to win 2-1 thanks to Cauley Woodrow's penalty and a deflected Callum Styles shot, then Daryl Dike's stunning goal secured a 1-0 March win at Oakwell which put them in the top six.
  • 2:52pm
    Since 1946, Birmingham have won 16 of their 31 games at Oakwell – losing just six.
  • 2:53pm
    This is Callum Brittain's 50th game for Barnsley.
  • 2:56pm
    After today's game, there will be a two-week international break until the Reds visit AFC Bournemouth on September 11.
  • 3:01pm
    Callum Styles gets the Reds underway
  • 3:02pm
    2 A few long balls up and down the pitch result in Jeremie Bela getting it on Birmingham's left, and he knocks it to Brad Collins in the box.
  • 3:03pm
    3 Cauley Woodrow with a snapshot from long range that's a little too high and wide.
  • 3:04pm
    3 Harlee Dean, under pressure from Clarke Oduor, nods a long ball back to his 'keeper on the edge of the box.
  • 3:06pm
    5 Dominik Frieser's long throw from the right is nodded backwards on the near post by Michal Helik, but his header is caught by Matija Sarkic in goal.
  • 3:07pm
    GOAL!
    6 Callum Styles with a superb strike from the edge of the box!
  • 3:09pm
    6 Great passing move starting from the back by the Reds saw Dominik Frieser released on the right wing. His first cross was poor but Clarke Oduor picked it up and found Styles. He took a touch and it always looked set for the top left corner.
  • 3:12pm
    11 Liam Kitching judged to have fouled Lukas Jutkiewicz on the right wing and the Blues get a free kick. Kitching gets a talking to from the ref.
  • 3:13pm
    13 Callum Styles clears Tahith Chong's near-post ball easily.
  • 3:14pm
    13 Josh Benson gets the Reds out of a tricky situation as they attempt to pass it around the back but nearly get caught. The midfielder knocks it to Toby Sibbick on the right with a composed ball.
  • 3:15pm
    15 Tenacious defending on the right as Toby Sibbick and Callum Brittain double up on Jeremie Bela and the latter clears the ball from near the corner flag.
  • 3:17pm
    16 Barnsley have had less of the ball so far but have done much better with it, generally moving up the pitch with one or two passes. Blues yet to have a shot on goal.
  • 3:20pm
    19 Marc Roberts' long throw will be remembered by Barnsley fans, but the centre-back's throw from the right is comfortably caught by Brad Collins who's under little pressure.
  • 3:23pm
    22 Liam Kitching pushes up and slides in on Ryan Woods right next to the two teams' benches. The Blues midfielder stays down - it was a very strong challenge.
  • 3:25pm
    24 The visitors get a couple of chances to get the ball in the box, but Liam Kitching is on hand to head clear twice. His second, from Marc Roberts' right-wing cross, is a great bit of defending. Lukas Jutkiewicz then heads over from the near post.
  • 3:26pm
    YELLOW CARD
    26 Ryan Woods booked for up-ending Clarke Oduor on the left of the box.
  • 3:27pm
    26 Josh Benson whips it in but the referee orders a re-take. His second curls into the arms of Matija Sarkic with Cauley Woodrow stretching to meet it.
  • 3:29pm
    28 The Blues get a throw on their left, but it's repelled by the home side who find themselves on the break with Clarke Oduor. He twists and turns, and plays it across the Callum Styles but the wing-back's touch is too heavy and the ball is with the 'keeper.
  • 3:30pm
    YELLOW CARD
    29 Romal Palmer booked for a challenge on Tahith Chong.
  • 3:33pm
    32 Shouts for a free kick as the advancing Liam Kitching plays it forward to Clarke Oduor who goes down under pressure from Harlee Dean on the edge of the box. The referee keeps his whistle in his pocket.
  • 3:34pm
    GOAL!
    34 Lukas Jutkiewicz equalises for the visitors.
  • 3:35pm
    34 The veteran striker got the better of a physical battle with Toby Sibbick as the Reds centre-back tried to clear a ball over the top into the box. Jutkiewicz was able to control and slot it to Brad Collins' left from six yards.
  • 3:38pm
    38 Lukas Jutkiewicz with an optimistic left-footed half-volley from 20 yards out. It goes well into the Ponty End.
  • 3:42pm
    41 A move down the right breaks down but is cleared as far as Callum Brittain, who turns his man three times to keep possession on the halfway line. Good feet from the wing-back.
  • 3:45pm
    43 It's been a fairly even game since the visitors pulled themselves back into it, both sides starting to cancel each other out. The Reds are getting into a habit of passing it around the back before launching a fruitless long ball which their forwards have little chance of winning.
  • 3:45pm
    45 Dominik Frieser goes down after a firm aerial challenge and there's an extended break, but he looks okay.
  • 3:46pm
    ADDED TIME
    2 minutes added time
  • 3:48pm
    HALF-TIME: Barnsley 1, Birmingham City 1. An entertaining start but a drab finish to a half the Reds should be winning.
  • 4:03pm
    The visitors kick off the second half.
  • 4:05pm
    46 A Marc Roberts long throw leads to a bit of head tennis in the Reds' box and Brad Collins has to get down quickly to deny Kristian Pedersen.
  • 4:06pm
    48 Cauley Woodrow appears to be barged over off the ball by Kristian Pedersen and throws up his arms in appeal to the ref, who stays quiet. He was right on the edge of the penalty area as the ball was played through.
  • 4:07pm
    49 Dominik Frieser is played through to the right of the box and plays it low across goal, but the forward is offside.
  • 4:10pm
    51 Clarke Oduor and Cauley Woodrow combine and Woodrow produces a low drive on goal. It lacks the power to test Matija Sarkic but a decent effort.
  • 4:14pm
    55 Callum Styles lofts a free kick from the centre circle to Liam Kitching on the right of the box. It's cleared for a throw which Dominik Frieser sends into the box, but the Blues clear again.
  • 4:16pm
    YELLOW CARD
    58 Tahith Chong booked for a foul just inside the Reds half on Josh Benson.
  • 4:16pm
    58 The home side's free kick makes its way to Dominik Frieser on the right of goal, who fires a deflected shot wide for a corner.
  • 4:22pm
    63 Callum Styles, probably the Reds' best player, wins and then takes a free kick from deep on the left. Dominik Frieser picks it up on the right side and plays it across the Cauley Woodrow, whose half-volley is blocked.
  • 4:22pm
    63 Tahith Chong fires wide after cutting in onto his left from the right wing, taking on Toby Sibbick. His curling effort is wide of the far post.
  • 4:23pm
    YELLOW CARD
    65 Harlee Dean booked as he has words with Clarke Oduor. Reds fans cheer in agreement with the ref.
  • 4:24pm
    66 Scott Hogan heads wide from Jeremie Bela's left sided cross. The striker was yards away from goal but his header wasn't well-directed and crept past the left post.
  • 4:26pm
    67 Scott Hogan hits wide of the near post from the left at close range. Very poor effort given he had a lot of time.
  • 4:31pm
    72 Marc Roberts takes one of several foul throws he's produced this match. The Reds push up the left side, but relinquish another throw-in. It's got very scrappy.
  • 4:32pm
    73 A match saving moment from Brad Collins who's alert to stop Scott Hogan. The striker broke the line and advanced into the box, but Collins got down to smother his right-footed effort from the right of goal.
  • 4:33pm
    74 The Blues striker has had several big chances to put his side ahead but has failed to convert any of them. Little else to shout about this half.
  • 4:33pm
    SUB OFF
    75 Scott Hogan makes way.
  • 4:33pm
    SUB ON
    75 Chuks Aneke.
  • 4:37pm
    77 A big delay as Chuks Aneke and Liam Kitching get a talking to from the referee while the away side wait to take a long throw. When it finally comes, it's headed over by Lukas Jutkiewicz from eight yards.
  • 4:38pm
    SUB OFF
    80 Dominik Frieser.
  • 4:38pm
    SUB ON
    80 Victor Adeboyejo.
  • 4:40pm
    81 Brad Collins does very well at his near post to stop Chuks Aneke twice, before the striker's third is lifted over the bar from close range. A mystery how that didn't go in, but superb again from Collins.
  • 4:40pm
    82 Josh Benson prepares to take a free kick from a decent position on the left, around 20 yards out.
  • 4:41pm
    SUB OFF
    84 Toby Sibbick.
  • 4:42pm
    SUB ON
    84 Jasper Moon.
  • 4:44pm
    84 The free kick hits the wall and Benson eyes up a corner from the left. Jasper Moon runs in circles around the tightly-packed Blues defence to escape his marker, drawing a few laughs.
  • 4:44pm
    YELLOW CARD
    86 Callum Styles booked for holding back Jeremie Bela who was looking to break down the left.
  • 4:46pm
    87 Kristian Pedersen pretty much commits the same offence but gets away with it in a much better position for the Reds. Clarke Oduor was found well by Cauley Woodrow with a cross-field ball and Oduor looked to be taken out by the Blues defender. He was through on goal otherwise.
  • 4:47pm
    88 Michal Helik is man of the match, but it could've gone to scorer Callum Styles, or Liam Kitching, both of whom have also performed really well.
  • 4:47pm
    SUB OFF
    89 Lukas Jutkiewicz.
  • 4:47pm
    SUB ON
    89 Jonathan Leko.
  • 4:48pm
    90 Callum Brittain doesn't have much on so decides to take a crack from far out to the right of goal. It sails high and wide.
  • 4:48pm
    ADDED TIME
    3 minutes added time
  • 4:51pm
    FULL-TIME: Barnsley 1, Birmingham City 1.

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