Jack Aitchison headed in a 90th-minute winner as Barnsley won 1-0 at Fleetwood Town.

The Reds were the better and more threatening side in a flat contest who have won their last three away games without conceding and are unbeaten in six.

Michael Duff made two changes from the side that won at at home to Charlton Athletic a week earlier. Brad Collins and Liam Kitching returned from injury and suspension respectively in place of the benched Jack Walton and Tom Edwards.

Barnsley started on top and hit the post into the tenth minute through a deflected shot by Josh Benson who had brilliantly jinked past two players on the edge of the box.

The Reds also threatened from crosses and set pieces, with a Benson corner from the left almost sneaking all the way in before goalkeeper Jay Lynch pushed it out of his bottom left corner.

The hosts’ first real chance came on 43 minutes when a cross from the right, after a corner, was volleyed by Shaun Rooney but Robbie Cundy cleared off the line.

In the second half, Luke Thomas saw a low 25-yard shot saved then James Norwood found the net but the flag was up for offside after he ran onto a long ball by substitute Adam Phillips.

Devante Cole missed a big chance in the 83rd minute when Norwood headed the ball to him but he nodded straight at the goalkeeper seven yards out unmarked.

Aitchison headed a cross by Norwood into the bottom right corner, sparking jubilant scenes among the players and away end.

Barnsley (3-4-2-1): Collins; Cundy, Andersen, Kitching; Williams, Kane (Phillips 69mins), Benson, Cadden (Larkeche 81); Cole (Aitchison 86), Thomas (Martin 69); Norwood.

Unused: Walton, Edwards, Connell.

Yellow cards: Kane.

Goals: Aitchison 90.

Fleetwood (4-2-3-1): Lynch; Rooney, Nsiala, Devlin, Andrew; Vela, Warrington; Macadam, Batty (Gomes 77mins), Morton (Lane 77); Muskwe (Garner 70).

Unused: Stolarczyk, Hayes, Johnston, Baker.

Yellow cards: Devlin, Macadam, Warrington.

AS IT HAPPENED
  • 1:49pm
    Good afternoon and welcome to the Chronicle’s live text coverage of Barnsley’s match at Fleetwood Town from 3pm.
  • 1:49pm
    Team news is due at 2pm. Liam Kitching is available after suspension and Luca Connell after injury, while Jack Aitchison, Slobodan Tedic, Brad Collins and Robbie Cundy have all been doubts.
  • 2:00pm
    Barnsley team: Collins; Cundy, Andersen, Kitching; Williams, Kane, Benson, Cadden; Cole, Thomas; Norwood. Subs: Walton, Edwards, Phillips, Connell, Larkeche, Aitchison, Martin.
  • 2:06pm
    Fleetwood: Lynch; Rooney, Nsiala, Devlin, Andrew; Vela, Warrington; Macadam, Batty, Morton; Muskwe. Subs: Stolarczyk, Gomes, Lane, Garner, Hayes, Johnston, Baker.
  • 2:09pm
    The fifth-placed Reds are unbeaten in six games in all competitions, winning the last three, while victory tomorrow would be a sixth league success of the season – equalling the tally from last season’s relegation campaign.
  • 2:11pm
    Fleetwood are 14th in the table, with 12 points from nine matches – three points and nine places behind the Reds who have played a game more.
  • 2:16pm
    Barnsley have sold out their allocation of about 1,200 for the trip to Highbury. Duff told the Chronicle: “Fans keep travelling in numbers and hopefully we can keep giving them something to cheer and they can cheer us home again. The players really appreciate the support, particularly with the price of petrol and people feeling the pinch at the minute.”
  • 2:17pm
    Only Bolton have conceded fewer goals than Fleetwood who have let in eight in nine games.
  • 2:18pm
    Today’s hosts are unbeaten at home this season in five league games, drawing the last four while scoring just twice.
  • 2:21pm
    The Cod Army are the current League One club who have been at that level the longest, having been promoted into it in 2014.
  • 2:22pm
    After narrowly surviving relegation last season, they appointed former Celtic and Scotland midfielder Scott Brown to his first managerial role.
  • 2:24pm
    Brown, who had been a coach at Aberdeen last season, came up against Duff in a 2008 international between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
  • 2:27pm
    Brown’s Fleetwood lost at Port Vale on the opening day but have not lost in eight league games since.
  • 2:33pm
    They beat Plymouth Argyle at home then drew five in a row before winning 1-0 at Peterborough United and drawing 1-1 at home to Charlton Athletic.
  • 2:33pm
    They have not played for two weeks, in the league, as their scheduled visit to Oxford United was postponed due to international call-ups for the hosts.
  • 2:36pm
    Duff said: “They stayed up on the last day of last season with 40 points which is incredible. But it looks like they have learned, recruited well and got a new manager.
  • 2:39pm
    “They are running hard and hard to beat. They are unbeaten in five and the win in that run was at Peterborough. They get after you.
  • 2:41pm
    “Scott’s energy and combativeness is reflected in his team, and it’s his first job so he will want to make it work. The biggest thing is the energy, but they have a structure. They are not just running around.”
  • 2:44pm
    Midfielder Josh Benson added: “They have only lost one game this season so it won’t be an easy away game. We just have to work hard and believe in ourselves. The fans help a lot. It meant a lot how many came to Cambridge and how much noise they made. When we celebrate with them, it’s brilliant.”
  • 2:45pm
    The two clubs have met eight times, all between 2014 and 2019. The Reds did not win any of the first five but triumphed in the last three – with two victories at Highbury before they won 4-2 at Oakwell on their way to promotion in April 2019.
  • 2:52pm
    Devante Cole had his best spell in English football at Fleetwood, netting 22 goals in three years including 12 in the first half of the 2017/18 campaign which earned a move to Wigan. He then scored three goals in 52 EFL games before finding better form this season – netting four times in ten league games which makes him Barnsley’s top-scorer.
  • 2:52pm
    Reds defender Tom Edwards played 12 games on loan to Fleetwood in the 2020/21 season.
  • 2:54pm
    Barnsley will be looking for a third successive away win, having triumphed in the last two to double their tally of wins on the road last season.
  • 2:54pm
    If they get a point today, they will equal last season’s total of eight on the road.
  • 3:02pm
    GAME UNDERWAY
  • 3:02pm
    2 Benson free-kick on left, a few players sliding in at back post but can't get a touch and it goes out
  • 3:05pm
    4 Norwood heads a long ball nicely into the path of Thomas who shoots wide from about 25 yards
  • 3:06pm
    5 Good football Barnsley, after passes by Norwood and Benson, Williams plays in Thomas on the right and his low cross is put behind
  • 3:06pm
    6 Cadden's corner from the left goes over everyone and out
  • 3:10pm
    9 Fine cross field ball by Kitching to Williams who again finds Thomas but no one is in the six yard box to meet is threatening low cross from the right of the area
  • 3:12pm
    10 So close to a Barnsley opener. Benson brilliantly beats two players just inside box then his shot takes a big deflection and lofts onto the post then is cleared
  • 3:15pm
    Barnsley playing at a good intensity, pressing their hosts who are struggling to get out of their half at the moment
  • 3:18pm
    All the attacks and chances have been for Barnsley so far. Can they make this dominance count with a goal?
  • 3:19pm
    17 Fleetwood free-kick on the left about 45 yards out. They take it short and eventually the cross is headed on the right wing out for a corner
  • 3:20pm
    19 Fleetwood starting to have abetter spell. Dan Batty. darts not the box and Andersen concedes a corner
  • 3:20pm
    20. Batty's corner from the right is deep the back post where Andrew tries to volley 15 yards out but sends it well wide
  • 3:22pm
    Cadden has put a couple of fine crosses into the box. from the left in the last minute or so but the hosts have done well to clear acrobatically both times
  • 3:24pm
    Andersen blocks a shot from Batty in the box then, at the other end, Norwood is inches away from meeting a low Williams cross. A decent 0-0 so far
  • 3:25pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Michael Devlin booked for a foul on Norwood
  • 3:28pm
    Cadden and Fleetwood right back Shaun Rooney having a few words. The referee has brought them together for a chat
  • 3:30pm
    The match is more even now. Fleetwood have weathered Barnsley's early storm and are now giving as good as they get in terms of attacks. Still only really that deflected shot from Benson that hit the post which is notable in terms of chances
  • 3:31pm
    30 Devante Cole wins a corner on the left
  • 3:32pm
    31 Benson's left wing corner almost goes all the way is but the goalkeeper pushes it out of his bottom right corner then it's turned behind.
  • 3:32pm
    31 The goalkeeper now punches away a good corner from the right
  • 3:36pm
    Thomas bursts forward into the box but his 15 yards shot is blocked by the impressive Toto Nsiala
  • 3:36pm
    36 Benson shoots from at least 35 yards but it is high and wide
  • 3:41pm
    Approaching half-time here. Barnsley have played well but will want to start creating better chances.
  • 3:41pm
    40 Williams shoots over from 25 yards. Good hit but always rising too high
  • 3:43pm
    42 Fleetwood corner on the right. Taken short again. Andrew eventually crosses and Cundy heads behind for another corner
  • 3:43pm
    42 Andrew's left wing corner is headed out but the flow up cross is met. by Shaun Rooney whose effort is blocked on the line by Cundy
  • 3:45pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Herbie Kane booked for a lunge on Shaun Rooney
  • 3:46pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Harvey Macadam now booked for dragging down Cole
  • 3:46pm
    Two added minutes
  • 3:48pm
    Fleetwood ending this half the better. They have a corner on the right
  • 3:49pm
    45+2 Andrew's corner is caught by Collins
  • 3:49pm
    HALF-TIME: Fleetwood 0, Barnsley 0.
  • 4:04pm
    SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
  • 4:07pm
    Not much has happened so far this half. Kane lost the ball in a dangerous area but Andersen bailed him out
  • 4:09pm
    50 Luke Thomas shoots low from just outside the box, the goalkeeper gets down to his left to save
  • 4:12pm
    The match is lacking a higher tempo and intensity. Duff is making that points to his players
  • 4:13pm
    55 Andrew gets the better of Williams on the left and Andersen turns the cross behind for a corner
  • 4:14pm
    56 Fleetwood corner on the left headed out by Cundy
  • 4:14pm
    It's very windy out there which isn't helping the standard of football
  • 4:16pm
    57 Benson free-kick on the right. Headed out
  • 4:17pm
    This game has been pretty flat since that opening 20 minutes from the Reds. There's a lack of intensity from both sides at times. Looks like the Reds are getting ready for some changes.0-0 58
  • 4:20pm
    62 A better attack from the visitors. Cadden puts it in a cross, then Williams does. Kane shot blocked
  • 4:22pm
    Barnsley have upped their game in the last few minutes. Norwood wins a corner on the right
  • 4:22pm
    64 Cadden's left wing corner is caught
  • 4:26pm
    Josh Martin and Adam Phillips are about to come on
  • 4:26pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Lewis Warrington booked for taking out Cole
  • 4:27pm
    Barnsley still the more dangerous and attacking side, just. But all that's happened in second half was a long range Thomas shot easily saved
  • 4:28pm
    Phillips on for Kane and Martin for Thomas
  • 4:28pm
    Thoms has looked lively, especially in the second half, while Kane has been pretty sloppy at times and was on a yellow
  • 4:29pm
    Fleetwood bring on Joe Garner for Muskwe
  • 4:31pm
    Norwood puts the ball in the net but the flag had been up for offside for a few seconds,. He ran onto a long ball by Phillips
  • 4:34pm
    Into the last 15 minutes here. The Reds have upped their tempo in the last ten minutes or so
  • 4:36pm
    Fleetwood bring on Mendes Gomes and Paddy Lane for Dan Batty and Callum Morton
  • 4:36pm
    Larkeche for Cadden looks like it's about to happen
  • 4:39pm
    81 Cole put clean through by Kitching but flag is up and shot is saved
  • 4:40pm
    Larkeche on for Cadden
  • 4:41pm
    82 Big chance. Norwood heads the ball to Cole but he nods straight at the goal gaping about seven yards out
  • 4:44pm
    Jack Aitchison comes on for Devante Cole
  • 4:48pm
    Into the 90th minute now. Fleetwood bring on Cian Hayes for Macadam
  • 4:50pm
    GOAL!
    Jack Aitchison heads in in injury time!
  • 4:52pm
    Larkeche cross and he finds the bottom right corner
  • 4:55pm
    FULL-TIME: Fleetwood 0, Barnsley 1. Aitchison's late winner secures three points for the Reds

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