Barnsley missed out on a sixth straight league win as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Accrington Stanley on Monday.

James Norwood got an early goal but the hosts levelled with a disputed penalty in the second half.

The Reds were not at their best, especially in the second half, but created the better chances overall.

They remain fourth in League One, 11 points off the top two with two games in hand, and three points clear in the play-offs.

The only change from the win over Burton Albion saw former Accrington loanee Adam Phillips come in for Matty Wolfe after returning from illness.

The opener came in the eighth minute when after Phillips headed on a long ball and got it back from Jordan Williams, then crossed for Norwood to flick in at the near post for his first goal in nine games since September.

Barnsley were on top for the next 20 minutes but did not create a clear chance then Joe Pritchard almost levelled when unmarked from a Mitch Clark cross but headed straight at Brad Collins who saved easily. At the other end seconds later, Devante Cole chipped over the bar from a tight angle on the left.

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Collins had to tip over an attempted cross by Ethan Hamilton on the left then Phillips’ shot from the right wing was pushed out of the top right corner for the first in a series of corners at the end of the first half.

Barnsley had been the better and more threatening side in the first half but did not create a clear chance for the second goal.

Connell was taken off at half-time having been booked then spoken to again by the referee, with Wolfe replacing him and Herbie Kane moving into holding midfield.

The Reds had two big chances early in the second half with Cadden seeing a 12-yard shot saved after being played in on the left of the box then, from the resulting low corner, Cole shot over from two yards out leaning back.

Accrington’s Shaun Whalley dragged a shot across goal from the right of the box then, at the other end, Kitching’s low 30-yard shot was scrambled away.

The hosts levelled just after the hour with a penalty by Tommy Leigh awarded by referee Rebecca Welch for a handball in the box.

Collins clawed out a home corner from his top right corner then Cole’s close-range header from a Robbie Cundy cross was easily caught by the home goalkeeper. Barnsley then saw claims for a penalty for a foul on Kitching waved away.

Cadden blazed a tough volleyed chance over the bar 15 yards out from a Phillips cross.

Phillips then had a huge chance in the 80th minute when he was played clean through but goalkeeper Toby Savin sprang to his left to make a fine one-on-one save. The visitors had a succession of set pieces and crosses late on but could not score.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Collins; Cundy, Andersen, Kitching; Williams, Connell (Wolfe HT), Kane, Phillips Cadden; Cole, Norwood (Martin 75).

Unused: Walton, Larkeche, Moon, Aitchison, Jalo.

Yellow cards: Connell, Cundy.

Goals: Norwood 8.

Accrington (3-5-2): Savin, Astley, Fernandes, Rodgers; Clark (Longelo HT), Coyle, Pritchard, Conneely, Hamilton; Whalley (Woods 75), Leigh (Perritt 88).

Unused: Jensen, Nolan, Martin.

Yellow cards: Conneely.

Goals: Leigh 61 (pen).

AS IT HAPPENED
  • 1:46pm
  • GAME UNDERWAY
  • 3:01pm
    1 Accrington long throw headed out
  • 3:03pm
    2 Pritchard free-kick headed out by Cundy, headed back in and Collins gathers
  • 3:04pm
    Referee stops play after a Phillips shot is blocked and the defender goes down holding his head
  • 3:04pm
    Accrington's Harvey Rodgers is now up and will continue
  • 3:06pm
    6 Cole wins a corner on the right
  • 3:07pm
    7 Connell corner on the right. It goes everyone and Cadden is penalised for a foul
  • 3:08pm
    GOAL!
    James Norwood nets the opener
  • 3:10pm
    Great work on the right wing. Phillips flicks on a long ball, then gets it back from Williams and crosses for Norwood to flick in his first goal since September
  • 3:12pm
    It's Norwood's first goal in ten games since the. home. win over Charlton on September 24
  • 3:15pm
    Not a great deal has happened since the opener but the Reds look confident and comfortable on the ball
  • 3:15pm
    15 Cadden's cross sliced behind for a corner
  • 3:16pm
    15 Connell corner on the left leads to head tennis in the box then is cleared
  • 3:19pm
    Still very little action. Stanley trying to play long but Barnsley have a high line and Collins has swept up a few. times behind
  • 3:24pm
    Barnsley have won a free-kick about 25 yards out
  • 3:25pm
    24 Kane free-kick blocked as is Phillips' powerful follow up shot then he runs onto the ball on the left side of the box and volleys a very tough. chance wide of the top right. corner
  • 3:27pm
    27 Connell corner cleared
  • 3:27pm
    Barnsley well on top. at the moment but will look to get a second
  • 3:28pm
    28 Accrington chance out of absolutely nowhere. Clark's cross from the right and Joe Pritchard is unmarked ten yards out but heads straight at Collins
  • 3:29pm
    Then Cole has a chance at other end on left of box but his shot is chipped over the bar
  • 3:31pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Luca Connell booked for kicking the ball against a home player after a foul by Cundy
  • 3:33pm
    Referee Rebecca Welch has run over to book an Accrington coach
  • 3:35pm
    34 A free-kick on the right wing by Kane is headed out then Kitching whips in a low cross which is cleared
  • 3:37pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Seamus Conneely booked for taking out Kitching on left wing
  • 3:38pm
    38 Connell free-kick from left, deflected behind for corner
  • 3:39pm
    38 Kane corner from the left, dips in the six yard box but is cleared
  • 3:40pm
    39 Wicked cross from left wing. pushed over by Collins for corner
  • 3:40pm
    40 Stanley corner from right. Played short and they eventually send a crossfield pass into the stands
  • 3:42pm
    42 Adam Phillips full of confidence. He shoots from a. very tight angle on there right and the. goalkeeper has to turn it behind
  • 3:43pm
    43 Connell corner, touched by Kitching to Cadden whose shot is deflected from another corner
  • 3:44pm
    43 Corner cleared to Phillips but he swaps. passes with Cundy then wins another corner on right.All Reds
  • 3:44pm
    44 Connell corner cleared at near post
  • 3:45pm
    It's raining very heavily here and Barnsley well on top with the half-time whistle due soon
  • 3:46pm
    Four added minutes
  • 3:47pm
    Connell commits foul and referee gives him stern chat, having booked him earlier
  • 3:50pm
    HALF-TIME: Accrington 0, Barnsley 1.
  • 4:07pm
    SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
  • 4:08pm
    Wolfe on for Connell, who had been booked and spoken to by ref
  • 4:08pm
    Accrington have brought on Rosaire Longelo for Mitch Clark
  • 4:10pm
    Big chance for Cadden's first goal for Reds. He's played in on left of box and his 12-yard shot saved by Savin.
  • 4:11pm
    The resulting corner is played in low and hooked over by Cole from very close range leaning back
  • 4:13pm
    Stanley bring on. striker Leslie Adekoya for centre-back Baba Fernandes
  • 4:14pm
    52 Whalley drags a shot across goal for Accrington from the right of the box
  • 4:16pm
    Herbie Kane. has taken over from Connell as the holding midfielder
  • 4:19pm
    The match has calmed down after a flurry of. chances just after the break
  • 4:21pm
    59 Kitching shoots low from almost 30 yards and the goalkeeper fumbles it away
  • 4:23pm
    60 Corner on the left played short and the cross is gathered by the goalkeeper
  • 4:23pm
    Pen to Accrington. Handball
  • 4:24pm
    GOAL!
    Tommy Leigh levels with a penalty given for handball
  • 4:26pm
    I don't think Barnsley are very happy with that decision
  • 4:27pm
    Stanley have momentum now. They win a corner on left
  • 4:28pm
    65 Corner towards the back post clawed. away by Collins
  • 4:30pm
    67 Cole meets a deflected Cundy cross roundabout eight yards out but the header lacks power and is easily caught by the goalkeeper
  • 4:33pm
    Barnsley want a penalty for foul on Kitching but it's. just a corner which is cleared
  • 4:35pm
    This is a pretty even game as we approach the last 15 minutes
  • 4:37pm
    75 Cadden skies a difficult chance well over from about 15 yards out on the volley after meeting a Phillips cross
  • 4:37pm
    Josh Martin comes on for James Norwood
  • 4:39pm
    77 Accrington corner on the left cleared at the front post by Wolfe
  • 4:41pm
    Massive chance for the Reds. Adam Phillips is put clean through after a clever move but he's denied by a one on one save
  • 4:43pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Robbie Cundy booked for a foul
  • 4:45pm
    Barnsley haven't been at their best today, especially in the second half, but have had the better chances by far
  • 4:49pm
    Robbie Cundy. wins a corner on the right
  • 4:49pm
    87 Cadden's right wing corner is flicked on a Barnsley head but out for a goal kick
  • 4:50pm
    Stanley bring on Harry Perritt for Tommy Leigh
  • 4:52pm
    Five added minutes
  • 4:55pm
    Reds really putting on pressure and putting plenty of balls in the box
  • 4:57pm
    90+3 Free-kick on the left for Barnsley is cleared as is Martin's cross
  • 4:57pm
    Corner on the left to Barnsley
  • 4:57pm
    Kane corner is cleared. and he crosses, it's behind for another corner
  • 4:58pm
    FULL-TIME: Accrington 1, Barnsley 1. The Reds' winning run comes to an end