Barnsley’s hopes of automatic promotion were dealt a serious blow as they suffered a controversial 2-1 loss at Burton Albion.

The Reds were denied a blatant penalty in the 12th minute when Burton captain John Brayford threw himself to his right to stop a James Norwood shot with his arm.

The hosts scored at the start and end of the second half then Nicky Cadden pulled one back in the 90th minute.

Barnsley had several good chances but were denied by good goalkeeping as they suffered a second successive away loss.

The loss left Barnsley six points off the top two with seven games left.

Michael Duff made two changes from the 5-0 win over Morecambe. Adam Phillips and James Norwood came back in for benched duo Luke Thomas and Max Watters.

The handball was at the end of a fine move which saw Phillips release Jordan Williams on the right whose low cross was touched by Devante Cole to Norwood who looked certain to score from six yards out. Barnsley wanted a penalty and potentially a red card but referee Adam Herczeg waved away the appeals.

Norwood headed a Williams cross wide midway through the first half then, at the other end, a missed tackle by Phillips on the edge of the box led to a goalmouth scramble with Williams blocking a Sam Hughes shot.

Herbie Kane saw a long-range free-kick spilled by the goalkeeper who then gathered.

Burton took the lead early in the second half when a cross from the left appeared to go all the way in past Harry Isted at his near post, with Conor Shaughnessy given the goal.

Barnsley responded fairly well to going behind with Cadden, Cole and Phillips all having long-range shots which were off target.

Craig MacGillivray dived to his left to brilliantly keep out an Andersen header from Kane cross. The goalkeeper also did well to push away a powerful bicycle kick by substitute Josh Benson after his fellow replacement Luke Thomas headed a Nicky Cadden cross.

Slobodan Tedic, another substitute, then saw a shot from the right of the box beaten away by MacGillivray.

Josh Walker could have made it 2-0 but shot wide from the edge of the box after a poor Bobby Thomas header. Tedic looked likely to tap in from a Cadden cross but a defender somehow turned it over the bar.

Dale Taylor scored a fine second for the hosts, cutting in from the left and finding the bottom right corner from outside the box. Seconds later it was 2-1 as Cadden drove in a fine volley from the left of the box.

Watters’ header from a Phillips cross was turned behind by the goalkeeper in injury-time. MacGillivray also made a wonderful save diving to his left with the final action of the game, from what liked like a header by Tedic.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Isted; B Thomas, Andersen, Kitching; Williams, Phillips, Connell (Benson 63), Kane (L Thomas 63), Cadden; Cole (Tedic 63), Norwood (Watters 63).

Unused: Collins, Russell, Larkeche.

Goals: Cadden 89.

Burton (4-5-1): MacGillivray; Brayford, Hughes, Shaughnessy, Ashworth; Kirk (Smith 83), Helm, Oshilaja, Powell, Carayol (Walker 73mins); Taylor.

Unused: Amissah, McCann, Academe, Gilligan, Latty-Fairweather.

Goals: Shaughnessy 50, Taylor 88.

AS IT HAPPENED
  • 1:53pm
    Good afternoon and welcome to the Chronicle’s live text coverage of Barnsley’s game at Burton Albion from 3pm.
  • 2:00pm
    Barnsley: Isted; B Thomas, Andersen, Kitching; Williams, Phillips, Connell, Kane, Cadden; Cole, Norwood. Subs: Collins, Russell, Benson, L Thomas, Larkeche, Tedic, Watters.
  • 2:00pm
    Two changes from the 5-0 win over Morecambe. Adam Phillips and James Norwood are back in for Luke Thomas and Max Watters.
  • 2:04pm
    Burton: MacGillivray; Brayford, Oshilaja, Hughes, Shaughnessy, Ashworth; Helm, Powell, Carayol, Taylor, Kirk. Subs: Amissah, Smith, Walker, McCann, Academe, Gilligan, Latty-Fairweather.
  • 2:09pm
    The Reds have sold their full 1,648 allocation for the away end as they search for a tenth away league win of the season.
  • 2:13pm
    The previous meeting on December 17 saw Barnsley win 2-0 thanks to a brace by former Brewer Devante Cole which left the Staffordshire club second-bottom and five points from safety.
  • 2:13pm
    But they have won eight of their last 15 games, moving them up 18th – seven points clear of danger.
  • 2:15pm
    Dino Maamria’s side drew 0-0 at Cheltenham Town a week ago.
  • 2:15pm
    Reds head coach Michael Duff said: “Dino has done a brilliant job to get them up the table. They won’t think they are safe but they look like they have done enough. They probably need one more win but we don’t want it to be against us.
  • 2:17pm
    “The pitch is terrible, they play aggressive in-your-face football. It will be tough. Whatever type of game it is, whatever the pitch looks like, whatever team they play – we just need to find a way to win.
  • 2:17pm
    “We want to go and play decent football and score three or four goals but it’s unlikely because they are scrapping for their lives.”
  • 2:22pm
    Barnsley loanee Jasper Moon has started Burton’s last 11 games, winning six, and earning praise for his performances on the left of a back three. The centre-back, 22, was sent out on loan in January after not playing any league football in the first half of the campaign. Moon – who signed a long-term contract at Oakwell this season – is not eligible to play against his parent club.
  • 2:22pm
    Duff said: “We are glad he’s not playing because we think he’s a good player. But I don’t know if it weakens them. It gives someone else an opportunity. He has had a few headlines and made an unbelievable block against Cheltenham last week.
  • 2:33pm
    “I didn’t really want to let him go. But it was the right thing to do to get him a run of games. He’s done well and been part of their recovery. He’s learning and will only come back a better player. His future will be down to how he comes back next season and who else is here.”
  • 2:37pm
    The only team who have more headed goals than Burton’s 13 in League One this season is Barnsley with 14.
  • 2:41pm
    Their top-scorer is still Victor Adeboyejo who was sold to Bolton Wanderers in January after netting 13 goals this season, following his exit from Oakwell last summer.
  • 2:45pm
    Another former Reds striker Sam Winnall is out for the season with injury.
  • 2:49pm
    As well as Cole, Barnsley goalkeeper Brad Collins also played for Burton Albion – spending the 2018/19 season on loan at the Pirelli Stadium.
  • 2:51pm
    Collins played in Burton’s 3-1 win over Barnsley on April 6 2019, which was the Reds’ last trip to Albion.
  • 2:53pm
    The clubs have met ten times, with Barnsley winning four, drawing four and losing two.
  • 2:54pm
    The Reds’ only win in four trips to Burton was a 4-2 success in October 2017.
  • 3:00pm
    GAME UNDERWAY
  • 3:02pm
    Barnsley have had most of the. ball in the first two minutes but no attacks of note yet
  • 3:04pm
    4 Decent opportunity for Burton as Charlie Kirk is played in on the right of the box. He volleys across goal harmlessly
  • 3:05pm
    5 Decent move on the left and Cadden's low cross is almost reached. by Cole but the goalkeeper just gathers ahead of him
  • 3:06pm
    6 Cole wins a corner on the left
  • 3:06pm
    7 Kane's corner on the left is played short to Connell who goes all the way back to Williams to shoot from 30 yards and it's well over
  • 3:09pm
    Norwood wins a corner on the left
  • 3:09pm
    10 Connell. corner on the left taken short to Kane who is in a good position to cross but overhits it and Thomas cannot head it back across goal
  • 3:10pm
    Barnsley have had the better of the first ten minutes but no real chances
  • 3:11pm
    Wow. Huge chance. Great football leads to Norwood shooting from about six yards and a defender blocks on the line. The Reds thinks it's a handball
  • 3:12pm
    Phillips pass down the right to Williams who crosses low, Cole touches to Norwood who looked certain to score but it was blocked on the line.
  • 3:16pm
    Replays show that was a blatant handball on the line by John Brayford
  • 3:16pm
    He dived to his right to stop the ball with h is right arm
  • 3:16pm
    It would likely have been a red card as well
  • 3:18pm
    16 Burton have three long throws in a row by Conor Shaughnessy. All cleared
  • 3:21pm
    21 Chance for the Reds. Norwood heads wide from a Williams cross
  • 3:26pm
    26 Big chance for Burton. Phillips loses a tackle on the edge of the box and it leads to a scramble in front of the Reds goal with a couple of shots blocked
  • 3:29pm
    Burton are starting to play well now. Moving the ball a lot better. They win a corner on the left
  • 3:29pm
    30 Left wing Burton corner. Goes over everyone
  • 3:34pm
    34 Good one two between Cadden and Kitching but Cadden's low cross from the left is caught easily
  • 3:35pm
    Barnsley are. playing some decent football, and look like they can open up their hosts especially down the right with Williams and Phillips.
  • 3:36pm
    A. break for a. Burton head injury. Duff giving a quick team talk to most of his players. Could be a good reset
  • 3:37pm
    Deji Oshilaja will carry on after getting treatment
  • 3:38pm
    Duff and Cole were having a debate during that stoppage. The head coach clearly thinks his striker could have got on the end of a couple of Cadden crosses so far
  • 3:41pm
    41 Free-kick from 25 yards by Kane, spilled by the goalkeeper then he gathers it
  • 3:43pm
    A few minutes left in a frustrating half for the Reds. They are the better team but can they take the lead before.the break?
  • 3:45pm
    Two added minutes
  • 3:47pm
    HALF-TIME: Burton 0, Barnsley 0. The Reds were denied a clear penalty in the 12th minute for a handball on the line by home captain John Brayford
  • 4:04pm
    SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
  • 4:06pm
    48 Burton free-kick on the left headed out
  • 4:07pm
    48 Connell free-kick from halfway. Headed out for a throw
  • 4:08pm
    49 Thomas' long throw bounces around in the box with a series of headers then is cleared
  • 4:10pm
    GOAL!
    Conor Shaughnessy opens the scoring with a cross from the left that went all the way in
  • 4:12pm
    Big test now. Barnsley win corner on left
  • 4:12pm
    53 Connell's corner headed out and Cadden curls wide from long range
  • 4:14pm
    Cole brings a long ball. down with a. great touch but drags a poor 20-yard shot well wide
  • 4:16pm
    57 Adam Phillips. lets fly from about 25 yards. It's a powerful flow effort but wide of the bottom right corner
  • 4:18pm
    Burton free-kick on the right. They play it down the line and win a corner
  • 4:18pm
    59 Burton corner on the right. Over everyone and out
  • 4:20pm
    Brilliant save. Craig MacGillivray dives to his left to somehow keep out an Andersen header from Kane cross
  • 4:21pm
    L Thomas, Tedic, Watters and Benson coming on
  • 4:22pm
    For Norwood, Cole, Connell and Kane
  • 4:25pm
    Midway through the second half. At the moment it will be a disastrous day for Barnsley's top two hopes. But they still have time to turn it around
  • 4:27pm
    Barnsley win a corner on the left
  • 4:27pm
    69 Benson corner caught on his line by the goalkeeper
  • 4:30pm
    So far Barnsley have not quite clicked since the changes. They were on top before that
  • 4:31pm
    Burton bring on Josh Walker for Mustapha Carayol
  • 4:33pm
    Another Reds chances. Thomas heads a Cadden cross to Benson whose bicycle kick is well-saved
  • 4:38pm
    79 Another save. This time Craig MacGillivray dives to his right to keep out Tedic's shot from the right of the box
  • 4:40pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Max Watters booked
  • 4:40pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Craig MacGillivray booked after a clash with Watters
  • 4:40pm
    82 Benson corner on the left over everyone and out
  • 4:41pm
    Burton bring on Jonny Smith for Charlie Kirk
  • 4:43pm
    Kitching plays a simple pass out of play. It's been a very frustrating day so far for the Reds
  • 4:44pm
    Barnsley have scored a lot of late goals recently. They need to do so again today
  • 4:45pm
    85 Big chance for 2-0. A poor Thomas header falls to Josh Walker who fires wide from the edge of the box
  • 4:45pm
    Then at the other end, a Cadden low cross looks set to be tapped in by Tedic but a defender somehow turns the ball over the bar
  • 4:47pm
    GOAL!
    Dale Taylor doubles the hosts' lead
  • 4:48pm
    GOAL!
    Nicky Cadden pulls one back
  • 4:49pm
    Seven added minutes
  • 4:50pm
    90+1 Watters header turned around the post from a Phillips cross
  • 4:53pm
    Cadden corner caught by the goalkeeper
  • 4:57pm
    The goalkeeper makes another great save from what would have been. an own goal
  • 4:57pm
    FULL-TIME: Burton 2, Barnsley 1.

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