Analysis of Barnsley's 2-2 draw at home to Northampton Town. Max Watters and Adam Phillips put the Reds 2-0 up but they conceded on 73 and 78 minutes.
REDS CRUMBLE AGAIN FROM 2-0 UP
Picking up points in League One is looking like very hard work for Barnsley in these early weeks of the season.
They were 2-0 up and should have added a third when Sam Cosgrove somehow missed from just a few yards out then conceded two poor goals after errors by Josh Earl and Gabriel Slonina.
For the second time in four days – after the EFL Trophy loss to Manchester United on Saturday – the Reds threw away a 2-0 lead in the final quarter of the game as they conceded goals in quick succession.
Although the midweek game was in a different competition with a much-changed and younger side, it is a worrying trend which could have had another example if Lincoln had taken their chances last week. When they are put under pressure, Barnsley tend to wilt.
Head coach Darrell Clarke said the Reds had a ‘soft underbelly’ which he needed to ‘beat out of them’ while questioning their game management and focus.
It must be said that Barnsley didn’t play that well throughout the whole match anyway. They produced some decent football and had good spells but they were often sloppy with their passing and defending, with Northampton creating chances throughout from set plays and general play.
Some may criticise Clarke for his tinkering with formation and personnel but it was individual errors which cost the Reds.
The game continued a stuttering and strange start to the season for the Reds who clearly need strikers but are also making regular defensive errors and not dominating in midfield the way they should with their talent in that area.
SIX MONTHS WITHOUT A HOME WIN
The Reds had not won in ten league home games across exactly six months since they beat Derby County on February 24.
It was unthinkable back then, when they defeated a promotion rival and looked favourites for the second automatic promotion place, that half a year would pass before the next home victory.
This game felt like a huge opportunity to end that run, building on the win at Lincoln and against a side who were expected by many to struggle this season.
But that barren sequence moved into double figures and within two games of the club record set in 2017/18 when Cameron McGeehan - who played for Northampton in this game - was in the Reds squad.
They were booed by some at full-time which might be unusual for the third game of the season but the frustration is understandable after such a rotten run at a level in which they are used to winning.
The previous Saturday home game at Oakwell was also against Northampton, who scored a 96th-minute equaliser on the final day of last season but Barnsley still scraped into the play-offs due to other results.
In both games, the equaliser came from poor defending of a free-kick.
Northampton are unbeaten in six visits to Oakwell since 1975, winning three and drawing three, and have only lost seven of 27 games against the Reds.
WATTERS GOAL A BIG BOOST
Max Watters opened the scoring with his first goal since December at Reading and his first at home in the league since the 4-2 win at home to Sheffield Wednesday in March last year.
It was a big moment for the striker, who has had a torrid 2024 after being dropped from the first team squad for the second half of last season, and for the club who – while trying to bring in strikers – desperately needed those starting to come good.
He and Sam Cosgrove have netted in back to back games between them and, while they have also each missed big chances, have probably shown enough to make them part of a group of strikers this season which must double in size by the time the window shuts.
After a fine Earl pass put Adam Phillips behind the Cobblers defence on the right, he squared to Cosgrove who tapped it back to Watters to find the bottom left corner from eight yards.
Confidence has clearly been what Watters has lacked and this goal, as well as man-manager Clarke’s continued backing, will help to rebuild it. But he then had to watch from the bench as Barnsley lost the lead he helped them build within 12 minutes of his removal.
Cosgrove won some impressive aerial duels but should have put the game beyond doubt. After seeing one header, from a Barry Cotter cross, fumbled onto the bar by Lee Burge, he somehow nodded wide just a few yards from a Kyran Lofhouse left-wing cross when he looked certain to find the bottom right corner.
PHILLIPS OFF MARK EARLIER THAN USUAL
Phillips’ previous two seasons with Barnsley have seen him start very slowly then excel from winter onwards – first due to being played out of position as a new signing then after missing the opening three games a year ago following his red card in the play-off final.
This time he scored in the third league game of the season, finishing one on one 14 seconds into the second half after he had charged down a Jack Baldwin clearance.
Considering he has threatened double figures for goals and assists in the previous two campaigns despite slow starts, he could be set for a bumper season if he gets on a roll earlier, stays fit and, of course, is not sold this week.
It was the second Saturday in a row that Barnsley netted just after half-time to go 2-0 up.
Joining Phillips and Luca Connell in midfield was Conor Hourihane due to a calf injury for Matty Craig.
On his first start for the Reds since January 2017, Hourihane lost the ball a couple of times early on but grew into the game then was given a standing ovation as he was taken off. Replacement Jon Russell was very good, constantly looking to drive forward and play clever passes.
SLONINA SLIP-UP AFTER EARL ERROR
Gabriel Slonina’s early Barnsley career had been very promising. Although a few kicks were wayward, the American was the penalty shoot-out star on debut at Wigan in the cup then made some vital saves in the win at Lincoln. He also made a fine stop in this game, clawing out a Baldwin header on the stroke of half-time, but then was beaten to a left-wing free-kick by the same player who headed in the leveller.
It was a poor error by the young goalkeeper on his home debut.
The first away goal, five minutes earlier, had seen Earl lose the ball after taking a throw near halfway, to ex-Red Will Hondermarck. Northampton then broke with Callum Morton playing a clever pass to Liam McCarron who drove to the edge of the box and impressively found the bottom right corner. McCarron had a very short loan spell under Darrell Clarke at Port Vale in 2022.
Earl had been moved to left-back as Barnsley changed to 4-4-2 from 3-5-2. Left wing-back Georgie Gent was again taken off, at half-time, having lasted just 25 minutes in his previous start. Gent had put in some decent crosses and brilliantly put the ball over his own bar a yard out after his side were opened up down their right and Luke Mbete whipped a low cross across goal.
But the oncoming Donovan Pines’ extra height from set plays did seem to help solidify Barnsley, until the errors for the goals.
The other starting wing-back was Barry Cotter who marked his 50th appearance by making the most interceptions, tackles and key passes as he was very unlucky not to get another assist.
