Analysis from Barnsley's 2-2 draw at home to Charlton Athletic on Tuesday. Davis Keillor-Dunn put the hosts in front but Charlton levelled then took the lead in injury-time only for Max Watters to equalise in the 96th minute.
MIXED FEELINGS AFTER DRAMATIC FINISH
THE ENDING to this game was so dramatic it is hard to know what to focus on.
The Reds produced one of their best performances of the season and, including the win at Blackpool on Saturday, have certainly improved a lot on the very poor displays before the two-week break from league action, which they clearly used well.
But they continue to be unable to win at home, while leaking far too many goals and especially late ones – twin problems which cost them again on Tuesday as Charlton netted in the 76th and 93rd minutes.
However, they showed great character to net in injury-time for the second time this week – two goals that earned them three points in total.
Most would have taken four points from Blackpool and Charlton plus, if they can win at a struggling Shrewsbury side on Saturday, that is a very welcome seven-point week going into another fortnight break from league action with two cup games against League Two sides.
Barnsley are just outside the play-off places with their performances trending in the right direction and, although we need to see it much more often than in just two matches, they feel in a far better place than just a week ago.
REDS IN CONTROL BUT MISSED CHANCES AND ERRORS COST THEM
Despite a fairly slow start to both halves, with Charlton having a few chances, Barnsley generally controlled the majority of the first 75 minutes.
Compared to their previous home games, the Reds looked much more organised and coherent, kept the ball better, pressed more intelligently, had a clear threat in attack and were able to sustain their good spells for longer.
After taking the lead during a dominant period in the first half, they should have doubled it around the hour-mark when again they had Charlton on the ropes and created a series of chances. But they could not get that crucial second goal and were stung by an equaliser totally against the run of play, which changed the game and led to a chaotic finish which should have been avoided.
Charlton’s manager Nathan Jones, who watched the game from the directors’ box in the West Stand, was extremely animated throughout the second half but especially after his side scored their goals. He was jumping up and down on a wall in the middle of the stand in a way that would terrify the health and safety officials who shut that part of the ground a few years ago. He was much quieter after Max Watters’ last-gasp equaliser, which meant mid-table Charlton have only won one in six – although it was against leaders Birmingham – and none of their last six games at Oakwell.
BARNSLEY HAVE CONCEDED MOST LATE GOALS IN ENGLAND
No club in the top four divisions in English football have conceded more goals in the final 15 minutes of games this season than Barnsley who have let in nine in their 12 matches.
Only Wrexham have a better first half record in League One this season than the Reds – who have scored 11 goals and conceded just three before the break in all their games – but only Saturday’s hosts Shrewsbury have a worst second half tally than Barnsley’s eight scored and 15 let in.
You can question fitness, game management and experience but basic individual errors were the main cause here.
Luke Berry scored twice in 37 games for Barnsley in the 2014/15 season. He matched that in 17 minutes on Tuesday after coming off the Addicks bench.
The first one saw Matty Craig slice what should have been a long clearance on the edge of his box up in the air then Berry produced an impressive volley into the bottom left corner.
Charlton were then on top suddenly and scored a second when Gaga Slonina should have let Marc Roberts head Tyreese Campbell’s cross away but shouted for the defender to leave it then punched the ball straight at Berry who lofted it into the empty net.
Both Craig, 21, and Slonina, 20, have had difficult starts to their loans from Tottenham and Chelsea respectively. Craig, who has been on the bench this week, came on for the more attacking Vimal Yoganathan which seemed to unbalance the midfield. He is yet to show the consistent, combative defensive midfield qualities he was brought in to add. Berry will have been pleased, and maybe slightly confused, that he was facing this callow youth and not his former Reds team-mate Conor Hourihane who remained on the bench as a coach. Luca Connell was off the pitch at the time of the Charlton equaliser with an injury, as the Reds evening began to unravel.
As for Slonina, although he had actually been one of Barnsley’s best players in the previous four matches, this was the latest gaffe at Oakwell which cost a goal, and Clarke hinted at changes in personnel for the weekend. It must be added that the goalkeeper did play a part in the 2-2 leveller.
KEILLOR-DUNN AND HUMPHRYS SHOW REAL PROMISE UP FRONT
Barnsley’s front two of Davis Keillor-Dunn had an impressive night individually and as a pairing.
Keillor-Dunn made it two goals in as many games this week, and three for the season, turning in from close range after goalkeeper Will Mannion spilled a powerful Humphrys shot.
Their celebration – with Keillor-Dunn jumping on his team-mate’s back as they both pretended to swim towards the away end – hints at a friendship between the two deadline day signings which also showed on the pitch.
They were a nuisance for the Addicks defence with their pressing, strong running, movement and link-up with others – a promising performance by two players who have rarely played up front in their careers.
Keillor-Dunn almost scored another while Humphrys delighted the home fans with great footwork and skill to wriggle out of tight spaces and beat players, setting up attacks and chances. After signing late without a pre-season, he looked much fitter than in previous games.
It was also a good night for fit-again substitute Watters who came on for Connell and got the leveller, expertly finding the bottom left corner after the never-beaten Roberts flicked on Slonina’s long kick into the box. Watters has scored three goals now this season and is starting to prove he can be an effective part of the strikers’ unit having been dropped out of the first team squad last season.
Also impressing was Georgie Gent, who had the beating of Rarmani Edmonds-Green and created some chances while coming close to his first goal.
The left wing-back is thriving during a run of starts having barely been used in his first few months at Oakwell.
Wide centre-backs Josh Earl – who picked up a fifth booking so will miss Shrewsbury on Saturday – and Mael de Gevigney looked comfortable on the ball and added a different dimension to the attack with their willingness to get up the pitch regularly.
Jon Russell had another solid game in midfield and was unlucky not to score.
Yoganathan made his full league debut, in the absence due to injury of Adam Phillips who scored in both games against Charlton last season. The 18-year-old looked nervous early on but ended up having a solid game, with his neat and tidy passing helping the hosts dictate the match for long spells.
UNBEATEN IN SIX HOME GAMES BUT ONE LEAGUE WIN SINCE FEBRUARY
The Reds are unbeaten at Oakwell in six games in all competitions but have only won once there in the league since February, with 11 points from the last 12 home league games. Their home record this season, of seven points from six games, is the 18th best in the division.
After Michael Duff’s Barnsley won 13 out of 14 home league games in the middle of the 2022/23 campaign, including nine in a row, the next 31 Oakwell league games have brought only ten victories for the Reds.
Despite the late leveller, this can still be filed alongside the draws with Northampton, who were 2-0 down, and Stockport, who scored in injury-time, as two points dropped at home this season.
It was the first home game in three weeks, in which time they lost twice dismally at Huddersfield, then had a ‘reset’ with a lot of work in training before a last-gasp win at Blackpool on Saturday. It was a third straight home draw but the performance was much better than in the previous two which is definitely a step forward and hopefully leads to more regular points at Oakwell.
They now play two South Yorkshire derbies there as, after the EFL Trophy game with Doncaster next week, Rotherham United visit on November 8 for a big match for both sides. The Reds then host Wigan – who have never lost in the league at Oakwell – Reading, who have not lost there in 11 visits and are now seventh, then leaders Birmingham. It is a tough run but, if they play like they did on Tuesday without the silly errors, they could start to pick up a few more home wins. They certainly need to if they are to be anywhere near the top six this season.
