Barnsley continued their excellent start to the season with a 1-0 win at Peterborough United on Tuesday evening.

Caylan Vickers opened the scoring just before half-time then the Reds kept their first clean sheet in 19 matches since February.

Barnsley have ten points from four league matches while Posh have lost all their games.

Tennai Watson and Patrick Kelly made their full league debuts in place of the benched Jono Bland and the suspended Vimal Yoganathan.

The hosts started the game on top with Carl Johnston shooting over from just outside the box. Jack Shepherd then gifted the ball to Cian Hayes whose low cross from the left was well-cleared by Josh Earl.

Adam Phillips played in Vickers on the right of the box on 14 minutes but his chipped effort was caught by the home goalkeeper.

Kelly then shot over from just inside the box after Luca Connell won the ball then Phillips cut into the box and pulled it back.

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Peterborough should have taken the lead on 38 minutes but Murphy Cooper produced a fine save to deny Klaidi Lolos who was ten yards out after Kyrell Lisbie laid the ball off to him in the box.

Connell then lost the ball to Lisbie who sprinted down the right and crossed low but Bradley Ihionvien could not touch the ball a few yards out.

The goal arrived on 45 minutes when Vickers cut in from the right wing, beating two defenders with real skill, and shot from just outside the box, with defender David Okagbue heading into his own net.

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The Reds could have netted again before the break as Phillips won the ball on the right of the box but saw a pull-back intercepted. From the resulting Connell corner, Shepherd saw a shot saved off the line by Brandon Khela.

Phillips almost doubled the lead within two minutes of the re-start but he shot just wide of the bottom right corner after Vickers was picked out by a superb Nathanael Ogbeta pass and pulled the ball back.

Posh had a good spell and almost levelled when Bradley Ihionvien headed down a cross from the right and Brandon Khela volleyed onto the bar under pressure from Kelly. That followed a sloppy spell from Barnsley who lost the ball often.

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Connell’s effort from a 25-yard free-kick was then spilt onto the right post by goalkeeper Vincente Reyes.

McGoldrick then missed two golden chances within a minute. First he hit the base of the left post from the right of the box after collecting a Vickers pass then, after Kelly won the ball and Connell put him clean through, he shot wide of the bottom right corner.

Substitute Bland saw a low 25-yard shot saved then Phillips was played clean through by Earl deep in stoppage time but denied one-on-one.

In the final seconds of the 98th minute, Gustaf Lindgren turned over from a few yards out from a James Dornelly cross.

Barnsley (4-2-3-1): Cooper; Watson, Shepherd, Earl, Ogbeta (Bland 77), Connell, Kelly (Russell 84); Vickers (Cleary 90), Phillips, Keillor-Dunn; McGoldrick,

Unused: Flavell, Farrugia, Barratt, Farrell.

Yellow cards: Watson, Earl, Cleary.

Goal: Vickers 45.

Peterborough (4-2-3-1): Reyes; Dornelly, Nevett, Okagbue, Johnston; Collins (Lindgren 77) , Khela; Hayes (Frith 58mins), Lolos (O’Brien-Brady 66), Lisbie (Odoh 66); Ihionvien.

Unused: Smith, Mills, Mendonca, .

Yellow cards: Dornelly.

AS IT HAPPENED
  • 6:12pm
    Good evening and welcome to the Chronicle’s live text coverage of Barnsley’s game at Peterborough United from 7.45pm.
  • 6:21pm
    Team news is due at 6.30pm. Mael de Gevigney was an injury doubt ahead of the game and Vimal Yoganathan is suspended.
  • 6:30pm
    Barnsley (4-3-3): Cooper; Watson, Shepherd, Earl, Ogbeta; Phillips, Connell, Kelly; Vickers, McGoldrick, Keillor-Dunn. Subs: Flavell, Russell, Cleary, Farrugia, Barratt, Bland, Farrell.
  • 6:37pm
    Peterborough: Reyes; Johnston, Nevett, Okagbue, Dornelly; Collins, Khela, Lolos; Hayes, Ihionvien, Lisbie.
  • 6:38pm
    Subs: Smith, Mills, Mendonca, Odoh, Frith, Lindgren, O’Brien-Brady
  • 6:48pm
    The Reds have seven points from three games after they followed up wins over Plymouth and Burton with a 1-1 draw at home to Bolton on Saturday after playing from 52 minutes with ten men.
  • 6:50pm
    The Posh followed two play-off semi-final losses with an 18th-placed finish last season and have since lost their three top-scorers, Kwame Poku, Malik Mothersille and Ricky Jade-Jones, as well as captain Hector Kyprianou and star defender Emmanuel Fernandez.
  • 7:03pm
    Darren Ferguson’s side lost their opening two games of the season against clubs relegated from the Championship this year – going down 2-1 at Cardiff City then 2-0 at home to Luton Town.
  • 7:12pm
    They were also beaten 2-1 at League Two Accrington Stanley in the EFL Cup last week then 2-0 at Wigan on Saturday in the league.
  • 7:21pm
    Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane said: “It’s going to be a test. Whether you’ve had good results or not so good at the start of the season, people will look to turn their fortunes around or continue the run they are on. We have a couple of big away games now. We have a right test in front of us and we’re looking to hit it on.”
  • 7:29pm
    He also said: “They are a really good side who give you challenges. We respect them. Darren will be little bit disappointed with the start but we all know that can change quickly. I will be saying to the lads they can’t come off their work and they have to keep standards high.
  • 7:32pm
    “Peterborough will have done their homework on us, looking for their first result. We have to go about it in the right way. “They are a good side with good players.”
  • 7:33pm
    Nathanael Ogbeta spent the second half of the 2022/23 season at Peterborough on loan from Swansea.
  • 7:36pm
    He told the Chronicle: “It was really positive. Darren Ferguson helped me massively to get my confidence back because I was at Swansea at the time and not really playing there. He just poured belief into me and gave me the opportunity to show what I can do. I am grateful to him for helping me.
  • 7:37pm
    “I have good memories there but I have to be at it against them. It should be a good game, I am looking forward to going back seeing some old faces.”
  • 7:40pm
    The Reds are unbeaten in their last five games at London Road, drawing two and winning three including a 3-1 success in their final game of 2024 thanks to goals by Donovan Pines, Davis Keillor-Dunn and Jon Russell.
  • 7:45pm
    GAME UNDERWAY
  • 7:47pm
    A couple of minutes in and nothing of note has happened yet. Barnsley looking confident on the ball but then Connell loses it and Posh break down right but cross is easily caught by Cooper
  • 7:48pm
    Kelly's first noticeable touch is a pass straight out of play. Hopefully his debut gets better from there on
  • 7:49pm
    Ogbeta gives away a free-kick in the left back area
  • 7:50pm
    Free-kick cleared as is the next cross
  • 7:51pm
    The pitch looks very wet in places. They were watering it a lot before kick-off
  • 7:51pm
    Peterborough continuing their usual style of passing out from the back but with a few long passes in there as well
  • 7:53pm
    Posh break into the box from the right but cannot get a shot off until Carl Johnston shoots over from 25 yards
  • 7:55pm
    Slight tweak in midfield set-up tonight for the Reds. Phillips is playing as a number ten with Connell and Kelly a midfield two behind him
  • 7:57pm
    Fantastic run from Vickers after bringing the ball down on the right wing then he has a shot blocked on the edge of the box and so does Keillor-Dunn
  • 7:57pm
    McGoldrick played in behind on the right and his cross is blocked. Better from Barnsley
  • 7:58pm
    Shepherd gives the ball away and Cian Hayes sprints down the left into the box but his low cross is cleared by Earl in front of his goal
  • 7:59pm
    First real chance for Barnsley. Phillips plays in Vickers on the right of the box but his chipped effort is caught by the goalkeeper
  • 8:03pm
    Barnsley win a corner on the right after Kelly intercepts a pass and, after a couple of further passes, Phillips' cross is blocked behind
  • 8:04pm
    The referee about grappling in the box
  • 8:04pm
    19 Luca Connell's right-wing corner is headed out
  • 8:05pm
    Barnsley chance. After Connell wins the ball, it's good work by Phillips to cut in from the right and pull the ball back to Kelly who shoots over from just inside the box
  • 8:08pm
    Kyrell Lisbie thinks he has been brought down by Ogbeta in the box but the referee gives it the other way. On the replay it looks like the right decision
  • 8:11pm
    McGoldrick shoots well over from just outside the box after swapping passes with Phillips following a good tackle by Earl. He just got his technique wrong there
  • 8:11pm
    A home player is down getting treatment and both teams go to the sideline for a chat
  • 8:13pm
    Play is back underway. A Peterborough cross from the right is caught by Cooper
  • 8:14pm
    Half an hour gone. A pretty even match overall
  • 8:17pm
    Looks like DKD now playing up front with McGoldrick on left wing
  • 8:19pm
    Ogbeta shanks a cross after a decent move
  • 8:19pm
    Connell's shot is blocked on the edge of the box and loops up to the goalkeeper. He won the ball initially then DKD and Kelly had touches in the box
  • 8:20pm
    Connell went down as soon as he hit that and he's getting treatment
  • 8:20pm
    He's up now and looks alright
  • 8:21pm
    Overall, Barnsley haven't really got going. They are lacking creativity and spark going forward
  • 8:21pm
    Connell back on now as Posh win a corner on the left
  • 8:22pm
    38 Posh corner on the left headed out by Earl I think
  • 8:22pm
    Big chance for Posh. Cooper makes a huge save from Klaidi Lolos
  • 8:23pm
    A ball into the box to Lisbie who laid it off to Lolos
  • 8:25pm
    Posh close again. Lisbie wins the ball, sprints down the right and crosses low but Bradley Ihionvien can't turn it in
  • 8:25pm
    It was Connell who lost the ball to Lisbie
  • 8:29pm
    GOAL!
    Caylan Vickers' shot is headed in by David Okagbue
  • 8:31pm
    Not sure who will get that goal but who cares? The lively Vickers cuts in from the right and shoots, it touches the defender's head on the way into the top left corner. Barnsley not at their best so far but that feels like a big breakthrough
  • 8:33pm
    Chance for another. Phillips wins the ball in the box but tries to pull it back and it's turned behind
  • 8:33pm
    Shepherd has a shot cleared off the line by Khela
  • 8:34pm
    HALF-TIME: Peterborough 0, Barnsley 1.
  • 8:49pm
    SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
  • 8:51pm
    Early chance for Phillips. He shoots wide of the bottom right corner from about ten yards out after Ogbeta's fine pass picks out Vickers who pulls it back
  • 8:52pm
    48 Connell's corner from the left is through everyone
  • 8:54pm
    Posh hit the bar. A cross from the left is headed down by Bradley Ihionvien and Brandon Khela's volley loops up onto the cross bar
  • 8:55pm
    Now Connell turns a left wing cross behind for a corner
  • 8:55pm
    Bradley Ihionvien volleys the corner, he thinks it's deflected off Earl and gone wide and sinks to his knees in despair when a goal kick is awarded
  • 8:58pm
    Cooper takes a big risk of coming out of his box to challenge for a header with the much taller Bradley Ihionvien but times it well and wins it
  • 8:59pm
    Peterborough are having their best spell of the match
  • 9:00pm
    Phillips wins a free-kick about 25 yards out
  • 9:01pm
    57 Phillips nudges the free-kick to Connell's whose low strike is spilled onto the post then the goalkeeper just gathers
  • 9:02pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Tennai Watson booked for bringing down Cian Hayes
  • 9:03pm
    Hayes is now taken off for Declan Frith
  • 9:05pm
    Nice move down the left involving Earl, DKD and Ogbeta but they try one dummy too many in the box and it's cleared
  • 9:08pm
    Barnsley playing some decent football now, they pass it from left to right but cannot get it into the box and eventually concede a foul
  • 9:09pm
    Will be interesting to see which subs Hourihane turns to, I expect Bland might come on for some extra energy but not sure if for Kelly or Watson
  • 9:10pm
    Double home change. Abraham Odoh and Donay O'Brien-Brady on for Lisbie and Lolos
  • 9:10pm
    So Posh have made three changes and Barnsley none
  • 9:11pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Josh Earl booked. Apparently for time wasting while taking a free-kick
  • 9:13pm
    Earl has played well tonight, he wins a tackle on the edge of his box
  • 9:14pm
    Another apparent injury in the middle of a half with Bradley Ihionvien down needing treatment
  • 9:14pm
    Watson also getting some treatment from the Reds physios
  • 9:14pm
    Bland being sent to warm up. I wouldn't be surprised to see him come on for Watson soon
  • 9:16pm
    Posh cross from the right through everyone then Kelly brings the ball out with a nice run before winning a free-kick
  • 9:17pm
    Bland is ready to come on
  • 9:18pm
    Abraham Odoh shoots just over from about 25 yards
  • 9:18pm
    Bland on for Ogbeta. Watson moves to the left
  • 9:19pm
    McGoldrick hits the post
  • 9:19pm
    Now he's in again and misses
  • 9:20pm
    The first one was from a Vickers pass on the right of the box he shot across goal and onto the post then Connell put him clean through and he shot wide of the bottom right corner
  • 9:23pm
    So Barnsley have hit both posts tonight, but Posh have hit the bar
  • 9:23pm
    Cleary coming on
  • 9:24pm
    Nice move involving a DKD back heel and Kelly pass then Phillips goes down in the box but the defender looked to get the ball
  • 9:24pm
    Barnsley are playing well now. This is probably their best spell of the game
  • 9:25pm
    Bland sees a low 25-yard shot saved after good work on the left by Connell then McGoldrick
  • 9:26pm
    Cleary still waiting to come on
  • 9:27pm
    Posh win a free-kick on the left
  • 9:28pm
    Instead of Cleary it's Russell who comes on for Kelly
  • 9:29pm
    Decent debut by Kelly who grew into the game
  • 9:29pm
    Barnsley defended the free-kick well.
  • 9:29pm
    Into the final five minutes now
  • 9:32pm
    Barnsley have not kept a clean sheet in 19 games since winning at Rotherham in February
  • 9:32pm
    But work to do here, they have conceded late on in their last two games
  • 9:34pm
    Now Cleary comes on, for Vickers who gets a standing ovation from the away end
  • 9:35pm
    Eight added minutes
  • 9:36pm
    YELLOW CARD
    James Dornelly booked for hauling down Watson who is getting his legs stretched by team-mates for cramp
  • 9:39pm
    Khela tries to loft a pass over the Reds defence to Odoh but it's too hard and Cooper grabs it
  • 9:39pm
    Phillips can finish it but denied one on one
  • 9:40pm
    It was a fine through ball by Earl after McGoldrick won a big tackle
  • 9:41pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Reyes Cleary booked for a very late challenge
  • 9:41pm
    The free-kick is straight to Cooper
  • 9:42pm
    Lindgren turns a Dornelly cross over from a few yards out with a few seconds left in the 98th minute
  • 9:44pm
    FULL-TIME: Peterborough 0, Barnsley 1