Analysis of Barnsley's 2-2 home draw with lowly Northampton Town on Tuesday. The visitors took the lead but David McGoldrick and Adam Phillips put the Reds in front before an equaliser.

REDS BEGIN POST-DKD ERA

A 2-2 DRAW with Northampton at Oakwell last season was the final match of Conor Hourihane’s impressive playing career.

He came off before the hour-mark and was realising he could not contribute the way he wanted to on the pitch in his second Reds spell so would soon retire and focus on coaching, ultimately taking over as head coach that season.

This game also felt like the start of a new chapter for the Reds boss as – having seen his top-scorer sold on Monday – he must now go through a gruelling run of 20 games in 84 days with just two strikers, both in the twilight of their careers, and bring some positivity back to many demoralised fans.

Despite having beaten top eight side Stevenage on Saturday with one of their best performances of the season, it felt like the Reds came into the midweek match on the back of a crushing defeat. They had sold their two-goal star from the weekend Davis Keillor-Dunn and not rebuilt their attack in the way anyone in the changing room, boardroom or terraces wanted.

The official attendance of 8,806 – probably much less with some season ticket holders staying away – was the lowest in a league fixture since a match with Port Vale in late 2015 in which Hourihane played. But, despite a poor start by their team and not the most convincing display overall, the fans who turned up were generally vocal and positive on a very cold night. Hourihane thanked them for that post-match.

Although they could not hold on for the first three-game winning run in the league at Oakwell since they won nine in a row under Michael Duff three years ago, it has been a decent week on the pitch. Most would have taken four points from these two games – albeit perhaps expecting a weekend draw then a Tuesday win – and they doubled the gap between them and the relegation zone to six points.

Winning all of their games in hand would take them into play-off contention but it is difficult to imagine given how thin the squad is up front, their defensive frailties and the fact they have taken only 21 points from the last 19 games.

Mid-table feels like the most realistic destination but that could change quickly with so many games coming up.

They now visit two of the most formidable home teams in League One currently in Bolton and Stevenage who have each lost just once on their own turf this season while conceding 16 goals at home combined in the league all campaign.

Their next home game against AFC Wimbledon on February 14, another struggling side, could be a huge one.

DISAPPOINTING DRAW WITH STRUGGLERS

This was the easiest game Barnsley could have had as the first of their many in hand, in theory, so a draw feels like a missed opportunity.

Second-bottom Northampton were winless in eight in the league, losing the last four, and had scored just twice in seven previous matches.

It was an open and chaotic game, certainly not the dominant performance the Reds would like against one of the lower sides in the third tier, but they still could have nicked three points.

Barnsley had 65 per cent of the ball, 22 shots and 45 touches in the opposition box – compared to 52 in their previous three games.

When they started badly and conceded a sloppy third-minute opener, it felt as though they may go under and the atmosphere turn toxic.

But they deserve credit for fighting back, being the better side for the next hour and creating numerous chances – two of which were scored.

The downside is they seemed to lose control and get tired after taking the lead just after the hour.

Northampton could bring on proven League One forwards such as Tom Eaves and Elliot List, as well as Kamarai Swyer who set up their leveller.

In contrast, Hourihane bemoaned his lack of options other than goal-scoring substitute Adam Phillips. Tom Bradshaw had not signed in time to play and Hourihane did not introduce Tawanda Chirewa for Scott Banks who was outstanding in the first half but tired badly in the second as a lack of starts appeared to catch up with him.

In the league table for the final half hour of games, Barnsley are third-bottom having conceded the most goals in that time with 22.

After this game last season, Darrell Clarke spoke about the Reds’ ‘soft underbelly’ and it is still there under his successor.

Barnsley have not won at home to Northampton in seven attempts since 1978.

The two clubs have to play each other again this season, at Sixfields, in a fixture which could be postponed in late March due to international call-ups and potentially pushed back to one of the final games.

By that point we will know whether Barnsley have had enough to pull well clear of the relegation fight and if they can achieve anything more than mediocrity.

MCGOLDRICK AND PHILLIPS FINDING SCORING FORM AT RIGHT TIME

The goal-scoring form of David McGoldrick and Adam Phillips in 2026 has been one of the main positives of a mixed start to the year in general for Barnsley.

They are two of the more experienced and proven players who needed to step up after indifferent first halves of the campaign.

McGoldrick’s equaliser took him to double figures for the season, seven in the league including five in the last four, which is a massive relief now that the scoring onus will fall hugely on him after the Keillor-Dunn sale.

The 38-year-old may have been sixth choice for the captaincy not long ago but with the unwell Luca Connell, the sold Keillor-Dunn and the injured Josh Earl not involved plus Marc Roberts and Phillips starting on the bench, Barnsley’s leadership group was decimated so he took the armband.

He was unmarked to stab in from an excellent Banks left-wing free-kick – an important set piece goal for the Reds who have conceded more from those situations than they have scored this season.

Phillips later made it four goals in six games, as many from open play in 2026 as he managed in 2025 which ended with a 16-game goal drought.

He now has seven for the campaign and looks on course for double figures for a fourth straight season which is remarkably consistent for a midfielder.

Phillips scored 14 seconds after half-time against Northampton last season and, in this game after coming back from illness, netted instantly after coming off the bench. He touched home from close range after McGoldrick’s shot from the left of the box was deflected into the air.

POOR GOALS CONCEDED AGAIN

Both the goals Barnsley conceded were poor, continuing one of the main themes of the season.

They were scored by the great grandson of actor Alec Guinness – Obi Wan Kenobi in Star Wars – with a simple tap-in even an Ewok would stick away, and the son of Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche.

The first saw Reyes Cleary lose the ball deep in his half on the left flank then Jack Vale found ex-Red Cameron McGeehan whose shot was fumbled by goalkeeper Owen Goodman so Nesta Guinness-Walker netted on the line.

Cleary has been a magnificent attacking player for Barnsley this season, and caused problems in this game, but has also been at fault for several goals at the other end with silly errors.

The 2-2 goal saw Eoghan O’Connell misjudge the flight of a Joe Wormleighton cross from the right wing and allow the smaller Swyer to win the header, nodding it down for Max Dyche to then head home from close range.

O’Connell had otherwise been excellent, making eight clearances and one huge block minutes earlier.

Fellow centre-back Jack Shepherd won nine headers but had some sloppy moments as well, while some would say he was lucky his night lasted more than four minutes as he appeared to elbow a Northampton player just after the opening goal for which he was booked. Replays showed it was a shove and a yellow card was correct.

Referee Thomas Parsons also waved away penalty shouts by Corey O’Keeffe and Patrick Kelly late on.

MIXED PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT TEAM

With captain Connell unwell, having been linked with a move away in the transfer window, Barnsley’s midfield three were 21-year-old Kelly plus 20-year-olds Vimal Yoganathan and Jono Bland who both returned to the 11. Bland anchored midfield with the others in more attacking roles.

It was a tough night for Yoganathan as he had six shots but none on target, missing several good chances including a glaring one-on-one at 1-1. He was replaced on the hour by Phillips who immediately found the net.

But Yoganathan’s energy had been important in getting Barnsley going after the early opener and he won the free-kick for the equaliser after an impressive driving run.

The king of the driving run currently for Barnsley is Kelly, who surged forward regularly including for the second Reds goal, making five ‘key passes’ with a completion rate of 91 per cent in a fine performance.

Bland completed 90 per cent of his passes and made the most tackles in a solid performance although he did get away with losing the ball in his half at one point with Northampton too slow to make it count on the break.

Tennai Watson put in another solid shift out of position at left-back while right-back O’Keeffe impressed in attack but was loose in possession further back at times.