THE last time Tom Bradshaw scored a goal in a Barnsley shirt was almost eight years ago as the Reds started their journey to the Championship under Daniel Stendel – and although their attacking play is similarly impressive compared with that squad, it’s their defensive frailties that are really letting them down.
Only the top two sides in League One – Cardiff and Lincoln City – and Huddersfield Town have scored more goals than Barnsley’s 47 so far this campaign.
But only Doncaster Rovers have conceded more than the 49 they’ve let in.
That’s the issue Barnsley currently have and it was clearly on display in Saturday’s six-goal thriller at Oakwell.
David McGoldrick's opener - and his eighth of the season in the league - was largely down to the fantastic work of Reyes Cleary.
After successfully taking on two Wimbledon defenders he played it across goal for McGoldrick to open the scoring.
And it took just four minutes for Barnsley to double their lead.
Bradshaw, who returned to Barnsley in January almost eight years after leaving the club, scored his first goal at Oakwell since 2018 thanks to some more fantastic work by Cleary.
It was Cleary's tenth assist in League One this season, topping the playmaker charts in the division.
But the Dons came back into it as Omar Bugiel scored his first goal since October to halve the deficit.
And it only took him two minutes to score his next goal as he headed in a James Tilley cross to level the scores.
Barnsley had chances to take the lead in the second half but it was Wimbledon’s Marcus Browne who put the Dons in front on 74 minutes as he tapped into an empty net to send the away end wild.
But Scott Banks levelled in the 87th minute, firing home from close range to rescue a point for the Reds.
The result left Barnsley in 16th, six points clear of the drop-zone and 11 points outside the top six with four games in hand on Huddersfield Town who occupy the final play-off place.
No striker on the bench - but Barnsley's older heads prove worth
A lot has already been said about the lack of firepower up front for Barnsley following a transfer window in which they sold star player Davis Keillor-Dunn and replaced him with Tom Bradshaw.
They also loaned out Fabio Jalo and did not bring in the 'pacy striker' Hourihane was asking for.
And on Saturday they did not have a striker on the bench with Leo Farrell missing from the 18.
Barnsley's attacking options were Adam Phillips - who has been in fine form recently - and young Charlie Lennon who had not featured for the Reds.
The starting partnership have a wealth of experience but are in the later stages of their career and cannot play 90 minutes each and every week, especially with the incredibly hectic schedule they are facing.
But it didn't look to matter as both strikers were in the scoresheet in the opening 14 minutes, owing largely to Cleary who was certainly back at his best.
However, Bugiel's quick fire double meant the Reds had to score again if they were to pick up three points.
The bench showed a real lack of depth in the forward areas for the Reds but it's something they'll have to deal with for the rest of the season given Hourihane's comments about the lack of options in the free agent market.
But it’s fair to say Barnsley’s attacking play was impressive as they registered 18 shots on goal.
They look really good going forward, but you can only score so many goals – and scoring three and not winning is not good enough at any level.
Defending poor yet again
Hourihane said after the game that a lot is said about his side’s defensive performances and not enough about the attacking play – though he admits he understands why that is.
And it's because they have the second-worst defensive record in League One this season.
They have kept just two clean sheets in the third tier, the lowest of any side.
Barnsley have conceded 15 goals in their last six games.
Marc Roberts started this game and replaced Eoghan O’Connell and at the start of the match it looked like the partnership of Roberts and Shepherd was a solid one.
But once the first goal in, as they have done for much of the season when conceding, Barnsley’s heads looked to have dropped and they conceded a second just minutes later.
Hourihane admits they can’t quite put their finger on why they are defending the way they are, and that they’re working incredibly hard to fix it.
But they need to fix it quickly – otherwise the rest of the season could be a slog for fans.
Cleary's tenth assist of the season
In recent games it looked like the young winger had started to slow down in terms of his playmaking ability.
But he registered two assists in the opening 14 minutes.
And they were great as well.
His work on the left-wing is seriously impressive and it’s clear why he was the subject of so much speculation in the January transfer window.
He’s now registered ten assists this campaign – more than anyone else in League One.
The sky really is the limit for him.
Scott Banks’ first goal for the Reds
The Scot has been a real breath of fresh air on the right hand side.
Since his arrival he’s either scored or assisted in each of his first four games and he works wonders on the wing.
His goal was a fairly simple one but he was in the right place at the right time and that’s all you can really ask for.
Yes, his defensive work may need improving but going forward he’s skilful and a delight to watch.
If the Reds can keep him firing then they have a real player on their hands for the rest of the season.
Barnsley (4-4-2) Goodman (mark out of ten) 6; O'Keeffe 6, Roberts 5 (O’Connell 77), Shepherd 5, Watson 6; Banks 7, Connell 6, Kelly 7, Cleary 8 (Phillips 59); McGoldrick 8, Bradshaw 7 (Bland 59).
Unused substitutes: Flavell, de Gevigney, Ogbeta, Lennon.
Goals: McGoldrick 10, Bradshaw 14, Banks 87.
Yellow cards: O'Keeffe, Bland.
AFC Wimbledon (3-5-2): Bishop; Ogundere, Johnson, Seddon; Tilley, Maycock, Smith, Hippolyte (Nelson 87), Nkeng (Asiimwe 76); Bugiel, Browne (Hackford 88).
Unused: McDonnell, Reeves, Stevens, Bauer.
Goals: Bugiel 25, 27, Browne 74.
Attendance: 9,614 (472 away fans).
Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey).
