Analysis of Barnsley's 3-1 win at Rotherham. Adam Phillips opened the scoring then Tom Bradshaw bagged a brace before a late consolation penalty.
DESERVED WIN EASES PRESSURE
EARLY in this April afternoon, Barnsley were just two points above the relegation zone in the live League One table. But, after Exeter lost the lead late at Plymouth in their lunchtime derby, and the Reds won convincingly against their own local rivals, they were seven points and nine places clear of the drop.
They can now secure their safety for sure at Port Vale on Tuesday and then focus in the last five games on finishing as high as possible and putting some gloss on a tough campaign.
Underfire boss Conor Hourihane admitted this was a big game for him personally with his team winless in six, having taken 35 points from 31 games.
There were negative chants from the away end during a very scrappy first 35 minutes for the Reds, who could easily have gone behind, but, once Barnsley took the lead, they dominated against a poor home side to gain a fifth away win of the season. Hourihane said the win was for the fans who had not had enough days like that this season.
The Reds had only scored twice in their previous four games, both in injury-time, but netted three goals while creating several other big chances, and coming extremely close to a rare clean sheet.
REDS SEE OFF WOEFUL HOSTS
Rotherham were 22nd, winless in seven and 11 points adrift of safety as they are set to drop into League Two. But they were unbeaten in four home games, beating Plymouth then drawing with Mansfield, Bolton and Stevenage.
They were 14 points behind the Reds and that gap was clear at times.
The Millers were awful, constantly losing the ball and gifting Barnsley some big chances. Their manager Lee Clark slammed his side afterwards and apologised to fans, the vast majority of whom had left after the third goal.
The Reds had also been sloppy early on but rode their luck before taking control.
Barnsley only had 33 per cent of the ball but were happy to let their hosts try to pass their way up the pitch, pick them off and counter-attack. Hourihane’s side got the job done without their captain and top-scorer, showing some quality and clinical finishing.
It was a fifth straight win for Barnsley against Rotherham while they got revenge for the home defeat in October.
STAND-IN SKIPPER PHILLIPS SHOWS CLASS
Adam Phillips was brought back into the starting line-up after a spell on the bench and made captain in the absence of Luca Connell who missed the match as his partner had given birth the previous night.
Hourihane said he asked his midfielder to show him he is one of the best players in the league and he looked it in this game. He provided a moment of quality to open the scoring following bad misses at both ends, assisted the third goal, and led his side to victory with an all-action display. It was his first goal in 12 games and ninth of the season, meaning he is close to a fourth straight campaign of double figures for the Reds for whom he has 41 goals in total. It has not been his best campaign but surely Barnsley will trigger the extra year in his contract this summer then he could reach a half-century for the club. He scored in Rotherham last season then again in the EFL Cup earlier this season.
Phillips played on the right of a midfield five, with Scott Banks – who replaced Reyes Cleary – also causing problems on the left while the very young central midfield trio of Patrick Kelly, Jono Bland and Vimal Yoganathan held their own. Bland in particular had his best game for some time, assisting the second goal.
IMPRESSIVE BRADSHAW BAGS BRACE
Tom Bradshaw scored his first Barnsley goal in a 4-0 home win over Rotherham almost a decade ago in August 2016. This time he netted twice in front of the joyous away end, having played a key role in the opener, to end a ten-game wait for a goal.
His performances have generally been good but he needed to back it up with goals and he did just that after Barnsley’s 18-goal top-scorer McGoldrick missed the game through an hamstring injury.
It was almost inevitable that 38-year-old McGoldrick – who had scored 13 in his last 18 – would pick up an injury while playing every minute of this gruelling schedule with very little back-up. It is a ridiculous lack of depth but the two veteran forwards have dealt with it admirably.
REDS SO CLOSE TO RARE CLEAN SHEET
Barnsley set a new club record for 26 straight games without a clean sheet within the same season when they conceded a penalty deep into injury-time.
Sam Nombe went to ground in the box while tussling with Eoghan O’Connell while substitute Jack Shepherd appeared to push him from behind.
Referee Lee Swabey – who angered the Reds in January when he did not give Cardiff’s Alex Robertson a second yellow card for a clear foul or award a penalty for a trip on Corey O’Keeffe – pointed to the spot and Nombe converted. It was Rotherham’s first goal under Clark in four games.
The Reds had been determined to keep a shut-out, throwing on more and more centre-backs as Shepherd and Marc Roberts joined O’Connell and Mael de Gevigney.
The three points were far more important than the clean sheet, although that will now surely be one of the main aims in the remainder of this season along with not letting in a century of goals as the penalty meant they have shipped 91 in all competitions which is more than last season.
De Gevigney had another good game and, with him and O’Connell who made ten clearances, Barnsley have found their most solid partnership of torrid defensive season.
Josh Earl returned after 19 games out with injury and replaced Shepherd at left-back following his Easter Monday horrorshow. Early in the second half, Earl lost the ball to Harry Gray just outside his box but was rescued by a controversial free-kick for Barnsley.
Corey O’Keeffe returned at right-back after injury – as Bland went back into midfield – and was full of energy.
