Ghent’s fumble gifts Colchester a point

The stats suggest that Barnsley are on a fine run at the moment: one defeat in twelve games, and unbeaten in six matches. Dig deeper, however, and it becomes obvious why the majority of Reds fans are somewhat frustrated by recent results. This twelve game run includes seven draws, four of which have come in the last six games. Barnsley’s inability to finish off their opponents could yet see them being dragged back into the relegation dogfight. The Reds sit fourteenth in the table at present, six points clear of the drop zone, but they face a tricky end to the season, and have still to travel to promotion-chasing Bristol City, Oldham and Wigan. If Barnsley are battling for survival at the end of the season, it will be because of their failure to win games like this.

The Reds started the game with three strikers on the field in Dyer, Sheron and Betsy, with the latter playing in an unfamiliar central midfield role. Barnsley had the better of the early exchanges and soon took control of the game, without really threatening the Colchester defence. The visitors almost snatched the lead against run of the play on 18 minutes, when McGleish was given time and space in the Reds penalty area, but his shot was straight at Ghent. This prompted Barnsley’s best attacking spell of the half, and Donovan twice went close, first when his excellent volley flew wide of the far post and then when his drive from a tight angle brought a good stop from McKinney in the Colchester goal.

The breakthrough came on 37 minutes. Mulligan’s cross fell at the feet of Mike Sheron, whose fierce strike was only parried by McKinney. Jones nudged the loose ball goalwards and Dyer finished the job by tapping in his 17th of the season. The goal was nothing more than Barnsley’s dominance had merited but, unbelievably, they were pegged back a minute later. John Jackson’s innocuous looking free-kick sailed straight towards Ghent, who let the ball squirm out of his hands and could only look on in horror as McGleish rifled it home from six yards.

Barnsley again piled on the pressure in the second half. Mike Sheron was at the heart of many of the attacks, but he could not find a way past the excellent McKinney. Dyer worked hard alongside Sheron but was guilty of the miss of the match when, after Kay’s flick-on from Donovan’s corner, he blazed the ball over the bar from all of four yards. Despite their dominance, Barnsley were almost caught out on the hour when Pinault’s cross found that man McLeish, whose header came back off the crossbar.

Dean Gorre replaced Mulligan on 72 minutes and could have given Barnsley the lead immediately when he met Sheron’s excellent cross with an acrobatic volley. Once more, though, the ball sailed harmlessly over the bar. Gorre again went close in the dying moments, but his curling effort trickled past the far post. After three minutes of stoppage time, the referee brought another frustrating game at Oakwell to an end.

The man of the match award went to Mike Sheron, but Anthony Kay ran him close with another composed performance at the heart of the Barnsley defence. Praise should also go to Kevin Donovan, who turned in probably his best performance in a Reds shirt. Donovan has been a huge disappointment since his transfer from Grimsby, but he was excellent yesterday: aside from his two first-half efforts, he put in a number of dangerous crosses and defended well when required.

The biggest disappointment was Kevin Betsy. The experiment of playing him in a central midfield role did not work and it was a game when none of his flicks and tricks came off. Alongside him, Alex Neil also had an off day but thanks to the hard work of Donovan and Gary Jones, Barnsley still enjoyed the majority of possession and created enough chances to win the game comfortably. One goal from 18 attempts is a poor return and the Reds will need to be more clinical in the weeks ahead.