Barnsley will head into the play-offs in their worst run of form since October after losing their final regular season match for the second season in a row and they have failed to win any of the last three (D1 L2)
This defeat against Peterborough who secured their own play-off place ahead of Derby as a result means Barnsley have failed to win in any of their last three league matches (D1 L2) for the first time since a run of four in October (D1 L3) In-between Barnsley had won 20 of 28 matches (D4 L4)
Barnsley conceded the opening goal in 14 of their 46 league games and failed to win any (D2 L12) – the first time they have gone an entire season without winning when conceding the first goal since 2019-2020.
This was Barnsley’s sixth home defeat in the league in total this season and they have failed to score in all of them.
Indeed they have now failed to net in nine of their 12 league defeats overall this season.
The six home reverses are the most amongst the top six sides but only Ipswich (20) managed more home victories.
Barnsley conceded after just six minutes, only against Exeter at Oakwell (the first minute) have they conceded earlier in a game this season (all comps)
It was scored by Jonson Clarke-Harris, his 26th league goal of the season meaning he finishes level as top scorer along with Ipswich’s ex Red Conor Chaplin.
Jack Taylor sealed Peterborough’s victory and place in the end of season play-offs, becoming the sixth player to net home and away against the Reds this season in the league after Colby Bishop, Tommy Leigh, Jay Stanfield, Conor Chaplin and Mo Eisa. Taylor has scored in each of his last three appearances against Barnsley for Posh – two of which have resulted in 2-0 wins at Oakwell.
This was the ninth time Barnsley were behind at half-time in a league game this season and they have gone on to lose all nine.
Incredibly Barnsley have lost each of their last 27 league matches in which they were trailing at half time (not including play-offs) last rescuing a game from this point on the 2nd April 2021 against Reading.
Between the 21st January and 21st March, Barnsley went unbeaten in 12 matches, winning 10, they have lost four of the 10 games since.
Barnsley have lost two home league games in a row for only the second time this season, also doing so v Exeter and Lincoln in October.
The Reds have lost their final two home games of a season for the second year in succession.
They also lost their final home game 2-0 in the play-off campaign of 1999-2000.
Barnsley have now lost each of their last three matches played on a Sunday.
Barnsley finished their regular season home campaign with 16 victories, which is four more than in 2020-2021, one more than in 2018-2019, five more than in 2015-2016 and 2005-2006 and one more than 1999-2000.
The Reds have won only one of their last four meetings with the Posh and have lost back to back Oakwell meetings 2-0.
These are however the only defeats in the last seven clashes.
Peterborough have won three of their last six visits to Oakwell, all by a 2-0 scoreline.
The Reds 2-1 win at London Road in December is the only meeting in the last seven in which both teams have netted.
One team has scored twice in four of the last five meetings.
Both teams had 50% possession, remarkably the only other time this has occurred in a Barnsley match in 2022-2023 was the very first one – at Plymouth.
Barnsley only managed two shots on target, their joint lowest in a home league game this season (also v Lincoln)
Barnsley won 10 corners, their most at Oakwell this season.
Barnsley Team:
1. Harry Isted
2. Jordan Williams
12. Bobby Thomas
5. Liam Kitching (c)
17. Barry Cotter
30. Adam Phillips
48. Luca Connell
8. Herbie Kane
7. Nicky Cadden
9. James Norwood
44. Devante Cole
Substitutes:
47. Max Watters (for Norwood 45)
10. Josh Benson (for Cotter 67)
16. Luke Thomas (for Kane 67)
31. Slobodan Tedic (for Cole 67)
Unused Substitutes:
3. Jon Russell, 24. Robbie Cundy, 40. Brad Collins.
Peterborough Team:
1. Will Norris
23. Joe Ward
6. Frankie Kent
4. Ronnie Edwards
16. Harrison Burrows
22. Hector Kyprianou
18. Oliver Norburn
11. Kwame Poku
8. Jack Taylor
10. Ephron Mason-Clark
9. Jonson Clarke-Harris (c)
Substitutions:
5. Josh Knight (for Poku 63)
Unused Substitutes:
3. Daniel Butler, 17. Ricky-Jade Jones, 24. Ben Thompson, 26. Joel Randall, 28. William Blackmore, 39. Kabongo Tshimanga.
Match Reports:
Sky Bet League One Results:
SUNDAY 7TH MAY 2023:
BARNSLEY (4th) 0-2 Peterborough United (6th)
Clarke-Harris 6
Taylor 76
Bristol Rovers (17th) 2-3 Bolton Wanderers (5th)
Shoretire 24
Hoole 28
N’Lundulu 70
Morley 77
Marquis 85
Burton Albion (15th) 0-0 Milton Keynes Dons (21st) MK Dons are relegated
Cambridge United (20th) 2-0 Forest Green Rovers (24th)
Dunk 25
Smith 37
Cheltenham Town (16th) 2-2 Charlton Athletic (10th)
Fraser 34
Keena 50
Payne 83
May 88
Exeter City (14th) 3-2 Morecambe (22nd) Morecambe are relegated
Stansfield 49
Stockton 53
Stansfield 57
Stansfield 70
Stockton 90+14
Fleetwood Town (13th) 2-2 Ipswich Town (2nd)
Ladapo 50
Marriott 57
Marriott 69
Harness 73
Lincoln City (11th) 1-0 Shrewsbury Town (12th)
Virtue 73
Oxford United (19th) 1-2 Accrington Stanley (23rd) Accrington are relegated
Bodin 8
Adedoyin 64
Pressley 85
Port Vale (18th) 1-3 Plymouth Argyle (1st) Plymouth are champions
Plant 3
Randell 34
Edwards 38
Azaz 61
Portsmouth (8th) 2-2 Wycombe Wanderers (9th)
McCleary 31
Pack 44
Wing 54
Lane 72
Sheffield Wednesday (3rd) 1-0 Derby County (7th)
Smith pen 43
Barnsley finish in 4th place in Sky Bet League One with 86 points from 46 games. We finish 10 points inside the Play-Offs, 12 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 15 points off First Place and 41 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to 7/5/23
Next Up:
On The Road:
Sky Bet League One Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg: Bolton Wanderers v Barnsley, Saturday 13th May 2023. Kick Off: 3pm
At Oakwell:
Sky Bet League One Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg: Barnsley v Bolton Wanderers, Friday 19th May 2023. Kick Off: 8pm