Cardiff City 1-1 Barnsley

Last updated : 08 August 2021 By Rob Miles

Barnsley avoided defeat on the opening day in the Championsh9p for only the second time in their last six second tier seasons and only fifth in the last 14.

Since defeating Norwich 1-0 in the first game of 2000-2001, only against Sheffield Wednesday (2-2) in 2009-2010, Nottingham Forest (0-0) in 2011-2012, Middlesbrough (1-0) in 2012-2013 and Fulham (1-0) in 2019-2020 have the Reds not started a second tier season on 0 points.

It is the first time at this level they have also not lost their first away game of the season since the goal-less draw at Forest 10 years ago.

It is only the fourth time (all levels) Barnsley have started with a draw this century, 2004-2005, 2009-2010, 2011-2012, 2021-2022.

Barnsley managed to avoid defeat in Wales for only the third time in seven visits however they have failed to win any of those seven – last winning in Wales, at Cardiff in December 2016.

This was the third time Cardiff have been Barnsley’s season opening opponents and they have now won (1-0 away in 1958-1959), drawn (1-1 in 2021-2022) and lost (2-1 at home in 2006-2007)

This was the first time Cardiff have avoided defeat in their opening game since 2017-2018.

Toby Sibbick earned Barnsley the point, with his first goal for the club in his 45th appearance. It is his first ever league goal having previously scored for AFC Wimbledon in the Football League Trophy (2) v Tottenham Under 21s in October 2017 and against West Ham in the FA Cup in January 2019.

Josh Benson assisted the goal on his debut, it is the second Barnsley game in a row where a substitute set up a goal following Jordan Williams for Cauley Woodrow in the play-off second leg at Swansea in May.

There were no bookings in the game, Barnsley’s first opening day game at this level with no cards shown since 1996-1997.

Barnsley have gone three successive games without a booking (includes both play-off legs) for the first time since April 2019 in League One, v Shrewsbury, Plymouth and Blackpool.

Barnsley have started 2021-2022 with a draw – they only had four away draws in the entirety of 2020-2021 with this only their third away stalemate in 2021.

They have gone five games without a win (all comps) for the first time since a run of seven between 19th September and 24th October 2020.

Barnsley have now gone eight games without a win against Cardiff (D3 L5) and have won only one of the last 15 (W1 D5 L9)

They have failed to win any of their last four trips to Cardiff however this draw ended a run of three defeats.

Barnsley had 55% possession, their most in seven outings.

There were a total of 20 shots in the game (10 each) as there has been now in three of Barnsley’s last four matches.

There were only 13 fouls given in the game, the lowest in a Barnsley league match since October 2019 when they faced another Welsh side – Swansea.

 

Barnsley Team:

40. Brad Collins

5. Liam Kitching

30. Michal Helik

20. Toby Sibbick

3. Ben Williams

21. Romal Palmer

4. Callum Styles

7. Callum Brittain

28. Dominik Frieser

9. Cauley Woodrow

14. Carlton Morris

Substitutes:

10. Josh Benson (for Palmer 63)

22. Clarke Oduor (for Frieser 72)

15. Jasper Moon (for Williams 76)

Unused Substitutes:

1. Jack Walton, 24. Aapo Halme, 2. Jordan Williams, 46. Cameron Thompson.

 

Cardiff Team:

1. Dillon Phillips

2. Mark McGuinness 

5. Aden Flint  

16. Curtis Nelson       

8. Joe Ralls     

21. Marlon Pack

38. Perry Ng   

3. Joel Bagan 

7. Leandro Bacuna    

26. Ryan Giles

19. James Collins       

Substitutions:

15. Ryan Wintle (for Ralls 65)

10. Kieffer Moore (for Bacuna 76)

29. Mark Harris (for Collins 86)

Unused Substitutes:

25. Alex Smithies, 4. Sean Morrison, 37. Sam Bowen, 27. Rubin Colwill.  

Cardiff manager Mick McCarthy said:

"It was emotional and having fans back in was great, it was a shame we couldn't turn it into a win.

"You won't have a tougher physical game than that and if you aren't going to win, don't get beaten.

"I've been around a lot of crowds and that was as good as any.

"I hope we can improve on that and give them something to really shout about.

"There is a lot to be happy with. You can't knock the team for effort and work-rate and playing for the shirt."

 

Match Reports:

Official Website

BBC

Sky Sports

 

Sky Bet Championship results

FRIDAY 6TH AUGUST 2021

AFC Bournemouth 2-2 West Bromwich Albion

Marcondes 12

                                      O’Shea 33

Billing 52

                                      Robinson 67

 

SATURDAY 7TH AUGUST 2021

Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Swansea City

Gallagher 36

Brereton pen 48

                                    Paterson 52

Bristol City 1-1 Blackpool

Martin 44

                        Lavery 90+3

Cardiff City 1-1 BARNSLEY

Pack 54

                         Sibbick 69

Derby County 1-1 Huddersfield Town

Davies 39

                             Sarr 45

Luton Town 3-0 Peterborough United

Adebayo 30

Cornick 68

Onyedinma 71

Preston North End 1-4 Hull City

Riis Jakobsen 8

                                      Lewis-Potter 35

                                      Smallwood 62

                                     Magennis 85

                                     Cannon 90+2

Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Millwall

                                           Wallace 11

Dickie 31

Stoke City 3-2 Reading

Powell 25

                        Swift 26

Brown 28

                        Moore 60

Surridge 85

Sheffield United 0-1 Birmingham City

                                 Colin 19

 

SUNDAY 8TH AUGUST 2021

Fulham 1-1 Middlesbrough

Wilson 29

                    Bola 77

Coventry City 2-1 Nottingham Forest

                             Taylor 36

Gyokeres 81

McFadzean 90+6

 

Barnsley lie in 9th place in the Sky Bet Championship with 1 point from 1 game. We are 2 points off the Play-Offs, 2 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 2 points off First Place and 1 point above the Relegation Zone.

Up to 8/8/21

 

Next Up:

On The Road:

Carabao Cup First Round: Bolton Wanderers v Barnsley, Tuesday 10th August 2021. Kick-Off: 8pm

At Oakwell:

Sky Bet Championship Matchday Two: Barnsley v Coventry City, Saturday 14th August 2021. Kick-Off: 3pm