They are like buses these draws… you wait 21 games (and 14 weeks) for one then two arrive in the space of a week – the first two of the Valerian Ismael reign.
It is the second time this season they have had back to back draws this season – the other occasion being a run of three the last time they had stalemates, back in October.
This draw was accompanied with a clean sheet, Barnsley’s first in the Championship for 15 matches since…. the reverse fixture with Forest back in November.
It is the first time Barnsley have kept clean sheets in both league meetings with Forest since 2005-2006 - they have met in 10 league campaigns since.
Barnsley have now kept four successive clean sheets against Forest (3 league, 1 cup, 3 at Oakwell, 1 at City Ground), their best ever run of shutouts against them.
They are unbeaten in four meetings in all competitions (W3 D1) for the first time since a run of five (W2 D3) between March 2010 and March 2012.
At least one team has kept a clean sheet in each of the last six meetings (4 Barnsley, 2 Forest) and in seven of the last eight.
This was the first draw in 11 meetings, which also a goal-less encounter at the City Ground, in April 2013.
Three of the last seven City Ground meetings have finished 0-0 and only once in that run have both teams scored (a 3-2 win for Forest in September 2013)
This was Barnsley’s second goal-less game of the season, also drawing 0-0 with Coventry at Oakwell in September.
Barnsley have kept 10 clean sheets this season (from 32 games), three of which have come against Forest (30%) it is only one less clean sheet than they kept in the whole of 2019-2020 from 49 games.
Barnsley have failed to win any of their first five league games of a calendar year (D2 L3) for the first time since 2003 when they failed to win all of the first six (D3 L3)
Brad Collins has made only seven starts in 2020-2021 but has kept four clean sheets, only two less than Jack Walton who has played 25 games. Collins has kept three clean sheets in his last four appearances. He has started successive matches for the first time since the final two before the first lockdown last March.
Barnsley’s last 13 league matches have seen them either score two goals or none at all. (0-0, 2-2, 0-1, 0-2, 0-1, 2-1, 2-1, 0-2, 2-1, 2-1, 2-1, 0-4, 2-1)
Indeed 22 of their 27 Championship games this season has seen Barnsley either score two goals or none at all.
Barnsley gained a calendar month club record 18 points in December. They have picked up only two points in January, their second worst month of 2020-2021 after September when they picked up only one point.
Barnsley won eight corners, their second most on the road this season, only winning more at Blackburn in November (11)
Barnsley committed 16 fouls, only at Reading in September (20) have they committed more on the road this season.
Barnsley Team:
40. Brad Collins
6. Mads Andersen
20. Toby Sibbick
30. Michal Helik
7. Callum Brittain
28. Dominik Frieser
8. Herbie Kane
4. Callum Styles
27. Alex Mowatt
9. Cauley Woodrow
11. Conor Chaplin
Substitutes:
14. Carlton Morris (for Chaplin 60)
29. Victor Adeboyejo (for Frieser 60)
26. Michael Sollbauer (for Sibbick 64)
2. Jordan Williams (for Kane 87)
Unused Substitutes:
1 Jack Walton, 19. Patrick Schmidt, 22. Clarke Oduor, 25. George Miller, 44. Ali Omar.
Nottingham Forest Team:
30. Brice Samba
2. Cyrus Christie
3. Tobias Figueiredo
4. Joe Worrall
13. Gaetan Bong
18. Cafu
21. Samba Sow
28. Antony Knockaert
27. Filip Krovinovic
11. Sammy Ameobi
7. Lewis Grabban
Substitutions:
14. Fouad Bachirou (for Sow 58)
17. Alex Mighten (for Knockaert 87)
6. Loic Mbe Soh (for Figueiredo 90+4)
Unused Substitutes:
12. Jordan Smith, 15. Luke Freeman, 16. Carl Jenkinson, 23. Joe Lolley, 24. Tyler Blackett, 33. Lyle Taylor.
Nottingham Forest manager Chris Hughton said:
"When the pivotal moments came along, we weren't able to capitalise on them. It wasn't a lack of effort, but it's a little bit frustrating.
"I thought he (Krovinovic) did well in what was a difficult game. It wasn't the ideal type of game for him, but still he was involved in the chances we had. I'm pleased with his contribution and looking forward to more.
"We are very hopeful to bring one or two players in before this deadline and we're working very hard towards that."
Sky Bet Championship results
FRIDAY 29TH JANUARY 2021
Reading (4th) 3-1 AFC Bournemouth (6th)
Laurent 24
McIntyre 31
Lucas Joao 43
Stanislas 85
SATURDAY 30TH JANUARY 2021
Norwich City (1st) 0-0 Middlesbrough (7th)
Birmingham City (20th) 1-1 Coventry City (18th)
Bela pen 18
Hamer 29
Blackburn Rovers (8th) 1-0 Luton Town (13th)
Armstrong 85
Brentford (3rd) 7-2 Wycombe Wanderers (24th)
Pinnock 9
Ikpeazu 14
Fosu-Henry 41
Muskwe 43
Fosu-Henry 50
Toney pen 56
Canos 81
Toney 86
Dasilva 89
Cardiff City (15th) 1-1 Millwall (16th)
Flint og 9
Moore 71
Derby County (19th) 1-0 Bristol City (9th)
Kazim-Richards 4
Huddersfield Town (14th) 1-1 Stoke City (10th)
Avila 5
Fletcher pen 24
Nottingham Forest (21st) 0-0 BARNSLEY (12th)
Rotherham United (22nd) 1-3 Swansea City (2nd)
Hourihane 28
Grimes 38
Ladapo 65
Fulton 74
Sheffield Wednesday (23rd) 1-0 Preston North End (11th)
Palmer 45
MONDAY 1ST FEBRUARY 2021
Watford (5th) 1-2 Queens Park Rangers (17th)
Deeney pen 52
Austin 73
Adomah 90
Barnsley lie in 12th place in the Sky Bet Championship with 36 points from 27 games. We are 6 points off the Play-Offs, 14 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 18 points off First Place and 12 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to 1/2/21
Next Up:
At Oakwell:
Sky Bet Championship Matchday Twenty Eight: Barnsley v Derby County, Saturday 6th February 2021. Kick-Off: 3pm
On The Road:
Sky Bet Championship Matchday Twenty Nine: Brentford v Barnsley, Saturday 13th February 2021. Kick-Off: 3pm