Bradford City 0
Barnsley were held to a goalless draw by local rivals Bradford City in a closely fought game at Oakwell.
Tykes captain Alfie Mawson struck the post in second-half injury time before heading over from close range seconds later as the Reds failed to break the deadlock.
Bradford produced the first effort on goal after five minutes as Paul Anderson volleyed at goal from the edge of the box with Adam Davies producing a top draw save to keep him out.
The Reds struck the woodwork on 12 minutes as Marley Watkins latched onto Sam Winnall’s header but was unlucky not to convert from a tight angle.
Davies was untroubled by Lee Evans’ bending effort on 17 minutes while Alfie Mawson looped a header narrowly over the crossbar.
On 22 minutes, Anderson shot straight into the gloves of Davies but the Barnsley stopper produced a world class save two minutes later to deny McArdle scoring an overhead kick.
Chances dried up until two minutes before the break as Evans tried an ambitious 50-yard lob that drifted well wide of Davies’s goal.
Winnall danced in from the left and hit a curling low effort but Ben Williams just managed to push it away before Ben Pearson hit a rasping 25-yard strike that Williams scrambled to safety.
Second Half
The Tykes started the brighter in the second-half and almost had the lead on 51 minutes as Josh Scowen fired narrowly over the top after tenacious work from Winnall and Dan Crowley out wide.
On 61 minutes, Hourihane’s 25-yard free kick evaded everyone and drifted inches past the post as the Reds continued to apply the pressure.
Steve Davies robbed Scowen of the ball on 66 minutes and made a beeline for the box. One-on-one with Adam Davies, the stopper won the battle of nerves as the Bradford striker chipped well wide of the mark.
Winnall could not get an effort on goal after excellent running from new recruit Kadeem Harris while Bradford replacement Josh Morris was not awarded a penalty, despite strong appeals from the visiting fans.
Winnall’s final contribution came on 76 minutes as Wabara sent in a cross from the right and he headed wide of the mark, Conor Wilkinson replacing him.
Wilkinson went in the book for bringing down Gary Liddle while Luke James tested Davies on 84 minutes after latching onto Hanson’s knock-down.
In added time, Evans crossed for Hanson who saw his header bounce over the crossbar while two late chances for the Tykes almost snatched all three points.
Hourihane delivered a teasing free kick which Mawson connected with and headed against the upright before flicking Roberts’ delivery inches over the top.
The result means the Tykes have not conceded on home soil this term and remain unbeaten at Oakwell.
Teams
Reds: Davies, Wabara, Roberts, Mawson, Nyatanga, Pearson (Harris 63), Watkins, Scowen, Hourihane, Crowley, Winnall (Wilkinson 76)
Subs: Walton, Rothwell, Bree, Digby, Smith.
Bradford: Williams, Darby, McArdle, Burke, Meredith, Anderson (Morris 67), Liddle, Evans, Marshall, Davies (James 73), Hanson.
Subs: Jones, Clarke, Knott, Mottley-Henry, Sheehan.
Attendance: 10,342
