BARNSLEY FOOTBALL CLUB

Liam Waldock put the hosts ahead after three minutes with a low effort and George Hirst missed the chance to double Wednesday's tally from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Arron Murphy.

Wednesday scored again just before the hour when Hirst rose highest to meet Fraser Preston's cross, but the Reds pulled a goal back soon after through Kane Swinburn's excellent strike.

The Reds were awarded a penalty of their own soon after as Louis Rowe was pulled back as he broke into the area, but a fine double save from Joe Walker denied Swinburn a second goal.

Cameron Simpson came close to bagging an equaliser at the end of a jinking run late on but Chris Howarth's side were unable to snatch a leveller in the dying moments.

Within three minutes of the match getting underway, Sheffield Wednesday had opened the scoring as Fraser Preston's cross was spilled by Arron Murphy into the path of Waldock.

The midfielder stroked the ball home from close range, despite the best efforts of Will Smith on the line to keep the ball out.

In response, Kane Swinburn charged through the heart of the Wednesday defence and played in Tom Clare, who was challenged just as he looked to shoot.

From the resulting corner, Matty Wolfe rose highest but glanced agonisingly wide of the target for the Reds.

Wednesday were given a chance to double their tally from the penalty spot after Murphy had upended George Hirst as he tired to round the Reds stopper.

Hirst dusted himself down but fired high and wide of the target, with Murphy diving the right way in any event.

Lewis Price had an effort excellently cleared off the line by Smith, while three effort from Swinburn drew saves from Joe Walker at the other end.

The Owls were foiled once again by an excellent Murphy save just before the interval, this time to keep out Joe West's powerful free kick and then flying to his left to deny Preston's ambitious drive.

HALF TIME: Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Barnsley

After a stern talking to from Chris Howarth and Martin Devaney at the break, the Reds came out firing early in the second half.

Jeff McGowan burst clear down the right four minutes after the restart and fired a low effort into the arms of Walker from a tight angle and that was followed by Bertie's run forward soon after.

He escaped two clear Wednesday fouls before slipping in Rowe, who turned well, but could not force an effort on target.

The hosts doubled their lead somewhat against the run of play four minutes before the hour as Preston stood a cross up to the back post and Hirst climbed highest to nod home.

Their two-goal cushion lasted little over four minutes as Swinburn dribbled towards the edge of the area and found the bottom corner with a venomous strike to halve the arrears.

And Barnsley were given a chance to draw level with a penalty of their own soon after as Rowe was hauled back by Wednesday's Connor Kirby.

Swinburn stepped up but was thwarted by Walker and the 'keeper somehow managed to turn the follow up effort was over the crossbar, a truly unbelievable double save.

Cameron Simpson, in at right-back in place of Louis Wardle, sprinted from the edge of his own penalty area into the Owls' box before being blocked off as he tried his luck, with substitute Wilberforce Ocran coming close to getting a touch on a curling Swinburn delivery moments later.

The final chance of the game fell the way of Wednesday's Preston, who failed to hit the target from a header at the back post under pressure from Simpson and Smith.

Subs: Greatorex (GK), Miller, Palmer.

The Reds will have a chance to exact revenge on the Owls when the two sides face off at Hillsborough in the Championship.

To book your tickets for that game, and next weekend's clash with Norwich City, click HERE!