LIVE FROM OAKWELL

BARNSLEY 1 (Hallfredsson 56)
WATFORD 0

EMIL Hallfredsson was the Barnsley match winner as his goal was the difference in a bad tempered and incident packed battle at Oakwell.

Reds boss Mark Robins, unsurprisingly, named an unchanged side to line up against Watford following the midweek demotion of Preston North End. It meant a home debut for midfielder Filipe Teixeira while Anderson de Silva continued in a more advanced role, playing off striker Andy Gray. Jay Rodriguez, who netted with his first touch at Deepdale, was on the bench.

It was fast and frantic in the opening exchanged and the Reds only really settled down on six minutes when Emil Hallfredsson's run opened up a shooting chance for Teixeira but the midfielder's effort was deflected through to Scott Loach.

There was a worrying moment seconds later as the Heidar Helguson flicked the ball through to Jon Harley in behind the Reds but the offside flag was quickly up. Luke Steele made the save anyway.

The Reds almost benefited from a massive slice of luck on 12 minutes as Loach and Martin Taylor crashed into each other as neither took control to clear Steele's long kick. The ball broke to Hallfredsson but the Icelander could not lob it back into an unguarded net.

Watford right back Adrian Mariappa was the first player cautioned on 18 minutes for tripping Hallfredsson after the Reds midfielder had done him up like a kipper on the wing. Teixeira was only a foot or so from putting Barnsley in front moments later when the Watford defence struggled to deal with Hallfredsson's corner. The ball dropped nicely for Teixeira on the edge of the box but his volley flew just wide.

Watford were almost in on 21 minutes as Lloyd Doyley managed to break away down the left to cross but Harley was crowded out of in on the penalty spot and his effort was well off the mark.

It clicked again for Barnsley on 23 minutes as Hallfredsson and Gray combined with Anderson to give the Brazilian a chance to shoot but his effort smacked against a defender and spun out of play. Teixeira then hit one just wide on 31 minutes. Dickinson again created a half chance in the Watford area for Teixeira on 36 minutes but the on loan star could not divert the ball goalward.

Oakwell held its breath on 38 minutes when Henri Lansbury broke in the area and was challenged by Dickinson. It was a fine, last-gasp tackle by the Barnsley full back although Lansbury's theatrical fall to the ground meant there was just a second where everybody expected a penalty. Referee Fred Graham rightly waved away Watford's protests.

Barnsley again made all the running in an attacking sense and Teixeira tested his shooting boots once more on 45 minutes from the left but his effort was never going to trouble Loach's goal.

The Reds were back on the front foot early in the second half as Hallfredsson fired one over the bar on 48 minutes before Teixeira hit a defender from distance seconds later. Watford almost broke through on 49 minutes when Don Cowie played in Harley but Steele was able to make another good save. The flag was up anyway.

The flag denied Watford again on 53 minutes when Cowie fizzed one in from the right flank for Helguson to attack but the assistant was quick on the mark to pull play back.

Doyle was an inch away from hammering Barnsley into the lead on 54 minutes as he let fly from 35 yards and the ball beat Loach but cannoned away off the upright. It was a hell of a hit by the midfielder and really deserved to end up in the back of the net.

Barnsley were in front just a minute later as a long pass by Gray put Hallfredsson up against Mariappa. The Icelander showed great skill to flick it past his marker and raced in on goal before leathering the ball past Loach.

Colace picked up a caution just before the hour mark for flattening Lansbury on the touchline. The confidence was suddenly back in the Reds and Hallfredsson tried to grab a second on 61 minutes but blazed well wide of the target from 25 yards after cutting in from the left.

Dickinson almost crafted a second on 72 minutes as his chip into the middle fell between DeMerit and Doyley but Gray could not get a decisive touch under pressure.

Watford finally had a clear sight of goal on 73 minutes as Cowie's corner gave Taylor a free header but the big defender put his effort straight at Steele. It was the Reds keeper's first real save of the afternoon.

There was controversy on 77 minutes as Shotton managed to wriggle away from a couple of challenges before breaking clear. The Reds defender was fouled and lunged in off balance on Doyley giving referee Graham the chance to show a straight red card. It was a late challenge by Shotton although the referee was surrounded by baying Watford players has he brandished the card.

Watford almost gifted Barnsley a second on 83 minutes as Taylor's horrendous back pass let Gray clean through down the left but the striker could not beat Loach from a tight angle. The Hornets then had the ball in the back of the net on 88 minutes but Eustace had pushed his way in to get his header in. The referee rightly blew for a foul. It was one of the few decisions that seemed to be going Barnsley's way.

Another shocker of a decision gave Watford a chance to grab a controversial leveller when Lansbury crashed to the deck under Teixeira's challenge. Lansbury's free kick was heading for the top corner but Steele was able to claw it away.

Still the referee played on and Eustace was inches away from turning Lansbury's cross into the back of the net in the seventh minute of stoppage time. It went wide.

BARNSLEY: Steele, Shotton, Foster, Moore, Dickinson, Teixeira, Colace, Doyle, Hallfredsson, Anderson (Rodriguez 54), Gray.
Subs: Preece, Hammill, Macken, Hume, Potter, Butterfield.

WATFORD: Loach, Mariappa, Lansbury, DeMerit, Cowie, Helguson, Doyley (Hoskins 85), Jenkins (Graham 63), Harley, Taylor, Eustace.
Subs: McGinn, Lee, Bennett, Bryan, Hodson.

REFEREE
Fred Graham (Essex)
ASSISTANT REFEREES
Andy Newell (Lancashire) and Peter Wright (Merseyside)
FOURTH OFFICIAL
Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire)

Attendance - 11,739
Away - 443

Match Report by Rob Knowles