LIVE FROM OAKWELL

BARNSLEY 2 (Anderson 54, Bogdanovic 75)
SHEFFIELD UNITED 2 (Henderson 61 P, 82 P)

IT was a game the Reds really should have won but Barnsley had to settle for a share of the spoils following a hard fought and controversial South Yorkshire derby. Is there any other kind?

Barnsley manager Mark Robins was forced into one change from the side that beat Peterborough United with skipper Stephen Foster missing the game through suspension. In came Rob Kozluk to face his former employers while Ryan Shotton switched into the middle of the back four.

Sheffield United's injury and suspension decimated side still had a very strong look to it although boss Kevin Blackwell took a gamble on the fitness of Kyle Walker, Jon Fortune and Jamie Ward in a bid to half a run of four defeats.

Following an immaculately observed minute's silence, Oakwell erupted into full voice ahead of a massive South Yorkshire showdown against the men from Bramall Lane. Barnsley made the most of a scrappy opening to carve out the first chance on six minutes when Jon Macken turned Kozluk's cross goalward but the ball looped a foot or so over Ian Bennett's crossbar.

The Reds were almost behind on eight minutes when Walker's long throw somehow made its way through to Ward at the back post but a combination of Darren Moore and Luke Steele smothered his shot away. Barnsley were quickly on the counter and Anderson picked out a wonderful pass to put Daniel Bogdanovic clean through on Bennett's goal but Matt Killgallon appeared from nowhere to block the Maltese striker's shot away from the bottom corner.

The Reds went even closer from Adam Hammill's corner as Bennett made a complete mess of grabbing the ball and it looped back off the underside of the bar and away.

Hammill was again the creator on 13 minutes when his cross from the left had the Blades chasing shadows and Anderson did everything right with his header only to be denied by Bennett's outstanding save.

United fired their first real warning shot on 16 minutes when Ched Evans did well to evade Shotton before drilling the ball a foot or so wide of the post from 25 yards.

Bogdanovic had Oakwell on its feet on 20 minutes when his neat flick opened up the Sheffield United defence. The Maltese striker let fly from 20 yards with a well-struck volley that Bennett somehow managed to claw away from the top corner.

United should have been in front a minute later when Keith Treacey's cross beat the Barnsley defence and gave Darius Henderson a free header eight yards out but the Blades skipper completely missed the ball.

Andrew Davies got away with murder just moments later after clashing with Macken deep in the Sheffield United half. TV pictures clearly showed the Blades defender aim a headbutt at the Reds striker but this amazingly went unpunished. There's something eerily familiar about a Sheffield United defender getting away without a red card at Oakwell.

Bennett came to United rescue yet again on 25 minutes as a scramble in the Blades are from Macken's knock back ended with Hugo Colace smashing the ball goalward but the United keeper did wonderfully well to parry it away.

United's goal led a charmed life again on 31 minutes as Anderson met Kozluk's cross on the volley but the ball cannoned away off a defender for a corner.

Evans had Barnsley scrambling on 33 minutes as his deep cross almost caught out the Reds but Moore was in the right place to make a telling challenge on James Harper at the back post. Harper then lashed one goalward two minutes later but his shot took a deflection and flew wide of the mark.

Another lightening break by the Reds gave Hammill a shooting chance on 39 minutes but the winger got under the ball 35 yards out and fired high over the top into a North Stand housing around 1,800 visiting fans.

Shotton picked up a yellow card on 43 minutes after a sliding challenge of Killgallon left the Blades defender in agony. It was a late tackle and it ended the Sheffield United star's game early.

Sheffield United's injury hit season took another twist at half time with keeper Bennett - who had singlehandedly kept the Blades in the match in the opening 45 minutes - was replaced by Mark Bunn.

Macken had the ball in the back of the net on 50 minutes as he looked to have beaten the Blades offside trap before lobbing the ball over Bunn only to be denied by the flag. Evans though he had broken through Barnsley on 52 minutes as he raced onto Henderson's pass but the striker was denied a shot at goal by Dickinson's smart diving tackle.

Oakwell erupted on 54 minutes when Colace picked the perfect pass to open Sheffield United wide open and put Anderson free in the area. The Brazilian had time to pick his spot and hammered the ball past Bunn and into the far top corner.

Sheffield United were almost on level terms just two minutes later as Henderson powered his way into the area before crashing a low shot against the upright from a tight angle. The ball dropped to Ward but Moore was immense in blocking away the striker's goalbound effort.

Barnsley broke quickly and Bogdanovic brought a fine stop from Bunn on 55 minutes as his lob looked to be heading for the top corner. Dickinson then almost put a second on a plate for Macken seconds later with a fine cross from the left but the Barnsley front man could not turn the ball past Bunn from ten yards.

The Reds' pressure was forcing the Blades back time and time again. Colace crossed well for Bogdanovic on 59 minutes but the striker glanced his header wide of the post.

Sheffield United had the benefit of a very controversial refereeing decision on the hour mark as Evans hit the deck under the challenge of Kozluk and Steele deep in the Reds area. The referee pointed to the spot and Henderson lashed the penalty high into the roof of the net.

Macken should he put the Reds back in front on 63 minutes when he left the United defence standing to meet Dickinson's free kick on the penalty spot but his header dropped wide of Bunn's goal.

The Reds suddenly found the vigour and determination that had been a huge part of their play for the first hour and Hammill raced at the United defence again on 66 minutes only to shoot straight at Bunn.

Their persistence paid off on 75 minutes when Macken did magnificently well to turn the Sheffield United defence and power to the byline. Macken's cross left Bunn nowhere and Bogdanovic was able to bundle to ball over the line from close range.

Henderson levelled things up on the caution count on 78 minutes when he clattered Anderson in midfield.

Henderson then levelled the game four minutes later after Hammill had caught Walker in the area. It was more of a penalty than the first one. Again United had the chance from the spot and once more Henderson beat Steele from 12 yards.

The goal really knocked the stuffing out of Barnsley although Nathan Doyle almost capped a fine midfield display on 88 minutes when he let fly from 30 yards but the ball fizzed wide of the post.

BARNSLEY: Steele, Kozluk, Shotton, Moore, Dickinson, Anderson, Colace, Doyle, Hammill, Macken (Hume 75), Bogdanovic (A. Gray 76).
Subs: Preece, Campbell-Ryce, Hassell, Hallfredsson, Thompson.

SHEFFIELD UNITED: Bennett (Bunn 45), Killgallon (Geary 45), Henderson, Evans, Harper, Ward, Davies, Treacey (Camara 79), Quinn, Fortune, Walker.
Subs: France, Cotterill, Williamson, Little.

REFEREE:
Lee Mason (Lancashire)
ASSISTANT REFEREES
Paul Thompson (Derbyshire) and Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire)
FOURTH OFFICIAL
Stuart Atwell (Warwickshire)

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