Bournemouth: Allsop, Francis, Pugh, Daniels (Elphic 52), MacDonald (Hughes 86), O'Kane, Pitman, Grabban, Fraser (Rantie 55), Ward, Cook.
Teams
Jennings did well to power forward and work the ball to O’Grady via Scotland but his shot was blocked away for a corner as the clock ticked down.
David Flitcroft had the last throw of the dice with Reuben Noble-Lazarus replacing Tom Kennedy on 80 minutes.
With 77 gone the opening goal finally came and it was for Bournemouth. Pugh controlled well in the box before despatching into the bottom corner through a crowd of despairing Reds defenders.
The Cherries went close when Pitman turned and shot at Steele with the rebounding almost falling to a red and black shirt but Stephen Dawson was on hand to clear for a corner on 67 minutes.
Four minutes after the hour saw Tomasz Cywka go down and he was replaced by Dale Jennings.
Francis delivered in a good ball from the left and it was met by a towering header from Grabban but he could only loop it straight down the throat of Steele.
The hosts had responded to the introduction of their debutant and Barnsley were having to weather a mini storm.
The introduction of debutant Rantie dud much to boost the home side and he almost bagged a goal straight away when he latched onto a through-ball but he drilled wide after twisting and turning in the box on 57 minutes.
Peter Ramage rose highest to power a header at Kennedy’s corner but he couldn’t direct it at goal and it sailed wide with 50 minutes gone. Dawson drifted in from the right before cracking over with his left peg from distance as Barnsley looked to find the elusive breakthrough.
The hosts had the first chance of the second half and it was their best chance, to boot. Lewis Grabban picked up a neat square ball as he advanced into the box but he put wide of Steele’s post.
Second half
On 32 minutes Eunan O’Kane hit his effort straight at Steele before Chris Dagnall latched onto a Chris O’Grady flick on but he volleyed over on the turn inside the 18-yard box. It wasn’t long before Tomasz Cywka got hold of the ball from distance once more and he forced Allsop into another save low to his right, which he gathered at the second attempt.
Tomasz Cywka turned and shot from 22 yards but his effort was tipped over by Allsop and a goal kick was awarded on 25 minutes.
minute for either side to register a shot as Brett Pitman fired over at one end but the real action came at the other for Barnsley. Chris O’Grady cracked a low effort from a tight angle towards goal but it struck the far post and fell to Stephen Dawson with the goal gaping, but the hit the same spot as O’Grady. nd It took until the 22
-minute goal separating the two sides. It could have been a different story had Stephen Dawson finished in front of an open goal but it wasn’t to be. th Barnsley returned from a long, long away trip empty handed as a lively Bournemouth side rightfully claimed three points thanks to Marc Pugh’s 77
Reds 0
Bournemouth 1 (Pugh 77)
Subs: Flahavan, McQuoid, Thomas, Harte.
Reds: Steele, Ramage, Kennedy (Noble-Lazarus 80), Cranie, Dawson, O'Grady, Perkins, Dagnall (Scotland 72), Wiseman, Cywka (Jennings 64), Etuhu.
Subs: Mellis, M'voto, Dibble, Rose.
Referee: Brendan Malone.
Assistant Referees: Richard Hulme & Andrew Laver.
Fourth Official: William Bull.
Attendance: 7574 (364 away)
Watch the highlights of Bournemouth v Barnsley here onYouTube
