Reds 1 (Winnall 12)
Millwall 0
Barnsley head in 1-0 up against Millwall at Oakwell at half time in the Reds’ first game of 2016.
Sam Winnall glanced in the opener after flicking home Adam Hammill’s inviting delivery after only 12 minutes, while Lloyd Isgrove had a goal ruled out shortly after for a foul in the build-up.
Mark Beevers came close to levelling three minutes from the break as he headed straight at Adam Davies from Shaun Williams’ free kick but the Reds hold the narrow lead at the interval.
Millwall’s Fred Onyedinma threatened to power through the Reds defence in the opening moments but the first effort fell the way of Adam Hammill, bending over from the edge of the area after five minutes.
The Reds came even closer on eight minutes as Ben Pearson drove forward before slipping in Lloyd Isgrove. The Southampton loanee attempted to round David Forde but the stopper threw a palm at the ball to force him away.
It took the Reds until the 12th minute to open the scoring. Millwall failed to clear a corner and Aidan White returned the ball to Hammill, who crossed for Sam Winnall to glance home his tenth goal of the season.
After 19 minutes, Marley Watkins broke quickly and fed Hammill, however the winger’s effort again sailed over the crossbar from the edge of the area.
Isgrove thought he had doubled the lead just past the half hour as he rose highest to meet Hammill’s delivery, but his header was ruled out for a push in the build-up.
Ten minutes before the interval, Winnall played a one-two with Isgrove and the aforementioned forward raced in on goal but a last-ditch challenge from Byron Webster prevented him from scoring.
Mark Beevers came close to levelling for the visitors three minutes before the break, however Davies was more than equal to his downward header.
Reds: Davies, Wabara, Long, Mawson, A. White, Watkins, Pearson, Isgrove, Hourihane (c), Hammill, Winnall.
Subs: Townsend, R.Williams, Bree, H. White, Roberts, Templeton, M.Smith.
Millwall: Forde, Martin, Edwards, Upson, Williams, Onyedinma, Beevers, Webster, Morison (c), Saville, O'Brien.
Subs: Gregory, Archer, Nelson, Ferguson, Thompson, Abdou, Philpot.
