It ends all square at Deepdale as the Reds fight back against PNE.
Barnsley secured their first point on the road this season after securing a 1-1 draw in an enthralling match with Preston North End at Deepdale.
Two goals in three minutes settled the outcome, with Sean Maguire opening the scoring for the hosts midway through the first half with a cute glancing header.
The Reds reply was instant as Adam Hammill’s excellent centre was fired against Brad Potts and the former Blackpool man opened his account for the Reds.
Darnell Fisher scrambled Ike Ugbo’s effort off the line moments into the second half as the Reds looked for a second, while at the other end, Adam Jackson was repelling everything North End could throw at them.
Substitutes George Moncur, Tom Bradshaw and Harvey Barnes all missed late chances to win the match for the Reds but the hosts nearly won it at the death but Maguire's volley into the ground was superbly tipped over the bar by the excellent Adam Davies, with the spoils shared.
Jordan Hugill spurned the first chance of the match when he fired Sean Maguire’s pull-back from the byline just wide of the mark with Adam Davies rooted.
Maguire himself had a tame header from close range comfortably saved by Davies, but the Lilywhites opened the scoring on 23 minutes as Tom Barkhuizen’s cross from the left was glanced in by Maguire.
The Reds responded immediately as slick play down the right allowed Ike Ugbo to slide in Adam Hammill. His teasing cross into the centre caused panic and Paul Huntington’s clearance ricocheted into the goal off the advancing Brad Potts.
Hugill put in a cynical challenge on Liam Lindsay out wide, earning the Preston forward a caution, while at the other end, Potts blasted over the top from the middle of the area following a poor clearance.
Davies did well to keep out Alan Browne’s vicious effort from the edge of the area as Preston pushed for a second at the end of the half, but the Welshman ensured both sides went in level.
HALF TIME: Preston North End 1-1 Barnsley
The Reds almost took the lead three minutes into the second half as a clever backheel from Hammill allowed Ryan Hedges to centre from the right; Potts turned the ball into Ugbo’s path and following a ricochet off Chris Maxwell, Darnell Fisher hacked the ball clear from his own goal line.
Jason McCarthy was cautioned moments later for a soft foul over on the corner of the area but the Reds dealt with the looming danger well.
A header from the hosts from a corner looked destined for the back of the net, only for the ball to hit Stephy Mavididi and bounce away to safety.
On the hour mark, Browne unleashed a 25-yard rocket that Davies had to deal with and the Welshman plucked the ball out of the air with consummate ease to keep the match level.
Gary Gardner’s debut for the Reds ended prematurely as he walked off the field injured to be replaced by George Moncur.
Moncur almost made an impact seconds after coming on, cutting in from the left and unleashing a rasping drive at Maxwell, which the Preston stopper just about repelled.
Fellow substitute Harvey Barnes almost capitalised on an error from Maxwell as he failed to deal with McCarthy’s cross, but the Leicester loanee blazed over the top.
Tom Bradshaw came close to snatching it six minutes from time, steering a low Potts cross wide, but only a stunning Adam Davies save prevented Preston stealing it late on.
The ball broke kindly to Maguire who found himself unmarked at the far post, but the Welshman tipped the ball over the top to preserve a well deserved point.
FULL TIME: Preston North End 1-1 Barnsley
Preston North End: Maxwell (GK), Fisher, Huntington (c), Spurr, Earl, Mavididi (Robinson, 77’ ), Browne, Gallagher (Welsh, 70 ), Barkhuizen (Harrop, 70 ), Maguire, Hugill.
Subs: Hudson (GK), Vermijl, Horgan, Davies.
Barnsley: Davies (GK) (c), McCarthy, Lindsay, A. Jackson, Pearson, Gardner (Moncur, 67’ ), J. Williams, Potts, Hammill (Bradshaw, 83’ ), Ugbo, Hedges (Barnes, 71’ ).
Subs: Townsend (GK), Pinnock, Thiam, Bird.
