A midfield masterclass sees the Reds pick up yet another vital three points in their push for promotion.
With both sides coming in to today’s match undefeated in Sky Bet League One in 2019, Oakwell witnessed a clash of two of the league’s form teams. And it was the Reds who picked up the three points and extended their unbeaten run to ten league games.
Daniel Stendel made two changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Oxford in midweek, with Dani Pinillos and top scorer Kieffer Moore replacing Ben Williams and Kenny Dougall in the Reds’ starting lineup.
The Reds took control early on and dominated the opening 45 minutes, with Adam Davies almost a spectator in the first half, although the captain pulled off a superb save from Lee Novak on the stroke of half time.
It was at the other end where much of the game was being played as Dimitri Cavaré and Dani Pinillos looked to get forward at every opportunity for Barnsley.
It took just 16 minutes for the opening goal of the contest to arrive. The Reds broke after Ethan Pinnock dispossessed Adam Hammill, Jacob Brown was the first to try his luck from range, but his shot was blocked. The ball broke to Alex Mowatt 35 yards out, and the midfielder drilled it in to the back of the net past the unsighted Jak Alnwick to put the Reds 1-0 in front.
Despite taking the lead, Stendel’s men continued to press and both Cauley Woodrow and Cameron McGeehan saw efforts go narrowly wide of the goal. However, their pressing was not in vain, as the aforementioned McGeehan grabbed a second for his side five minutes before the break.
McGeehan started the move by feeding Mamadou Thiam on the edge of the area, the striker saw his shot blocked by Kieffer Moore but McGeehan had continued his run and as the deflection fell his way, he calmly headed the ball into the bottom corner.
Half Time: Barnsley 2-0 Scunthorpe United
The second half saw the Reds come out and look for a third goal in order to kill off the game, but despite their dominance, they were unable to break down the Iron’s back line.
Scunthorpe almost put through their own net within 10 minutes of the restart as Cavaré’s chipped cross was met by Rory McArdle who’s chest control went past the onrushing Alnwick and marginally wide of the post.
The best chance came with ten minutes remaining as the Reds yet again caught the away side on the break. Mike Bähre produced a lovely bit of skill to release Moore down the right, and despite Barnsley having a 4 on 3 situation, his cross managed to evade substitute Ryan Hedges at the far post.
Adam Davies yet again spent much of the half as a spectator with the Iron’s only real goalscoring opportunity a strike against the post from close range, however the linesman had raised his flag for offside.
The Reds now move in to the automatic promotion places and sit second in Sky Bet League One, with a game in hand on leaders Luton Town.
Full Time: Barnsley 2-0 Scunthorpe United
REDS XI: Davies (GK), Cavaré, Pinnock, Lindsay, Pinillos, Brown, McGeehan, Mowatt, Thiam (Hedges 67), Moore (Adeboyejo 83), Woodrow (Bähre 72).
Att: 12,150 (980 away)
