The Reds make it 17 games unbeaten after a hard-earned goalless draw against promotion rivals Sunderland.
Daniel Stendel named an unchanged side following Saturday’s victory over Accrington Stanley, but his side were unable to find the back of the net on a blustery night at Oakwell.
In a fiery start to the contest, both teams put in their fair share of strong challenges. This didn’t go unnoticed by the referee and Grant Leadbitter went in to the book for the visitors after a foul on Jordan Green.
It was Mamadou Thiam who had the two best chances in the first half for the Reds. A slack header by Sunderland man Luke O’Nein was latched on to by the Senegalese striker, however his effort was well saved by Jon McLaughlin.
Thiam wasn’t finished there however, less than 10 minutes before the break he was in on goal again. This time picking up Kenny Dougall’s pass inside the area and lashing a shot onto the crossbar.
The visitors had their best opportunity when veteran midfielder Leadbitter turned his man and let fly from 25 yards out, the skipper, Adam Davies pulled off a superb save to turn the effort round his left-hand post.
Half Time: Reds 0-0 Sunderland
With the conditions still making it tricky, neither side was able to take full control of the game in the second half.
The visitors enjoyed a spell of pressure at the start of the half, but they were unable to make it count and the Reds become the first team to stop them scoring in a league game this season.
Max Power had their best chance having been played through one on one with Davies, however he failed to capitalize and rolled the ball wide of the target.
The Reds did have the ball in the back of the net with just twenty minutes remaining, but Cauley Woodrow was adjudged to have been offside as he headed the ball in to the back of the net.
As the clock ticked down O’Nien almost cost his side a goal again after his attempted back pass went beyond his keeper, but Mclaughlin was able to scramble it clear.
Having had the visiting team’s best chance of the evening, Power was booked late on after a strong tackle on Kenny Dougall.
The result ensures the Reds go 12 months unbeaten at Oakwell and head into Friday’s South Yorkshire Derby against Doncaster Rovers four points inside the automatic promotion places.
Full Time: Reds 0-0 Sunderland
Davies, Cavaré, Pinnock, Lindsay, Pinillos, Green (J.Williams), Mowatt, Dougall, Thiam, Bähre (Adeboyejo), Woodrow.
Unused: Walton, Jackson, B.Williams, Styles, Hedges.
