Barnsley hosted Brentford in today’s early kick-off in front of the Sky cameras and fell to another defeat in the Sky Bet Championship.
It's a third straight home defeat for the Reds as Brentford hit back to claim all three points at a rain-soaked Oakwell.
The Reds came out of the blocks firing and looked to attack their opposition. That early, intense pressure lead to the opening goal of the game, inside the first minute. After winning the ball high up the pitch, Conor Chaplin found Cauley Woodrow who unleashed a blistering strike from 25 yards that gave 'keeper David Raya no chance.
The first half saw the Reds enjoy the majority of attacking play. The high press that Daniel Stendel’s men like to play helped to consistently win back possession of the ball in key areas. This again forced a chance as Chaplin found Woodrow for a second time, with a defence splitting pass. But the linesman was quick to flag for a very close offside call, before the forward slotted home.
The Reds were again unfortunate to not get a second through Chaplin this time. Luke Thomas did well to round the goalkeeper, square it to his teammate, who struck it first time, but the Brentford defender was fortunate to block the goal bound effort.
Despite the constant pressure from the Reds, the away side began to grow into the game. Their quality going forward was on display, as a quick counter-attack found Said Benrahma out wide. Good trickery allowed him to beat his man and play in a dangerous ball to Ollie Watkins at the back post who headed home the equaliser.
HALF TIME: Barnsley 1-1 Brentford
The second half was almost a complete opposite of the first early on. Brentford, on the front foot, looked to target the wide areas with their pace. A looping cross from Benrahma found Watkins at the back post unmarked, who nodded in again, almost from the restart.
After a promising first half display, Barnsley will have felt hard done by to be down 2-1 so early in the second, and pushed men forward in attack in the hunt to find the equaliser.
Unfortunately, this left the defence vulnerable at the back with Brentford looking to use the counter-attack and their pace going forward. This was the catalyst for their third goal as another cross found Ollie Watkins to score his third of the game.
The home side tried to throw everything forward as the game went on but as the opposition looked to sit deep and defend their lead, it was to no avail.
Barnsley’s next game comes quickly with a midweek encounter, under the lights of Oakwell against Derby County on Wednesday.
FULL TIME: Barnsley 1-3 Brentford
Collins, J.Williams, Andersen, Halme, Cavaré (Thiam), Brown, Mowatt, Sibbick, Thomas (Wilks), Woodrow, Chaplin (Schmidt).
Unused: Walton, Green, Pinillos, Styles.
