Barnsley progressed to the second round of the Carabao Cup following a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.
Cauley Woodrow’s solitary goal three minutes into the second half was enough to see the Reds get their 20/21 campaign off to a perfect start at Oakwell.
After weathering an early storm from the visitors, Barnsley grew into the game and came close midway through the first half when Conor Chaplin’s glanced header was tipped over by Brice Samba.
The hosts continued to dominate possession, but without little reward and were restricted to strikes from range that failed to test Samba.
Callum Styles, Woodrow and Jordan Williams all took aim from distance, but their efforts drifted wide of the right-hand post.
HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Gerhard Struber opted to make two changes at the interval, with Clarke Oduor and Elliot Simoes replacing Marcel Ritzmaier and Victor Adeboyejo.
It appeared to have the desired effect as Barnsley came close to scoring within a couple of minutes of the restart when Chaplin fired a fierce drive high towards goal that Samba palmed away from danger.
However, moments later, Styles cut into the box on the right flank and played the ball across for Chaplin. He in turn found Oduor, who saw his shot deflect onto the upright before Woodrow scrambled home from virtually on the goalline.
That goal sparked Forest into life and, from a corner, Tyler Blackett’s powerful header was diverted behind by Jack Walton, via the aid of a deflection.
The Reds were still carving out opportunities of their own in a frantic opening to the half, and when Samba’s clearance hit Simoes, Chaplin was able to pick up the loose ball and pick out Woodrow, but his header looped over the bar.
With 15 minutes left, Alex Mowatt showed great tenacity to win the ball from Fouad Bachirou and drive at a retreating visiting backline. He pulled the ball back for Simoes, who played it square for Dominik Frieser, but the debutant saw his high strike parried by Samba.
Despite a late flurry from the visitors, Barnsley were able to keep them at bay and seal safe passage to the next round.
FULL-TIME: Barnsley 1-0 Nottingham Forest
Walton, Ludewig, Sollbauer, Andersen, J Williams, Ritzmaier (Oduor), Styles, Mowatt, Woodrow, Adeboyejo (Simoes), Chaplin (Frieser).
Unused: Collins, Miller, Thomas, Brown.
