Barnsley fell to a 2-1 defeat against Preston North End in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Strikes from Alan Browne and Daniel Johnson, either side of Cauley Woodrow’s equaliser, were enough to give the hosts all three points on a miserable afternoon at Deepdale.
After a slow start from the Reds, we came close to opening the scoring when Carlton Morris rattled the crossbar with a header from Woodrow’s magnificent inswinging cross.
Moments later, the skipper saw his own attempt loop over the frame as he was picked out by Claudio Gomes in a similar position.
The hosts had a glorious opportunity to take the lead when a through ball to Sean Maguire took out virtually the entire Barnsley backline, but Michał Helik was on hand to see out the danger with a sensational piece of play to narrow the angle and prevent a pass to the unmarked Emil Riis.
The Reds continued to have moments of joy, particularly through Morris on the left flank, who fizzed an inviting ball across the face of goal that Clarke Oduor just couldn’t get enough purchase on.
As time ticked away in the first half, Woodrow tested Daniel Iversen from distance, but the North End stopper was equal to his effort and gathered comfortably.
HALF-TIME: Preston North End 0-0 Barnsley
We came out flying after the restart and had two good chances in a matter of moments. First, Callum Styles picked out Clarke Oduor on the edge of the box, but his shot was saved low down by Iversen.
Then, Woodrow took aim from 25-yards and bent an exquisite strike agonisingly wide of the far post that the travelling supporters behind the net thought was in all the way.
However, as Johnson burst through the middle, space opened up for Browne on the right flank and the Preston skipper was able to drill home at the near post to give his side the lead.
Barnsley rallied after that set-back against the run of play and, following marvellous work from Romal Palmer in the channel, the ball fell to Brittain who hit it on the half-volley and Woodrow was perfectly placed to nod in from close range to level the scores midway through the half.
The hosts were ahead with 12 minutes remaining, though, as they worked a free-kick routine to Johnson, who fired home unmarked from eight-yards.
Despite changing to a back four with a couple of tactical tweaks, the Reds were unable to muster up a second equaliser and headed back to South Yorkshire empty handed.
FULL-TIME: Preston North End 2-1 Barnsley
REDS XI: Collins (GK), Helik, Andersen, Kitching, Brittain, Gomes, Palmer, Styles (Benson, 83), Oduor (Leya Iseka, 77), Woodrow (C) (Adeboyejo, 83), Morris.
Not used: Jinadu (GK), J Williams, Moon, Vita.
PNE XI: Iversen (GK), Van Den Berg, Whiteman, Bauer, Browne (C), Johnson (Potts, 90), McCann (Ledson, 69), Hughes, Riis, Maguire (Sinclair, 69), Earl.
Not used: Hudson (GK), Cunningham, Lindsay, Rafferty.
