Barnsley’s hopes of automatic promotion to the Sky Bet Championship were ended with a 3-0 defeat at home to Ipswich Town on Tuesday evening.
Goals late in the first half from Nathan Broadhead and George Hirst were enough to send all three points back to East Anglia, while Conor Chaplin also found the net after the break to consign Michael Duff’s side to the end of season play-offs.
The Reds survived an early scare inside 10 minutes, first when Broadhead’s fizzing low cross from the right evaded everyone before eventually falling at the feet of Sam Morsy, who rattled the crossbar from 20-yards.
Looking to respond, Adam Phillips dragged a shot wide from distance, while James Norwood tested Christian Walton with a driven effort that the visiting stopper gathered comfortably.
Midway through the half, Nicky Cadden’s corner was cleared only as far as Phillips, who tried his luck once more, but his deflected strike looped into the hands of Walton.
Despite Barnsley enjoying the lion’s share of possession, Ipswich still posed a threat on the counter-attack and almost broke the deadlock as Hirst burst clear but could only fire wide of Harry Isted’s goal.
Just before half-time, though, the visitors took the lead when Leif Davis’ corner was met by Broadhead, whose header squirmed in at the near post.
It went from bad to worse for the Reds moments later as Hirst bundled his way past Mads Andersen before firing into the top corner to double Town’s lead.
HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0-2 Ipswich Town
Eight minutes after the restart, Ipswich were awarded a penalty when Wes Burns was sent tumbling in the area and, with an opportunity to put the game beyond all doubt, Broadhead stepped up but saw his spot-kick excellently saved by Isted.
Unfortunately, Barnsley never looked like mustering any sort of comeback, with the visiting defenders repelling every ball played forward.
There were half-chances for Slobodan Tedić and Devante Cole, who both failed to test Walton, but our misery was compounded when former Reds’ forward Chaplin lofted an effort over the stranded Isted with 10 minutes remaining.
Disappointing though this defeat is, there are still two games remaining to build momentum heading into the play-offs as we seek to make an immediate return to the Championship.
FULL-TIME: Barnsley 0-3 Ipswich Town
REDS XI: Isted (GK), Williams (Cotter, 82), B Thomas, Andersen (C), Kitching, Cadden, Phillips (L Thomas, 69), Russell (J Benson, 58), Kane, Cole (Watters, 82), Norwood (Tedić, 58).
Not used: Collins (GK), Larkeche.
IPSWICH XI: Walton (GK), Davis (Leigh, 76), Morsy (C), Woolfenden, Burns (Jackson, 84), Chaplin, Burgess, Luongo (Ball, 85), Hirst (Ladapo, 84), Broadhead (Harness, 84), Clarke.
Not used: Hladky (GK), Edwards.
