Reds 1 (O’Grady 48)
Derby County 1 (Keogh 90)
Dogged, determined and patched-up, David Flitcroft’s troops were denied three points by a dirty late equaliser. Not much more could be asked of the Reds, who were dealt another injury blow with Bobby Hassell coming off in the first half.
The home supporters who showed up for this massive clash for their town and club were in good voice as this one got underway.
The first real chance came on 14 minutes and it was for the Reds after a great move. Hassell’s long ball was flicked into the path of O’Brien and he expertly back-heeled for Scotland who shot on the turn, but it lacked enough power to beat Fielding at his near post.
Derby responded with Hendrick taking the ball in his stride and firing at Steele from 15 yards with what was a great chance for the Rams on 17 minutes.
The Rams went close again on 28 minutes when an out-swinging corner was nodded wide by Keogh but it was a minute later when they really should have broken the deadlock. Mason Bennett was looking the liveliest of the Derby players and he raced through on goal from the tightest of angles only to see his initial effort and a rebound blocked.
The injuries just don’t seem to be letting up as Bobby Hassell was withdrawn to give Andrai Jones his debut at right-back, meaning Scott Wiseman filled in at centre-half.
O’Grady tested Fielding at his near post after picking up a ball from O’Brien following a great run by the winger on 38 minutes.
A minimum of one minute of added time was indicated by the fourth official, but neither side could break the deadlock.
Second half
Barnsley came out with a bang in the second half as they took the lead on 48 minutes through O’Grady. It was a fine finish as he volleyed home with the ball at an awkward height from 12 yards after the ball dropped in the box.
Oakwell came to life and O’Brien went in search of another with a run down the left but his cross was cleared before it fell to Cywka.
Scotland had Fielding in two minds when he raced onto a clearance down the left-hand side and squared for Cywka but Buxton recovered to deny the winger a clear shot at goal against his former club.
The Reds had the momentum but Derby were still looking dangerous with their set-piece plays just as the clock ticked past the hour mark.
A ball fell for Scotland on 65 minutes but he snatched at his chance to double the Reds’ lead. In fairness he had his back to goal and the ball was at an awkward height. The football was flowing from Barnsley as they attacked the Ponty End.
As the match entered the final ten minutes, the rhythm had gone but the Reds were happy to try and see it out and hit Derby on the break.
Into the dying embers of the match saw the Rams lob a few dangerous balls into the Barnsley box and eventually it paid off with a dirty goal just as the stoppage time board showed four minutes. A corner wasn’t cleared and it fell for Brayford who nodded in from a yard.
Reds: Steele, Wiseman, Hassell (Jones 31), Cranie, Noble-Lazarus, Mellis, Perkins, Cywka (Harewood 90), O'Brien, O'Grady, Scotland (Dagnall 76).
Subs: Alnwick, Dagnall, Rose, Patterson, Clark.
Derby: Fielding, Brayford, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth, Freeman (Jacobs 68), Hendrick, Coutts, Davies, Bennett (Sammon 73), Martin (Gjokaj 90).
Subs: Legzdins, O'Connor, Doyle, Roberts.
Referee: Paul Tierney
Assistant Referees: Matthew Bristow & Michael Denton
Fourth Official: Mark Jones
Attendance: 9,007 (849 away)
