Fleetwood 0
Reds 0
Barnsley’s unbeaten away start to the season continues as the Reds earned a point at Fleetwood in this goalless draw but it could have been three points for the Reds at Highbury.
Dale Jennings came closest for the Reds in normal time as he rattled the outside of the post but the winner was almost snatched in stoppage time by Leroy Lita but he blazed over.
With five minutes played the Reds sprang a counter-attack and Martin Cranie carried the ball forward before finding Jennings on the right. The winger drifted in-field and saw his 25-yard strike deflect a couple of feet wide of the post.
It was the hosts’ turn to counter on 10 minutes and Adam Davies came to his side’s rescue with a smart block when Evans went through one-on-one. The Barnsley ‘keeper blocked away with his legs when it seemed Gareth Evans would break the deadlock.
Stephen Dobbie robbed Adam Davies of the ball at the by-line and would eventually see his effort zip over on 24 minutes. It was a fairly messy start from both teams with a frantic pace lacking any conviction in either final third.
On the half-hour mark Stephen Dobbie hurdled the challenge of Nyatanga but had been forced too wide to really trouble Davies as the Barnsley stopper denied the former Blackpool man’s effort.
Barnsley’s best chance so far came on 31 minutes as Berry countered down the middle before finding Hemmings. The striker played an intelligent ball across to Jennings but in waiting for the ball to drop, Fleetwood got back in time to block his 15-yard effort away.
On 38 minutes Jean-Yves M’voto got across to deny Dobbie after the striker had twisted his way into the area, moments later Evans’ shot stung the palms of Davies from 25 yards.
The Reds were more patient and measured in their approach to a 41st-minute attack which would see Conor Hourihane hammer his drive a couple of yards wide of Maxwell’s left-hand post.
A Morris cross was begging to be turned home by a Fleetwood player but, thankfully for Barnsley, his wicked low cross evaded everyone and drifted out for a goal-kick on 44 minutes.
Barnsley had the win in their sales and after Jennings had curled wide following Hourihane’s defence-splitting pass, Cole went one-on-one with Maxwell but the Fleetwood ‘keeper saved well. From the rebound, the ball failed to drop in time for Hemmings and his shot sailed over.
Matty Blair tested Davies on 50 minutes but it was a fairly routine save from the ‘keeper away to his right. At the other end on 54 minutes Dale Jennings absolutely hammered a drive at goal from the edge of the box but, unfortunately, his vicious effort clipped the outside of the post.
Devante Cole managed to work a shot off his right boot but Crainey got a slight block in to deflect the striker’s effort over on 48 minutes.
Second half
There could have been a wonderful winner for the Reds in the second minute of stoppage time as Leroy Lita met Winnall’s cross at the far post but he lashed over from 12 yards.
Sam Winnall came on for the Reds as Luke Berry was replaced on 90 minutes just seconds before three minutes was added by the Fourth Official.
With attacks having dried up for Barnsley, the hosts came close with a free-kick from Morris that clipped the bar on its way over from 22 yards.
Leroy Lita entered the field on 79 minutes, replacing Kane Hemmings in attack, just seconds after Schumacher’s free-kick whistled wide from 25 yards.
It was practically all Barnsley in the second half but Fleetwood went close with Evans’ right-wing delivery begging to be turned home but again nobody was on hand for the hosts.
Conor Hourihane played a disguised ball in for Hemmings from a free-kick but his left-footed effort lacked power to beat Maxwell after latching on first time.
Fleetwood Town: Maxwell, McLaughlin, Pond, Jordan, Crainey, Schumacher, Evans, Blair, Morris, Dobbie (Ball 69), Proctor
Subs: Davies, M.Hughes, Murdoch, Roberts, Hogan, Sarcevic
Reds: Davies, Brown, Dudgeon, Berry (Winnall 90), Nyatanga, Mvoto, Cranie, Hourihane, Jennings (Noble-Lazarus 88), Hemmings (Lita 79), Cole.
Subs: Dibble, Digby, Abbott, Bree.
