O'Keeffe winner sinks Bristol Rovers

Barnsley are unbeaten in nine after a 2-1 victory at home to Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

Devante Cole opened the scoring at the end of a first half in which the Reds were the better side.

But mid-table Rovers created a series of good chances and levelled midway through the second half, only for Corey O’Keeffe to reply within five minutes.

Barnsley remain sixth in League One, in the play-offs on goal difference and six points off top two with games in hand.

They are unbeaten in nine league games and their last eight at home since September.

Luca Connell and Jamie McCart missed out through minor injuries with both potentially back for Tuesday’s visit of Carlisle. Nicky Cadden was benched and replaced by Callum Styles who made his 150th appearance for the club.

Full home league debutant Jack Shepherd came in for McCart – his third EFL start and first since September 2 – and Jon Russell replaced Connell, having not started more than two months.

The Reds announced the signing of US international Donovan Pines minutes before kick-off.

Barnsley began the game well, playing good passing football, but the visitors had the first shot on target when Antony Evans’ 25-yard free-kick was easily saved by Liam Roberts.

Adam Phillips had Barnsley’s first shot on target on 34 minutes which was from a tight angle on the right and saved by Matthew Cox, after fine backheel pass from O’Keeffe following a scramble in the box.

A minute later, Callum Styles’ corner from the left was met by Shepherd with a powerful header that was clawed out by Cox.

Soon after Rovers should have scored when Jevani Brown went clean through – after Jordan Williams lost the ball amid claims of a foul – but Roberts made a fine one-on-one save.

Herbie Kane then fired just wide of the bottom left corner from 20 yards after good work by Cole.

Cole made the breakthrough on 43 minutes when he headed a left-wing McAtee cross onto the left post then it rolled back to him to tap in on the line.

The visitors should have levelled before the break when Styles gifted the ball to ex-Red Luke Thomas who advanced into the box but was denied by another one-on-one save from Roberts.

Rovers could have scored 40 seconds into the second half when, after Russell lost the ball deep in his half, Chris Martin brought down a cross but shot across goal and wide from the left of the box.

Brown then went through on the right of the box after a good passing move on 48 minutes but shot just wide of the bottom right corner. Luke McCormick just missed the bottom left corner from the edge of the box. Tristan Crama almost bundled in a leveller after Phillips missed a free-kick.

But the equaliser arrived when Evans’ cross was headed into the bottom left corner by veteran striker Martin who had beaten Williams in the air.

Martin could have made it two goals in as many minutes when a move down the right ended in a cut-back to him ten yards out. But his powerful shot was too close to Roberts who kept it out.

Barnsley restored the lead within five minutes against the run of play. Phillips received the ball from Cole 25 yards out in a central position and brilliantly skipped past a defender before cleverly playing in O’Keeffe who impressively found the bottom left corner from about 15 yards.

Harvey Vale’s volley in the 89th minute appeared to strike the outside of the left post.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Roberts; Williams, de Gevigney, Shepherd; O’Keeffe (Lopata 85mins), Phillips, Russell (Cosgrove 61), Kane, Styles; Cole (90+2 Watters), McAtee (Cadden 85). Unused: Killip, Jalo, Cotter.

Yellow cards: McAtee.

Goals: Cole 43; O’Keeffe 73.

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Cox; Grant, Connolly (Gibbons 81mins), Crama, Vale; Thomas (Collins 81), Finley, McCormick (Hunt 66), Evans; Martin, Brown (Marquis 66). Unused: Ward, Sinclair, Hoole.

Goals: Martin 68.