Barnsley lost a 2-0 lead in a 2-2 draw with Cardiff City at Oakwell on Wednesday evening – drawing for the first time under Valerien Ismael.
Mads Andersen's first goal for the Reds, and their first goal in the Championship in 2021, had them in front at half-time then Cauley Woodrow doubled the lead early in the second half.
The visitors came back to 2-2 and although Barnsley got their first league goals of 2021 and ended a run of three straight losses, they will be disappointed not to see out what looked likely to be Cardiff's sixth successive defeat.
Valerien Ismael made no changes from the team that beat Norwich City in the FA Cup on Saturday, so Brad Collins replaced Jack Walton as the league goalkeeper and Toby Sibbick stayed on the right of the back three in place of Michael Sollbauer. Jordan Williams was on the bench after injury.
Barnsley started well and had the ball in the back of the net in the seventh minute. Junior Hoilett sliced the ball up in the air in his own box then goalkeeper Alex Smithies dropped it into the net but the referee awarded a foul by Cauley Woodrow, who looked to have been pushed into Smithies by City defender Aden Flint.
The goal came in the 20th minute when Dominik Frieser shaped to take a long throw then dropped it short to Callum Brittain who returned it to the Austrian whose excellent cross from the right was headed into the top left corner by Andersen from ten yards out. It was his first goal in 71 appearances for the Reds.
Victor Adeboyejo then fired straight at the goalkeeper from long-range, before Woodrow's powerful volley from a similar distance was held by Smithes at the second attempt. At the other end, Perry Ng's deflected effort was easily gathered by Collins.
Cardiff's Junior Hoilett headed over a difficult headed chance from a right-wing cross on 40 minutes then Woodrow could have made it 2-0 before the break as he ran onto Brittain's lobbed pass but volleyed over ten yards out on the right of the box.
It was 2-0 on 52 minutes when Woodrow rose highest to head a left-wing free-kick by Alex Mowatt into the ground and it for his 11th goal of the season.
Cardiff pulled one back six minutes later when a left-wing corner was headed out to substitute Josh Murphy whose low 20-yard shot was diverted in by Sheyi Ojo. The Reds felt the corner should have been given as a goal kick.
Former Barnsley striker Kieffer Moore then had a big chance to level a minute later when he met a left-wing cross just six yards out but could get no power on the header and Collins easily caught.
Moore eventually did level midway through the second half when he was left unmarked to head in a right-wing corner at the back post.
Callum Styles almost won it in the 91st minute when a Mowatt free-kick was headed down to him ten yards out on the left of the box but he blazed over the bar.

Barnsley (3-4-3): Collins, mark out of ten: 6; Sibbick 6 (Sollbauer 79mins), Helik 7, Andersen 8; Brittain 6, Mowatt 7, Palmer 6 (Kane 72), Styles 6; Frieser 7 (Morris 58), Woodrow 7, Adeboyejo 6. Unused: Walton, Omar, J Williams, Oduor, Chaplin, Schmidt.

Goals: Andersen 20, Woodrow 52.

Cardiff (4-5-1): Smithies; Ng, Flint, Nelson, Bagan; Ojo (Pack 90+3mins), Vaulks, Bacuna (Morrison 58), Ralls, Hoilett (Murphy 50); Moore.

Unused: Phillips, Sang, Wilson, Harris, Davies, Glatzel. Goals: Ojo 58, Moore 69.

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire).

AS IT HAPPENED
  • 7:00pm
    VIctor Adeboyejo set to take the kick for the Reds.
  • 7:01pm
    1 We're away at Oakwell. Long ball from Alex Mowatt into the far right corner of the field. Alex Smithies clutches the ball after it's played high into the box.
  • 7:03pm
    2 Will Vaulks' long throw from the right is repelled by Cauley Woodrow back defending. The home side then win a throw as Callum Brittain pressures Junior Hoilett on the left side.
  • 7:07pm
    7 A clearance nearly reaches Junior Hoilett, he Bluebirds forward is pulled back for offside. No clear chances so far and a lot of back and forth aerial balls.
  • 7:09pm
    8 Cauley Woodrow thinks he scores the opener but the referee blows for a foul. The forward looked to have impeded 'keeper Alex Smithies as a clearance was sliced back into the box. Smithies collected it, but was pushed back into his net by Woodrow.
  • 7:13pm
    13 An Alex Mowatt free kick from just inside the opponents' half is nodded on by Cauley Woodrow in the box, but rolls out of play for a goal kick.
  • 7:15pm
    15 Callum Brittain plays a testing ball in from the right and Cauley Woodrow, who's looked lively, challenges Alex Smithies - but the 'keeper just gets a glove to it.
  • 7:17pm
    17 Former Barnsley man Kieffer Moore looks to have the run on the defence, but is called offside after the ball played through to him by Sheyi Ojo rebounds off of Leandro Bacuna.
  • 7:19pm
    19 The visitors get a free kick just past the half-way line which Will Vaulks takes and Aden Flint gets a head to in the box, but he can't direct it towards goal.
  • 7:20pm
    GOAL!
    20 Mads Andersen heads into the top left after a Dominik Frieser cross from the right. Superb header.
  • 7:21pm
    21 Victor Adeboyejo gets the run on the defence and winds up an effort, but his shot from just outside the box lacks power and is saved easily.
  • 7:22pm
    22 Cardiff win a corner as Sheyi Ojo's cross from the right is palmed out by Brad Collins. The game has definitely come to life after a tame start.
  • 7:23pm
    23 The corner is headed back into the box by Kieffer Moore and cleared by Victor Adeboyejo. Alex Mowatt does well to block a strike before Will Vaulks takes a crack, which rolls to Brad Collins.
  • 7:24pm
    24 Michal Helik gets his head to a cross and knocks it down for Callum Styles on the edge of the box. He lays it off for Alex Mowatt who hits an effort high and wide into the stand.
  • 7:27pm
    26 Cauley Woodrow gets a chance to shoot from distance after a good Barnsley press sees Dominik Frieser win the ball. The 'keeper very nearly spills it due to the spin on the ball, but grabs it at the second attempt.
  • 7:29pm
    29 A Reds corner leads to a Cardiff counter as Kieffer Moore collects the ball, but his through ball to Junior Hoillet is lazy and the counter is stopped by Callum Brittain.
  • 7:35pm
    34 Nothing much to report after a scrappy few minutes where the ball hasn't left the centre of the pitch.
  • 7:37pm
    37 Alex Mowatt with a free kick on the right, that's collected by Alex Smithies after being headed towards his goal by a team-mate.
  • 7:40pm
    40 Junior Hoilett heads over the bar. Good work by Kieffer Moore on the right, who held the ball up and played it back for Will Vaulks to play into the box.
  • 7:43pm
    42 Alex Mowatt's free kick is cleared as far as Callum Brittain, who hits a first-time ball over the top for Cauley Woodrow. The striker's effort is too uncontrolled and goes over the bar from the right of goal.
  • 7:47pm
    45 Joel Bagan with a poor effort from the left. The visitors had pushed men up as Barnsley had a throw on the opposite side, right near the touchline, but the full-back couldn't do much as he had a bit of space to try his luck from far out.
  • 7:47pm
    HALF-TIME: Barnsley 1, Cardiff City 0. A good half from the Reds.
  • 8:05pm
    We're about to start the second half.
  • 8:06pm
    46 The visitors get a free kick inside their own half which is played over to Sheyi Ojo on the right wing. He wins a throw.
  • 8:07pm
    47 Will Vaulks' long throw is repelled and he gets another higher up the pitch, which Mads Andersen clears. The Dane then heads it clear again.
  • 8:10pm
    50 Victor Adeboyejo does well to control the ball and lay it off for Callum Brittain on the right, but his cross is overhit and sails out of play.
  • 8:10pm
    SUB OFF
    50 Junior Hoilett
  • 8:10pm
    SUB ON
    50 Josh Murphy
  • 8:12pm
    GOAL!
    52 Cauley Woodrow rises highest to head in an Alex Mowatt free kick from the left.
  • 8:13pm
    52 Good delivery from the skipper and Woodrow did really well to direct it into the near side of goal.
  • 8:18pm
    GOAL!
    58 Sheyi Ojo nets after a corner.
  • 8:18pm
    SUB OFF
    59 Dominik Frieser.
  • 8:19pm
    SUB ON
    59 Carlton Morris.
  • 8:19pm
    SUB OFF
    59 Leandro Bacuna.
  • 8:19pm
    SUB ON
    59 Sean Morrison.
  • 8:20pm
    59 A long throw from Will Vaulks is knocked on for Kieffer Moore, whose header towards the top left corner is caught by Brad Collins fairly comfortably. The visitors continue to gain ground after their first goal.
  • 8:23pm
    63 Josh Murphy plays a free kick in for Cardiff from the right. It's cleared as far as Will Vaulks, whose left-footed effort flies past the left post from just outside the box.
  • 8:27pm
    66 A free kick from the left for Cardiff is played in by Joe Ralls' left foot. It's headed clear by Carlton Morris and the Reds set off on a counter, which breaks down on their left.
  • 8:29pm
    GOAL!
    69 Kieffer Moore meets a corner on the back post, heading it past Brad Collins.
  • 8:31pm
    71 Cauley Woodrow fires over the bar, after playing a one-two with Victor Adeboyejo on the left of the box. Decent effort.
  • 8:32pm
    SUB OFF
    72 Romal Palmer.
  • 8:32pm
    SUB ON
    72 Herbie Kane.
  • 8:38pm
    78 Michael Sollbauer looks to be coming on for the Reds, who've worked as they did in the first half but with much less positive results.
  • 8:39pm
    SUB OFF
    79 Toby Sibbick.
  • 8:39pm
    SUB ON
    79 Michael Sollbauer.
  • 8:41pm
    80 Carlton Morris wins a free kick in a good position as he and Aden Flint clash trying to get to Cauley Woodrow's flick on. Dead ball on the right of the box.
  • 8:43pm
    82 Carlton Morris goes down in the box as he chases Herbie Kane's free kick, but the referee doesn't reach for his whistle. The ball goes up the other end and Alex Mowatt has to defend well against Jacob Murphy on the left wing, clearing the ball.
  • 8:45pm
    85 Carlton Morris very nearly gets his head to Alex Mowatt's cross from the left at the near post, but he's pressured well. Just before, Mowatt had been involved in a neat piece of passing with Callum Styles, but the wingback couldn't get a shot off before he was tackled.
  • 8:52pm
    90 Cauley Woodrow is caught by Aden Flint in the centre of the pitch. The free kick is played into the box by Alex Mowatt and headed across by Michal Helik. Carlton Morris tries an acrobatic overhead kick and misses the ball, and it falls for Callum Styles on the left post. His effort is agonisingly over the bar. He should've hit the target really.
  • 8:54pm
    90+3 Carlton Morris fails to control the ball after Victor Adeboyejo holds it up well in the centre of the field. He had a man to his right, if he could've played the ball.
  • 8:55pm
    90+4 Alex Mowatt clears after a free kick from the visitors. Long throw from the right by Will Vaulks, which is headed on by Aden Flint for Brad Collins to collect.
  • 8:55pm
    FULL-TIME: Barnsley 2, Cardiff City 2.

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