Barnsley came from behind to draw 1-1 at Cardiff City in their first game of the new Championship season.
Toby Sibbick netted his first Reds goal after the hosts had taken the lead early in the first half.
It was an even game overall, with both sides having goals ruled out for offside and missing several chances.
Markus Schopp used the 3-4-3 formation he had employed all pre-season, selecting Ben Williams as left wing-back which meant he made his first appearance in 400 days after missing all of last season due to injury.
Jordan Williams was on the bench after returning from a knock while Herbie Kane was not deemed matchfit like new signings Devante Cole, Obbi Oulare and Aaron Leya Iseka.
It was the second successive opening day in which Barnsley did not start a single debutant, although Liam Kitching did make his full debut while Michal Helik and Dominik Frieser made their 50th appearances.
The Reds passed the ball around at the back far more than last season, with goalkeeper Brad Collins turning an attacker in his box at one point, but also sometimes used Valerien Ismael's tactic of playing fast and long balls forward on the attack.
Carlton Morris fired over from 16 yards out in the eighth minute after skilfully turning a defender, then Cardiff's James Collins' soft effort was easily caught by Brad Collins.
Leandro Bacuna should have put the hosts in front in the 17th minute but fired over eight yards out after meeting a Ryan Giles cross from the left.
Morris fired over the bar again from the edge of the box, with a difficult volley after Cauley Woodrow had headed down a ball by Romal Palmer.
The hosts then put the ball in the back of the net but the linesman's flag was up to deny James Collins who headed in on the line after Curtis Nelson nodded a left-wing free-kick back across goal.
Barnsley almost took the lead in the 30th minute when Morris exchanged passes with Palmer then slipped in Woodrow who skipped past a defender in the box before his 12-yard shot from an angle on the right was clawed out of the bottom left corner by Dillon Phillips.
The Reds then had four corners in about two minutes, taken by Woodrow and Callum Styles, but Cardiff scrambled them all away with Callum Brittain's follow-up shot from the first deflected over.
James Collins beat the offside trap on Barnsley's right and a low cross found Joel Bagan who looked certain to tap in from four yards but Helik made a sensational late tackle. James Collins had another long-range shot easily saved by his namesake.
Marlon Pack headed straight at Collins at the back post from a Ryan Giles corner in first half injury-time.
In the second half, Bacuna shot tamely at Collins then he fired wide in the six-yard box for the second time after meeting a Giles cross with the goal again gaping.
Barnsley had a goal ruled out in the 51st minute as, after clever passes by Woodrow then Morris, Frieser was clean through on goal and beat Phillips only for the flag to go up. The Austrian looked to be level with the last defender.
Seconds later the hosts took the lead as Pack headed in from Giles' left-wing corner.
Woodrow then saw a 25-yard shot easily saved by Phillips before Aden Flint should have made it 2-0 when he headed Giles' left-wing free-kick straight at Collins from six yards out.
The equaliser came in the 69th minute when Sibbick latched on to a superb cross field pass by debutant Josh Benson and drove into the box before his 15-yard shot found the bottom left corner.
Benson had come on for his debut and Jasper Moon was brought on alongside him in the centre, with Styles moving to the left as Williams was brought off. Clarke Oduor replaced Frieser for his first appearance of 2021.
Morris fired over from the right of the box after a fine run, but there was very little action in the final 20 minutes.
Cardiff (3-4-3): Phillips; McGuinness, Flint, Nelson; Ng, Pack, Ralls (Wintle 65mins), Bagan; Bacuna (Moore 75), Collins (Harris 87), Giles. Subs: Smithies, Morrison, Bowen, Colwill. Goals: Pack 52.
Barnsley (3-4-3): Collins; Sibbick, Helik, Kitching; Brittain, Palmer (Benson 63mins), Styles, B Williams (Moon 76); Frieser (Oduor 71), Woodrow, Morris.
Subs: Walton, J Williams, Halme, Thompson
AS IT HAPPENED
  • GAME UNDERWAY
  • 3:03pm
    1 Decent start for the Reds who make progress down the left with Ben Williams, the ball bounces around the home box but goalkeeper Phillips gathers
  • 3:04pm
    Both sets of fans very noisy so far. Attendance capped at 17,000 but good atmosphere so far
  • 3:07pm
    7 minutes in and not a great deal has happened. Both sides playing the ball long at the moment
  • 3:09pm
    8 First shot of the game. Carlton Morris lets Cauley Woodrow's pass roll between his legs to turn a defender in the box and fires over from about 16 yards
  • 3:11pm
    Tribute in eighth minute to Cardiff legend Peter Whittingham who tragically died last year aged 35.
  • 3:12pm
    11 James Collins has first shot of game but it is a speculative effort from the left of the box which floats straight at his namesake Brad Collins. Reds will have to watch out for him, he has already scored five against them
  • 3:16pm
    15 Great work by Romal Palmer who wins two tackles then Woodrow picks up the ball but shoots well. wide from about 25 yards. 0
  • 3:16pm
    So far the style is what Schopp promised - a mixture of passing the ball around at the back and also quick counter attacks as the Reds look to play the ball forward quickly and directly. 0-0 in 15th minute
  • 3:18pm
    17 Big chance for Cardiff. Leandro Bacuna fires over eight yards out with the goal gaping after meeting a cross by Ryan Giles. The first time the Reds have been opened up
  • 3:20pm
    20 Styles has a shot which is deflected wide off his own man and out for a goal kick
  • 3:23pm
    1/4 though the game. Cardiff have probably just edged it and should lead through Bacuna. The Reds are yet to really test the home defence other than that early Morris turn and shot which went over.
  • 3:25pm
    24 Morris shoots over again. A difficult volley on edge of box after Woodrow headed down a Palmer cross. A good move by the Reds.
  • 3:27pm
    Cardiff have a goal ruled out
  • 3:28pm
    James Collins think he's scored his sixth goal against barnsley in his career as he heads in on the line after Curtis Nelson headed a free-kick back across goal. But the linesman rules it out.
  • 3:29pm
    Brad Collins 'Cruyff turns' an attacker in his own box and the away end sings 'it's just like watching Brazil'
  • 3:31pm
    30 Barnsley so close! A good team move, mainly involving Morris and Palmer, ends with Woodrow skipping past a tackle in the box and seeing his low shot clawed out of the bottom left corner
  • 3:32pm
    Barnsley have a succession of corners. Brittain's shot from the first was deflected over then the next is touched behind , as is the third.
  • 3:34pm
    Four corners in about 90 seconds for the Reds. Woodrow taking on left and Styles on right. Same tactics as last season for most part, swerving into near post. Cardiff scramble them away, with Brittain's shot deflected over from first one.
  • 3:37pm
    Barnsley have definitely had the better of the last ten minutes, with plenty of possession in the Cardiff half. Can they make it count with a goal before the break?
  • 3:38pm
    38 Woodrow free-kick on the left is blasted over everyone and out for a goal kick
  • 3:39pm
    39 Joel Bagan looks almost certain to tap in from four yards out but Helik makes a sensational late challenge to deny him. Superb defending.
  • 3:43pm
    This has been a decent game for a 0-0. Both sides have come close, with Cardiff probably having the better chances overall. Almost half-time now
  • 3:46pm
    One added minute
  • 3:47pm
    45+1 Cardiff corner on the right. Ryan Giles takes it and Marlon Pack's header is straight at Collins
  • 3:47pm
    HALF-TIME: Cardiff 0, Barnsley 0
  • 4:03pm
    SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
  • 4:05pm
    47 Bacuna shoots tamely at Collins. That's four shots on target for the hosts but none of them have tested Brad Collins at all
  • 4:07pm
    48 Massive chance for Bacuna. For the second time today, he blazes off target deep in the Barnsley box from a Ryan Giles cross. This time he slides in about four yards out but sends the ball wide of an almost empty net with Brad Collins scrambling across. 0-0
  • 4:09pm
    51 Barnsley's turn to have a goal ruled out for offside. Frieser looks level with the defence as he gets the ball and beats the goalkeeper. An excellent move involving clever passes by Woodrow and Morris
  • 4:11pm
    GOAL!
    Marlon Pack heads in a left-wing corner
  • 4:21pm
    Josh Benson on for Romal Palmer
  • 4:21pm
    That goal will hurt the Reds. Callum Styles was left to mark the far taller Pack while it came seconds after they had what looked to be a legitimate goal ruled out at the other end
  • 4:22pm
    Cardiff bring on Ryan Wintle for Joe Ralls
  • 4:23pm
    66 Cardiff's Ryan Giles takes a free-kick on the left and it is headed straight at Collins by captain Aden Flint
  • 4:27pm
    GOAL!
    Toby Sibbick levels!!!!
  • 4:28pm
    A fantastic cross field pass from Liam Kitching (I think) releases Sibbick and he advances into the box then his deflected shot goes into the bottom left corner
  • 4:30pm
    Clarke Oduor replaces Friesers and takes his place in the front three
  • 4:32pm
    Looks as though Barnsley will use their last change to bring on Jasper Moon. Kieffer Moore coming on for Cardiff
  • 4:34pm
    Moon on for Williams, who has had a solid game on his return to first team action. A tough afternoon down that side for him and Kitching but they kept battling
  • 4:35pm
    Moon now central midfield with Benson, Styles left wing-back
  • 4:41pm
    83 Carlton Morris, who has had a good game, drives down the right wide, turns inside past a defender but shoots over from 15 yards out on the right of the box
  • 4:41pm
    Approaching the final five minutes here , the hosts still look a bit shocked by that equaliser - after which not much has happened
  • 4:47pm
    Into the 90th minute, Cardiff starting to attack a bit more without really threatening
  • 4:49pm
    Three added minutes
  • 4:50pm
    Morris sprints down the right wing but overhits his cross. His done a lot of good things today but his final shot or cross has often betrayed him. Maybe opening day rust
  • 4:51pm
    FULL-TIME: Cardiff 1, Barnsley 1. The Reds start their campaign with a decent point in Wales

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