Barnsley drew 0-0 at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday as their winless run stretched to six Championship games.

The Reds were the better side, missing several chances, as they delivered a decent performance overall despite having six first choice players unavailable.

Barnsley now have eight points from as many games this season, with one win.

Markus Schopp made two changes to the side that drew at Stoke City on Wednesday. The injured Romal Palmer was replaced by Claudio Gomes, who made his first senior start ever, while Clarke Oduor came in for the benched Dominik Frieser. New signing Remy Vita was on the bench. Callum Brittain continued to play in central midfield, alongside Gomes.

The first 20 minutes were extremely quiet, with the closest either team came being a shot by Blackburn's top-scorer Ben Brereton Diaz from the left of the area which hit his team-mate Tyrhys Dolan in the head and was cleared.

But Barnsley began to get on top and almost took the lead when Oduor brilliantly burst past two defenders and was one-on-one with goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski who made a crucial save. Cauley Woodrow's weak volleyed effort from the edge of the box was then easily saved by Kaminski.

Michal Helik came close on 39 minutes when he rose highest to meet Woodrow's right-wing corner 12 yards out but headed it straight at Kaminski who caught.

Overall, Barnsley were the better side in the first half – as they had far more control than in any other home game this season – but could not find the net against a Blackburn side who offered very little.

Barnsley made a double change at the break with Will Hondermarck and Frieser replacing Toby Sibbick and Aaron Leya Iseka. Hondermarck went into the middle with Brittain returning to his usual position of right wing-back. Victor Adeboyejo then came on for Gomes, with Oduor moving to left wing-back and Callum Styles playing in central midfield.

Woodrow sliced a shot well wide from a tight angle on the right on 61 minutes after a good pass by Frieser who then saw a header from a Woodrow corner tipped over by Kaminski.

Blackburn had their first real chance on 70 minutes as they counter-attacked from a corner and Brereton-Diaz was clean through but Brad Collins made a fine one-on-one save with his chest. Minutes later at the other end, Brittain fired wide with a powerful 15-yard volley after a left-wing cross dropped to him in space.

A Frieser cross was flicked on by Helik on 79 minutes and the ball floated agonisingly across the face of goal with Adeboyejo inches away from tapping it in. Styles then fired a powerful 30-yard effort just wide of the bottom left corner.

Blackburn could have won it in the 90th minute when, after good work by Reds Khadra on the left of the penalty area, Leighton Clarkson's 12-yard shot was beaten away by Collins.

Barnsley (3-4-3): Collins; Halme, Helik, Moon; Sibbick (Hondermarck HT), Brittain, Gomes (Adeboyejo 60mins), Styles; Iseka (Frieser HT), Woodrow, Oduor.

Subs: Walton, Vita, Sraha, Cole

Blackburn (4-4-2): Kaminski; Nyambe, Lenihan, Ayala, Pickering; Poveda (Clarkson 67mins) Travis, Rothwell (Edun 72), Buckley; Brereton-Diaz, Dolan (Khadra 67).

Unused: Pears, Carter, Davenport, Butterworth.

AS IT HAPPENED
  • GAME UNDERWAY
  • 3:05pm
    3 minutes in. Fairly quiet start but the visitors have had more of the ball so far
  • 3:06pm
    The visitors have tried a couple of through balls behind the home backline but both times Collins has gathered easily
  • 3:07pm
    As expected, Callum Brittain is in midfield with full debutant Claudio Gomes
  • 3:09pm
    7 Good move from the Reds. It all starts with Oduor tracking back to win the ball, then they pass it confidently up the pitch, with Iseka beating a man and finding Sibbick on the right who also beats a man then sends in a cross which is just over Woodrow's head
  • 3:12pm
    Gomes loses the ball in the centre circle. It doesn't come to anything but he can't afford to keep doing that. He gifted Bournemouth and Stoke chances just like that
  • 3:15pm
    A quiet start to this game. The Reds are trying to build up patiently but haven't really got close to the Rovers goal yet while Blackburn are trying to get players in behind the Reds defence but haven't quite found the killer pass
  • 3:16pm
    15 A Blackburn free-kick on the right is headed away at the back post by Halme for a corner
  • 3:18pm
    16 Chance for the visitors. Lewis Travers skips around two Reds players before playing in Brereton on the left of the box but his shot hits team-mate Dolan in the head when it looked goal bound
  • 3:20pm
    19 Barnsley have the ball in a decent area on the left but Iseka overhits a cross
  • 3:22pm
    21 Big chance for the Reds, Clarke Oduor does superbly to burst past tow Blackburn players and go one on one but is denied by goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski
  • 3:23pm
    The following corner is punched away and cleared
  • 3:26pm
    24 Now Woodrow has a shot. He turns about 22 yards out to hit a volley but gets very little connection on it and goalkeeper Kaminski gathers easily
  • 3:28pm
    27 Callum Brittain blazes over from about 30 yards. At least the Reds are being positive and having shots, but that was always very ambitious for a player who has never scored for the Reds
  • 3:30pm
    Helik wins a header but crashes into the ground from a great height and looks in a bit of pain. He's sitting up to receive treatment
  • 3:30pm
    Helik gets to his feet and will carry on
  • 3:32pm
    The Reds have had a good last ten minutes or so. After Oduor's chance, both Woodrow and Brittain tried their luck from distance. The hosts are on top at the moment and look the more lively, attacking team.
  • 3:34pm
    32 Free-kick on the left. Taken by Callum Styles. It's floated up too high and the goalkeeper catches
  • 3:35pm
    33 Blackburn looking more threatening now. Brereton played in on the left of the six-yard box and his cross takes a slight deflection, it could go anywhere with Blackburn men waiting to pounce, but is cleared by a defender
  • 3:37pm
    Into the last ten minutes of this half, the Reds have probably just edged the game so far
  • 3:40pm
    38 Free-kick to Barnsley on the left wing. Callum Styles takes it. is headed away then recycled and Woodrow wins a corner on the right
  • 3:41pm
    39 Woodrow's right-wing corner is headed straight at the goalkeeper by Helik. The hosts have had the two big chances so far
  • 3:46pm
    45 Woodrow hits a 25-yard free-kick into the wall
  • 3:47pm
    Barnsley have been the better side in this half, the one that has looked to attack and make something happen. But they have missed two decent chances through Oduor and Helik
  • 3:49pm
    HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0, Blackburn 0. The Reds have been the better side, with Clarke Oduor missing a one-on-one chance after a brilliant run then Michal Helik coming close with a header. Blackburn yet to have a shot on target
  • 4:05pm
    Double change for the Reds. Will Hondermarck comes on for Toby Sibbick and Dominik Frieser replaces Aaron Leya Iseka
  • 4:07pm
    SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
  • 4:09pm
    Callum Brittain is now at right wing back again with Hondermarck alongside Gomes in the middle
  • 4:11pm
    Barnsley's current central midfield of Will Hondermarck and Claudio Gomes had made 6 senior league appearances between them before today.
  • 4:12pm
    Pretty even in this second half so far with no notable attacks
  • 4:15pm
    A drinks break as Gomes gets treatment, The last thing Barnsley need is another central midfield injury but he looks like he will carry on
  • 4:18pm
    Approaching the hour and there is no getting away from the fact that this has been a dull game short on quality. The Reds had a few decent moments before the break but the second half hasn't got going
  • 4:20pm
    Gomes off for Adeboyejo
  • 4:20pm
    Looks like Oduor to LWB and Styles central midfield
  • 4:21pm
    61 Frieser slips Woodrow in on the right of the box but, at a tight angle, he slices his shot well wide
  • 4:25pm
    Barnsley have made all their changes but Blackburn have made none. Can Tony Mowbray alto something for his side who have offered very very little in attack today?
  • 4:26pm
    66 Woodrow's 25-yard free-kick hits the wall and is deflected for a corner
  • 4:27pm
    The corner is floated in by Woodrow but the referee sees a foul by Barnsley
  • 4:27pm
    Blackburn double change. Khedra for Dolan and Clarkson for Poveda
  • 4:29pm
    69 Chance for the Reds. Woodrow's right-wing corner is headed by Frieser but Kaminski tips over
  • 4:29pm
    69 The next corner is headed straight out for another
  • 4:30pm
    70 That last corner is headed clear then Blackburn counter attack and finally have a chance. Brereton is clean through on goal but Collins saves with his chest
  • 4:32pm
    Another big opportunity for the Reds. A left wing cross by Oduor falls to Brittain 15 yards out and his powerful volley goes just wide of the bottom left corner. I thought that was going to be his first Reds goal. 0-0
  • 4:36pm
    The game really came alive for a few minutes there with chances at either end
  • 4:38pm
    Approaching the final ten minutes. Barnsley have been the better side, with the better chances. Can they find a winner?
  • 4:39pm
    79 Barnsley so close again,. Frieser's cross from the right is flicked on by Helik and goes all the way across the face of goal with Adeboyejo inches from tapping it in
  • 4:42pm
    83 Woodrow's corner from the right wing is headed clear
  • 4:46pm
    86 Styles shoots wide from 30 yards with a powerful low strike
  • 4:48pm
    88 Brittain's cross is sliced by a defender and it goes just wide of the post for a corner
  • 4:48pm
    88 Woodrow's left-wing corner is met at the near post by Aapo Halme but it drifts tamely wide
  • 4:50pm
    90 Collins makes his second save of the game, repelling Leighton Clarkson's 15-yard effort after good work on the left by Reda Khadra
  • 4:50pm
    Three added minutes
  • 4:53pm
    FULL-TIME: Barnsley 0, Blackburn 0.

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