Asbaghi starts with defeat as Reds left six points from safety

24/11/21 • By Doug O'Kane

Poya Asbaghi's time in charge of Barnsley began with a 2-0 loss at home to Swansea City on Wednesday which left them six points adrift of safety.

The visitors netted in the 74th and 80th minutes of a game of few clear-cut chances but one in which Swansea dominated possession and looked to have extra quality.

The Reds remain second-bottom in the Championship with 11 points from 19 games.

Asbaghi made three changes to the side that lost at Fulham on Saturday. Mads Andersen dropped out of the squad with illness while Carlton Morris and Toby Sibbick dropped to the bench. Callum Brittain returned from suspension while Jasper Moon and Devante Cole also came back in. Brittain played at right-back, with Jordan Williams on the left, in a 4-3-3 with Romal Palmer less advanced than on Saturday in a 4-2-3-1.

Nothing of note happened in the first 45 minutes, with neither side having a shot on or off target. Swansea dominated the ball, with 81 per cent possession, but Barnsley looked compact in their shape and well-organised without offering much going forward.

Just before the break, a left-wing cross was headed at the back post by Ethan Laird but blocked by Callum Styles then, seconds later, Laird's deflected low cross from the right fell to Joel Piroe who fired wide of the bottom right corner 12 yards out when he should have scored.

Barnsley had their first shot on goal eight minutes into the second half when Michal Helik released Cole on the right wing and he beat Kyle Naughton before crossing for Cauley Woodrow who, under pressure from a defender ten yards out, sliced into the ground and the goalkeeper caught easily.

Asbaghi then brought on Morris and Aaron Leya Iseka for Cole and Frieser, just before Josh Benson curled a 25-yard free-kick over.

Swansea's first shot on goal was in the 69th minute when Laird's header from the right of the box was easily caught by Collins.

The breakthrough came four minutes late when substitute Ryan Manning crossed low from the left and fellow replacement Olivier Ntcham swept in from six yards out after getting away from Styles.

Asbaghi responded immediately by bringing on tall striker Obbi Oulare for his home debut in place of midfielder Palmer as Barnsley adopted a 4-2-4 formation. Oulare was booked for a wild late tackle.

It was 2-0 on 80 minutes when Jamie Paterson received the ball from Piroe and, exploiting major gaps in the Barnsley side, drove into the penalty area and fired into the bottom right corner.

Barnsley (4-3-3): Collins; Brittain, Moon, Helik, J Williams; Styles, Benson, Palmer (Oulare 77mins); Cole (Morris 57), Woodrow, Frieser (Leya Iseka 57mins).

Unused: Walton, Gomes, Sibbick, Adeboyejo.

Yellow cards: Oulare.

Swansea (3-5-2): Hamer; Bennett, Cabango, Naughton; Laird, Smith, Downes (Ntcham 64mins), Grimes, Bidwell (Manning 71); Paterson, Piroe.

Unused: Benda, Cullen, Latibeaudiere, Walsh, Williams.

Yellow cards: Naughton, Bennett, Smith.

Goals: Ntcham 74, Paterson 80.

AS IT HAPPENED

KICK OFF: The Reds will get the game underway.
7:49pm

1 It's an early free kick inside their own box for the Swans after Devante Cole committed a foul.
7:49pm

It looks like a 4-3-3 for the Reds
7:51pm

3 It's been a fairly even game so far with both sides playing quick passes through the centre. No-one has yet taken control of the game.
7:51pm

4 A cross from Devante Cole on the left comes to nothing. Swansea goal kick.
7:52pm

4 Some more quick passing from the Reds sees Benson pick up the ball in the middle but his pass is overhit and it's a Swansea goal kick.
7:53pm

6 Nearly a mistake from Michal Helik but Brad Collins collects easily.
7:57pm

8 Swansea have had the majority of the ball so far but don't have anything to show for it. Still a very even game.
8:00pm

12 Matt Grimes has gone down injured for the Swans so there's a break in play here.
8:00pm

13 The Swansea captain is back on his feet and looks ok to continue.
8:02pm

14 First real bit of class here at Oakwell as defender Kyle Naughton calmly flicks the ball over Dominik Frieser's head.
8:06pm

18 A Dominik Frieser cross from the right finds Devante Cole but he can't quite get his header right and, after a Woodrow slip, Swansea are awarded a free kick.
8:08pm

20 Still no real chances here at Oakwell.
8:08pm

21 Looked to be a chance for Ethan Laird on the wing but he can't control the ball and it goes out for a throw in.
8:09pm

21 First corner for Swansea. Matt Grimes to take.
8:10pm

22 The corner is cleared well by Jasper Moon at the near post.
8:11pm

23 Jamie Paterson whips in a cross for the away side from the right hand side, but Callum Brittain manages to head it on for a throw in.
8:13pm

25 Dominik Frieser finds a yard of space to shoot but his effort is blocked by a Swans defender.
8:16pm

28 The game has slowed down again now after a good few minutes for the Reds. Still no clear-cut chance for either side.
8:18pm

30 Good defensive work by Williams who manages to shield the ball out for a Reds goal kick.
8:19pm

YELLOW CARD

31 Kyle Naughton is booked for a trip on Styles after a neat flick from Woodrow nearly saw the Reds through on goal.
8:20pm

32 Josh Benson takes the free kick but it's aimless and runs right through to Ben Hamer.
8:26pm

38 A hefty, but clean, challenge from Romal Palmer is greeted with applause from the East Stand.
8:28pm

39 This time a not-so clean challenge from Palmer hands the Swans a free kick. He's one booking away from suspension.
8:30pm

42 Almost at half time as there's still very little happening.
8:32pm

44 A great chance for Swansea as Ethan Laird's header is cleared off the line by Callum Styles. Swans corner.
8:33pm

45 Joel Piroe should score for Swansea but he somehow misses the target from eight yards out.
8:33pm

ADDED TIME

Two minutes added time.
8:35pm

Half time: A very uneventful half which sees the Reds go in at half time level at 0-0.
8:52pm

KICK OFF: The away side get the second half underway. No changes for either side at the break.
8:54pm

47 Dominik Frieser looks to have plenty of space out wide but the linesman flags him offside.
8:56pm

49 A throw in down the right for the away side after a Jasper Moon clearance. The second half has started more brightly than the first.
8:59pm

52 Benson plays a through ball which Frieser looks to catch but he's unable to and the Swans are in possession again.
9:00pm

53 It's a great pass down the line from Helik to find Devante Cole. He smartly makes his way past Kyle Naughton and picks out Woodrow, who scuffs his shot into Hamer's hands.
9:02pm

55 Ethan Laird looks to skip past Williams on the right hand side but he falls down too easily for the referee's liking and the play continues.
9:03pm

57 It's a free kick for the Reds, centre of goal, after Palmer is pulled down by multiple Swansea players.
9:03pm

SUB OFF

Devante Cole
9:04pm

SUB ON

Carlton Morris
9:04pm

SUB OFF

Dominik Frieser
9:04pm

SUB ON

Aaron Leya Iseka
9:04pm

58 Josh Benson is standing over the free kick about 25 yards from goal.
9:05pm

58 It's a great effort from Benson but his shot goes narrowly high and wide of Ben Hamer's goal.
9:06pm

59 The game has really sparked into life the last few minutes. The Reds are currently on top and they're pressing well.
9:07pm

61 It's a talking to for Romal Palmer from the referee after a series of fouls.
9:10pm

64 Very little has happened over the last few minutes but Swansea have started to see more of the ball again.
9:11pm

SUB OFF

Flynn Downes
9:11pm

SUB ON

Olivier Ntcham
9:13pm

67 Cauley Woodrow wins a header in his own box to stop a Swansea attack but the away side still have the ball.
9:14pm

YELLOW CARD

Ryan Bennett
9:16pm

70 A header from Laird goes straight into Collins' gloves. Still all square here.
9:18pm

71 A smart through ball from Benson nearly sees Leya Iseka through but the Swans keeper heads the ball clear.
9:18pm

SUB OFF

Jake Bidwell
9:18pm

SUB ON

Ryan Manning
9:19pm

73 It's a free kick in the corner for Swansea. Grimes standing over it.
9:21pm

GOAL!

Olivier Ntcham
9:21pm

74 Olivier Ntcham fires past Brad Collins unmarked from eight yards out.
9:23pm

SUB OFF

Romal Palmer
9:23pm

SUB ON

Obbi Oulare
9:24pm

77 It's an attacking change from Poya Asbaghi who will be looking to grab something from his first game in charge.
9:25pm

78 It's a foul throw by Jasper Moon in the far corner.
9:26pm

GOAL!

Jamie Paterson
9:27pm

80 It's too easy for Jamie Paterson as he strolls past the Reds midfield before firing past Collins.
9:28pm

82 There's a halt in play as a fan runs onto the pitch.
9:31pm

84 Since the second goal the Reds haven't had a chance. It's still all Swansea despite the Reds' efforts to pile on pressure.
9:32pm

YELLOW CARD

Callum Brittain picks up a yellow card for bringing down a Swans man on the break.
9:32pm

SUB OFF

Joel Piroe
9:32pm

SUB ON

Liam Cullen
9:33pm

85 Heading into the last five minutes of play and the Reds are still pushing but can't break down the Swans.
9:33pm

YELLOW CARD

Obbi Oulare for a late challenge.
9:34pm

87 It's really smart play from Lea Iseka but instead of releasing the ball he tries to keep hold of it and the away side win the ball back.
9:36pm

88 The away side are toying with Barnsley now, picking out passes that the Reds just can't stop.
9:36pm

YELLOW CARD

Korey Smith
9:37pm

ADDED TIME

Four minutes added time for the Reds to get back into the game.
9:39pm

92 Manning takes it round Collins but shoots straight at Brittain on the line. The flag is then raised for offside.
9:41pm

Full time: Poya Asbaghi's first game in charge ends in a 2-0 defeat at home to Swansea.

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