Reds get first win under Poya and cut gap to 5 points

12/02/22 • By Doug O'Kane

Barnsley won for the first time in the Championship under Poya Asbaghi and ended a six-match losing run with a 1-0 victory at home to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

Domingos Quina netted his first goal for the club on 72 minutes to cap a good overall display for the hosts who created the better chances against their promotion-chasing visitors.

It was a first win in 14 league games and cut the gap to safety from eight to five points with 16 fixtures remaining.

Barnsley broke a club record before the game as their changed their line-up for a 25th successive game.

The only change from the midweek loss at Luton Town saw Jordan Williams come in for the injured Liam Kitching.

Williams played on the right of a back three as Barnsley continued with their 3-5-1-1 formation.

Brad Collins kept his place in goal despite a string of recent errors.

QPR had a chance in the first minute but Andre Gray's volley from 15 yards out after meeting a left-wing cross was very weak and easily held by Collins.

Barnsley then played fairly well but were restricted to long-range efforts in the first half.

Carlton Morris saw a low 25-yard shot easily saved by goalkeeper David Marshall then Josh Benson screwed a free-kick well over from a similar distance.

Collins then made a good save to push away Lee Wallace's shot from a tight angle on the left of the six-yard box after the hosts were carved open for the first time in the 26th minute.

Williams surged forwards 50 yards from his half before shooting over from long-range. Bassi and Gomes also shot wide from 25 yards out then Benson's effort from a similar distance was easily held by Marshall.

QPR finished the half well.

Collins dived to his left to keep out an Ilias Chair shot from the edge of the box after good work by Gray and Lyndon Dykes. Chair's right-wing free-kick was sliced horribly wide at the back post by Yoann Barbet who was totally unmarked. Wallace then fired into the side netting from a very tight angle after a wicked cross from the right.

While Barnsley had only managed long-range shots in the first half, they opened QPR up seconds after the break when Domingos Quina played in Callum Styles on the left of the box but the goalkeeper saved at his feet.

Benson then lost the ball deep in his half to Chair who played in Gray but the pass was slightly behind him and Helik got back to make a good block.

Styles shot wide from 22 yards with a low effort and Chair flashed a shot wide at the other end from slightly closer in.

Gomes missed big chance midway through the second half as he scooped a volley over 12 yards out after Quina beat a man on the right of the box then crossed.

Quina's deflected shot from 20 yards out then bounced in off the woodwork to put Barnsley in front for the first time under Asbaghi.

Styles curled wide of the top left corner from just outside the box after Morris won the ball and Cole passed from the right wing.

QPR came close to a leveller in injury-time when Dykes was inches away from heading in Barbet's left-wing cross.

Barnsley (3-5-1-1): Collins, mark out of ten: 7; J Williams 7, Helik 7, Andersen 7; Styles 7, Benson 5 (Palmer 69mins), Gomes 8, Quina 9 (Cole 80), Vita 7; Bassi 7, Morris 7.

Unused: Walton, Moon, Hondermarck, Halme, Wolfe.

Yellow cards: Quina.

Goals: Quina 72.

QPR (3-4-1-2): Marshall; Dickie, Dunne, Barbet; Odubajo, Field, Hendrick (Johansen 62mins), Wallace (Adomah 67); Chair; Gray (Austin 62), Dykes.

Unused: Dieng, Sanderson, Amos, Thomas.

Attendance: 12,476 (1405 from QPR).

Referee: Michael Salisbury (Lancashire)

AS IT HAPPENED

1:52pm

Good afternoon and welcome to the Chronicle's live text coverage of Barnsley's home game with Queens Park Rangers from 3pm.
2:00pm

Barnsley: Collins; J Williams, Helik, Andersen, Vita; Benson, Gomes, Quina; Styles, Morris, Bassi. Subs: Walton, Moon, Palmer, Hondermarck, Halme, Wolfe, Cole.
2:00pm

Jordan Williams comes in for Liam Kitching, who is not in the squad. Matty Wolfe returns on the bench in place of Aaron Leya Iseka.
2:06pm

QPR: Marshall; Dickie, Dunne, Barbet; Odubajo, Field, Hendrick, Wallace; Chair, Dykes, Gray. Subs: Dieng, Adomah, Sanderson, Amos, Johansen, Thomas, Austin.
2:10pm

The Reds are bottom of the Championship, eight points off safety, with 17 games remaining.
2:14pm

The 2-1 defeat at Luton Town on Tuesday means Barnsley have lost their last six league games and are winless in 13 across 100 days since a victory over Derby County under caretaker Jo Laumann on November 3.
2:16pm

Should they fail to win today, they will be on a longer winless league run than the one that led to Asbaghi's predecessor Markus Schopp's sacking in late October.
2:18pm

Poya Asbaghi has not won in any of his 11 league games as head coach – a club record – drawing three, losing eight and seeing five goals scored.
2:20pm

QPR are fourth, two points off the top two.
2:22pm

The Hoops are unbeaten in seven league games, with five wins.
2:25pm

They drew 2-2 at home to another in-form promotion-chaser Middlesbrough at home on Wednesday night, after taking the lead twice, so have had one day fewer to recover than the Reds.
2:29pm

Mark Warburton's team have won their last four away league games, all by a 2-1 scoreline.
2:32pm

Only their near neighbours Fulham have more goals away this season.
2:33pm

Head coach Poya Asbaghi said: "They are a good football team. We have played against a lot of really direct teams, like Luton, Cardiff and Birmingham. QPR have skilled players who are comfortable on the ball. It's a different kind of game."
2:36pm

"Even though they have good form in the Championship, they lost to Peterborough in the FA Cup which shows you can knock this team if you have a good game."
2:38pm

Barnsley looked to be heading for a fifth successive win over QPR in August when they were 2-0 up at half-time thanks to goals by Dominik Frieser and Cauley Woodrow.
2:41pm

But the hosts came back to draw 2-2 with goals in the 76th and 91st minutes from Ilias Chair and Charlie Austin.
2:42pm

Asbaghi said: "It shows that we can do well. I know the capacity is there. I watched that game, it's really clear it's early in the season and the confidence in the players is a little bit different. "Since then the results didn't come and the confidence went away."
2:44pm

The Reds have not scored at Oakwell in the league for more than two months since a 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town on December 4.
2:46pm

They are yet to take the lead in any of Asbaghi's 11 league games.
2:47pm

"It's really frustrating. It's not like we didn't have chances to take the lead, we just didn't take them. It's been too many games. When we concede in the first half, we can come back. But when they take the lead in the last half an hour, teams in this league are pretty good at killing time and seeing the game out."
2:48pm

Rangers' last win over Barnsley was at Loftus Road in 2018 when ex-Red Josh Scowen got the winner in Paul Heckingbottom's final match. They have one point from the five meetings since.
2:51pm

Since winning 3-2 at Oakwell against an already relegated Reds side on the last day of the 2013/14 season, the Hoops have not won in four visits, losing three and conceding 12 goals.
2:53pm

They lost 3-0 last season in Valerien Ismael's first game in charge, with Rob Dickie being sent off midway through the first half.
2:55pm

Matty Wolfe said: "It's a huge game, QPR are flying. "We know not many people will expect much from us. But we've been training well and we're determined to get three points and get everyone onside again."
3:02pm

1 The away side get us underway at Oakwell.
3:04pm

2 Slow start to the game so far - QPR passing the ball well but no chances as of yet.
3:04pm

3 A Lyndon Dykes cross meets Andre Gray, but he can't connect properly and his scuffed volley reaches Collins.
3:07pm

5 A good bit of play from the Reds, Vita brings the ball out to Quina who turns his man. But his pass is a fraction high and Styles controls with his hand.
3:09pm

8 Barnsley's first chance. Morris picks up the ball 30 yards from goal, does a few step overs then unleashes a powerful strike - but it's saved by Marshall.
3:11pm

9 Good pressing from the Reds means that Marshall has to take it around Morris, but he does so well and clears the danger.
3:12pm

11 Free kick for the Reds in a decent position after Morris was dragged down.
3:13pm

12 Benson shoots but it's nowhere near the QPR goal.
3:14pm

13 Another really good chance for the Reds as they broke away, Benson has Morris and Bassi to either side of him - but his pass reached neither.
3:17pm

16 QPR have taken control of the game, passing the ball around nicely. They've got a free-kick in a decent crossing position, Chair to take.
3:18pm

16 It's fired into the six-yard box, Collins comes for it but it's cleared before he can reach it.
3:19pm

18 Free-kick for the Reds after Quina is fouled about 30 yards out.
3:21pm

19 Styles whips it in but it comes to nothing, QPR have the ball back again.
3:22pm

20 There's a corner for QPR as Vita challenges Odubajo.
3:22pm

21 They play it short and the Reds chase them out.
3:24pm

22 Corner for the Reds after Styles' deflected effort goes out.
3:25pm

23 Bassi crosses the ball and finds Andersen, but then there's a scramble and the ball is cleared. Barnsley on top at the moment.
3:28pm

25 Two great chances for the visitors. First Gray smashes the ball across the box but it's cleared and then Lee Wallace's fierce strike is put behind by Collins. The corner comes to nothing.
3:29pm

28 QPR really starting to control the game now and have the Reds on the back foot.
3:32pm

30 Jordan Williams gives the home fans something to shout about as he picks up the ball in his own half and runs from the QPR team, but his effort is well over the bar.
3:32pm

31 It's a free header in the box for Andersen but he can't get the right power or direction on it and it's aimlessly into the gloves of Marshall.
3:34pm

33 Benson gives the ball away and Dykes runs down the left wing, but his cross is claimed by Collins - let-off for the Reds.
3:37pm

35 A great effort from Bassi sees him strike the ball from 25 yards out. It's a curling effort that beats Marshall but not the post.
3:39pm

38 It's been a good spell for the Reds but, as so often this season, they're not capitalising on being on top.
3:40pm

39 Styles breaks down the right wing and finds Benson, who cuts inside and shoots, but his effort is tame and collected easily.
3:41pm

40 Some more great play from the Reds, Bassi finds Gomes who shoots from distance. It's a good effort but it's got a little too much on it and goes out for a goal kick. Barnsley on top here at Oakwell.
3:45pm

43 Chair shoots but it's a good save from Collins, good chance for the away side.
3:45pm

44 Free-kick for the away side in a decent shooting position. Chair will take.
3:46pm

45 He crosses the ball instead and it finds Barbet, who is unmarked at the back post, but is miss-hit effort is high and wide.
3:47pm

ADDED TIME

One minute added on.
3:48pm

45+1 It could have been a goal for the away side as Chair's cross evades everyone and Wallace fires into the side netting.
3:48pm

HALF TIME 0-0.
4:05pm

46 The Reds get the game back underway - no changes for either side.
4:06pm

46 Great start for the Reds which sees a few openings but nothing too concrete.
4:08pm

49 A solid opening few minutes of the second half here for Poya Asbaghi's side. They've certainly started the second half brighter.
4:09pm

50 Quina breaks into the opposition half but his shot is blocked, but then he looks to be hacked down - nothing given.
4:10pm

50 Another good break from the Reds but Quina's cross is headed safely into the gloves of David Marshall.
4:12pm

52 The Reds break forward again and after a few turns by Quina, his cross is just over-hit. Really good opening few minutes from the Reds.
4:13pm

54 Benson gives the ball away to Chair, who finds Gray but his effort is blocked really well by Andersen.
4:15pm

56 Good ball from Bassi is nearly put in from Morris but the QPR defender nicks in just in time.
4:16pm

56 Bassi turns his man really well and finds Styles, who runs past a few defenders before shooting wide. The Reds fans are in full voice now.
4:18pm

59 A scuffle in the middle of the pitch sees Quina booked.
4:19pm

YELLOW CARD

Domingos Quina
4:21pm

61 The Reds fans aren't happy with some of the recent decisions from the referee.
4:21pm

SUB OFF

Jeff Hendrick
4:21pm

SUB ON

Charlie Austin
4:22pm

SUB OFF

Andre Gray
4:22pm

SUB ON

Stefan Johansen
4:22pm

62 Double change for QPR as they look to regain control of the tie.
4:24pm

65 Barnsley fans can see the effort the players are putting in and are cheering them on fiercely - still 0-0 but the Reds look good on the attack.
4:25pm

66 Great work from Quina who strolls past his man in the box, his cross finds Gomes but it's well over from ten yards out.
4:26pm

SUB OFF

Lee Wallace
4:26pm

SUB ON

Albert Adomah
4:27pm

67 Ilias Chair finds himself with the ball at the edge of the box but he fires well over - a let-off for the Reds.
4:29pm

69 Adomah breaks down the right hand side but this cross finds no one and the ball is cleared.
4:29pm

SUB OFF

Josh Benson
4:29pm

SUB ON

Romal Palmer
4:32pm

72 QPR are constantly on the attack at the minute, Chair has an effort blocked but they've got the Reds pegged back in their own half.
4:33pm

GOAL!

Domingos Quina
4:34pm

73 Quina picks up the ball and smashes it past Marshall from 20 yards out. Nothing more than the Reds deserve.
4:35pm

74 It's the first time Barnsley have taken the lead under Poya Asbaghi win the league, they've got 15 minutes to hold on.
4:36pm

77 Barnsley have a free-kick in a promising position. Bassi and Styles over it.
4:37pm

77 It's a good ball in by Bassi, and the ball finds Palmer but his cross goes out off Helik for a goal kick.
4:38pm

YELLOW CARD

Rob Dickie
4:40pm

80 Jimmy Dunne pushes Carlton Morris into the dugout but the referee doesn't book him - Reds fans not happy.
4:40pm

SUB OFF

Domingos Quina
4:40pm

SUB ON

Devante Cole
4:41pm

81 The goalscorer comes off to a standing ovation, he could be the man to give Barnsley their first league win of 2022.
4:41pm

82 Corner QPR. Chair to take.
4:42pm

82 He puts the cross right on top of Collins when punches it out for another corner, which is then cleared.
4:44pm

83 Remy Vita does excellently to tackle Adomah and, as he runs away with the ball, is the fouled.
4:46pm

85 Devante Cole looks to break but he knocks it past the defender and slips. Five minutes left to play,
4:47pm

86 Morris does fantastic to nick the ball of Odubajo, he then finds Cole who passes it to Styles but his effort is just over.
4:49pm

88 Morris is down with cramp in the centre circle so the game comes to a halt.
4:49pm

Man on of the match award is given to Domingos Quina - he was fantastic in the middle for the Reds.
4:50pm

ADDED TIME

Six minutes added on. Not gone down well with the home fans.
4:52pm

90+2 Morris does brilliantly to win a corner.
4:52pm

90+2 The Reds are keeping the ball well in the corner. QPR players are getting increasingly frustrated.
4:54pm

90+4 Two minutes left to play and it's end-to-end here. Barnsley are trying to slow the game down, and they're doing it well. Reds fans in great voice.
4:56pm

90+6 QPR should level it. Barbet crosses in but it's missed, somehow, by everyone.
4:57pm

FULL TIME: The Reds pick up all three points and deservedly so. They were the better team for almost all the game, and all of the second half. Domingos Quina's first goal for the Reds is the decider.

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