Reds ten points adrift after draw at Swansea

Barnsley slipped ten points adrift of safety after they drew 1-1 at Swansea City but fourth-bottom Reading won at Sheffield United.

Claudio Gomes’ first senior goal put the visitors in front early in the second half then they hit the post but conceded an equaliser.

It was one of the Reds’ better away performances but they will rue missed chances, as will Swansea who finished the stronger.

Reading were leading at Bramall Lane, conceded a 90th-minute leveller but won 2-1 it in the 92nd minute. If the Royals beat Swansea on Monday and Barnsley lose to Peterborough, the Reds will be officially relegated. Peterborough and Derby also won to overtake Barnsley who are now last.

Poya Asbaghi two made changes from the side that lost at Millwall six days earlier. Jack Walton replaced the injured Brad Collins in goal and Matty Wolfe came in for the benched Callum Styles. Cauley Woodrow was back on the bench.

The Reds changed formation from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3 with Amine Bassi and Domingos Quina either side of striker Carlton Morris.

Barnsley played well in the first half, threatening from free-kicks and crosses while pressing their off-colour hosts into mistakes. But Swansea also had chances on the break.

Joel Piroe’s 20-yard shot in the first minute was pushed wide by Walton but Barnsley then were the better side for a spell, with Quina’s free-kick tipped over by home goalkeeper Andy Fisher, who also saved easily when Morris met a Bassi free-kick on the volley eight yards out but his low effort lacked power.

Morris turned a more difficult volleyed chance wide at the near post from a very powerful Callum Brittain cross while, at the other end, Remy Vita saved Barnsley by tackling Jamie Paterson when Swansea had a three-on-one break from a Reds corner.

Kitching headed narrowly off-target from a left-wing Bassi corner then, seconds later, Matt Grimes’ 30-yard strike was pushed out of the top right corner by Walton.

Michael Obafemi should have scored in first half injury-time when Jamie Paterson broke down the left and pulled the ball back for him eight yards out but he missed it completely.

Early in the second half, Morris met a right-wing Bassi corner but had to stoop for it running backwards and nodded it over.

The opener arrived when Quina won the ball in the home half and Bassi played an excellent pass to the right of the box for Gomes who produced a fine finish from a tight angle.

It was almost 2-0 when Brittain charged down the right and sent in a low cross which a defender turned towards his goal and it hit the inside of the right spot.

Seconds later it was 1-1 as home substitute Olivier Ntcham curled a superb shot from 22 yards into the top left corner.

Wolfe should have made it 2-1 almost instantly but, after a low cross fell to him in space 15 yards out, he scuffed high and wide with the goal gaping.

Wolfe was then replaced by Woodrow who returned to the side after a 20-game absence.

Walton pushed another long-range Ntcham shot out of his bottom right corner then saved more easily from Hannes Wolfe’s effort which was straight at him.

The goalkeeper then produced a stunning point blank stop to deny Piroe who looked certain to score five yards out after a left-wing cross was flicked on by Obafemi, who then had a close-range effort superbly blocked by Kitching.

Woodrow then slid in to volley a right-wing Bassi cross but sent the difficult chance over the bar from 12 yards out.

Piroe headed wide from a left-wing corner in the 96th minute.

Swansea (3-4-1-2): Fisher; Naughton, Cabango, Latibeaudiere (Manning 65mins); Christie, Grimes, Fulton (Ntcham 57), Wolf; Piroe, Paterson (Congreave 90+1), Obafemi.

Unused: Hamer, Smith, Joseph, Ogbeta.

Goals: Ntcham 64.

Barnsley (4-3-3): Walton; Brittain, Andersen, Kitching, Vita; Gomes, Palmer (Styles 66), Wolfe. (Woodrow 74); Bassi, Morris, Quina.

Unused: Jinadu, Leya Iseka, Moon, Hondermarck, Adeboyejo.

Yellow cards: Wolfe, Palmer, Morris.

Goals: Gomes 54.