Martin and Jalo put Reds in Trophy knock-outs

Josh Martin and Fabio Jalo netted twice each as Barnsley progressed to the knock-out stages of the EFL Trophy with a 4-2 win at Doncaster Rovers.

Martin, the former Doncaster player, and 16-year-old Jalo put the visitors 4-0 up at half-time with Slobodan Tedic missing a penalty before the break.

The Reds had run riot in front of about 1,000 away fans, with some excellent football, then made several changes and the hosts pulled two back in the second half.

Barnsley are guaranteed to finish either second or first in their group, which will be decided when Lincoln City play Newcastle United under 21s next week. The next round is scheduled for the week commencing November 21.

Michael Duff made 11 changes from the league loss at home to Exeter City on Saturday. It was the youngest Barnsley 11 on record, with goalkeeper Jack Walton the oldest player at 24.

Will Hondermarck was named in the starting line-up but replaced by youngster Danny Benson as Hondermarck was suspended due to two bookings in the first two group games.

It was Benson’s first start for the Reds as it was for fellow defender Will Lancaster. Tom Edwards captained the side and Josiah Dyer, son of Reds legend Bruce, was on the bench.

Barnsley took the lead in the 12th minute when 16-year-old Fabio Jalo brilliantly slipped through Slobodan Tedic on the right of the box and the Serb showed great awareness to square to Martin who fired in from close range. It was his first goal for the Reds, against the club he spent the second half of last season on loan to.

It was 2-0 on 20 minutes when Jalo received a pass from Martin in the box and superbly turned a defender before rifling in from about 15 yards. He is the club’s second youngest scorer after Glyn Riley who has 55 days older.

Six minutes later it was 3-0 as, after Adam Phillips and Tedic exchanged passes during a fine move, Martin played in Jalo who beat a man in the box before finding the bottom right corner from 12 yards.

The fourth goal arrived on 34 minutes when Jalo brilliantly flicked the ball to Danny Benson who powered down the right wing then sent in a cross which a defender sliced straight to Martin who fired in.

Tedic could have made it 5-0 when he ran onto a long ball and was clean through then brought down by Tom Anderson in the box. But Tedic’s penalty was kept out by goalkeeper Louis Jones who dived to his left to save. Tedic then saw a header saved from the resulting corner.

Barnsley were 4-0 up at half-time away from home for first time since a 5-0 win at QPR in 1950.

Former Barnsley player Miller had the hosts’ first shot on 62 minutes when he looked to be offside latching onto a long ball and his 15-yard volley was pushed away by Jack Walton. The goalkeeper then scrambled to turn a deflected long-range effort from Kyle Hurst over his bar.

The hosts pulled one back on 73 minutes when Miller headed into the bottom right corner from a left-wing cross.

Dyer came on for his professional debut along with Keegan Hartley. Dyer immediately flicked on left wing corner and Jalo hit the bar from close range.

Miller scored again when, after a good run down the left, he found the top right corner from the edge of the box.

Barnsley (3-4-1-2): Walton; Edwards (Pickard 60mins), Moon, Lancaster; D Benson, Connell, Phillips (Nejman 60), Larkeche (Hartley 79); Martin, Tedic (Jalo 79), Jalo (Butterfill 90+2). Subs: Searle.

Yellow cards: Connell.

Goals: Martin 12, 34; Jalo 20, 26.

Doncaster: Jones; Williams, Anderson (Knoyle 65mins), Long, Seaman; Molyneux, Ravenhill, Biggins; Taylor (Maxwell 65), Barlow (Miller HT), Griffiths (Hurst HT). Subs: Mitchell, Faulkner, Close.

Yellow cards: Taylor.

Goals: Miller 73, 82.