Reds slump goes on with loss

Barnsley’s poor form continued as they failed to score for a fourth successive League One match and lost 1-0 at home to Lincoln City on Tuesday.

The visitors scored on the stroke of half-time and had the better chances as the Reds had most of the ball but looked toothless up front.

Barnsley remain ninth, five points off the play-offs.

Michael Duff made two changes from the side who lost at Morecambe on Saturday. James Norwood, back from suspension, and Herbie Kane came in for the benched Adam Phillips and Luca Connell.

Barnsley had most of the ball in the first half but did not create any real chances and Lincoln looked more threatening on the counter-attack.

In the ninth minute, Jack Diamond latched onto his goalkeeper’s kick then beat two defenders to go through on goal but dragged his shot onto the left post.

Barnsley had their first shot in the 37th minute when Kane curled wide of the bottom left corner from 20 yards.

The visitors opened the scoring in the third minute of added time at the end of the first half. Diamond played a ball over the home defence to Danny Mandriou who was clean through and found the bottom right corner.

Barnsley had their first shot on target in the 59th minute when Liam Kitching headed Nicky Cadden’s left-wing corner into the ground and it looped up for Carl Rushworth to catch easily.

Devante Cole went down in the box but the referee waved way the appeals.

Regan Poole should have finished Barnsley off in the 82nd minute but fired over 12 yards out after a good move on the right of the box.

Ben House had another fine chance when Tom Edwards lost the ball and the Lincoln striker was played through but he fired wide of the bottom left corner.

Home substitute Jack Aitchison saw a long-range shot easily saved.

James Norwood looped a header up to be easily caught in injury-time.

Barnsley (3-4-3): Collins; Cundy (Aitchison 75mins), Andersen, Kitching; Edwards, Kane (Phillips 65mnins), Benson. (Jalo 88), Cadden (Larkeche 88); Martin, Cole, Norwood.

Unused: Walton, Moon, Larkeche, Connell.

Yellow cards: Cundy, Kane, Benson.

Lincoln (3-4-3): Rushworth; Poole, Walsh, O’Connor; Eyoma, Virtue, Sanders (Sorensen 83mins), Roughan; Diamond (Garrick 69), House, Mandroiu (Vernam 83).

Unused: Wright, Jackson, Robson, Draper.

Yellow cards: Sanders.

Goals: Mandroiu 45+3.