ROBBIE Cundy netted an 87th-minute winner as Barnsley signed off for 2022 with a dramatic victory at home to Fleetwood Town.
James Norwood provided a fine finish on 64 minutes but the visitors levelled with a penalty conceded by Mads Andersen.
Reds head coach Michael Duff was sent off late on but seconds later Cundy headed home the winner.
The Reds are still fourth in League One, with 40 points from 22 games – five points clear in the play-off places and nine behind the top two with two games in hand.
They have now won six of their last seven league games – with Monday’s draw at Accrington the exception – and their last five home matches in all competitions as well as their last six meetings with Fleetwood.
It was a deserved victory overall as they created by far the better chances while dominating long spells.
Duff kept the same starting 11 that drew at Accrington, with Joe Ackroyd replacing Jack Aitchison on the bench.
It was captain Andersen’s 150th match for Barnsley, making the Dane just the second non-British or Irish player to reach that milestone after Arjan de Zeeuw.
There was a minute's applause pre-match for Brazilian superstar Pele – whose death was announced just before the game – England World Cup winner George Cohen and Barnsley legend Norman Rimmington, who the match was dedicated to.
The Reds dominated the first half and had all eight shots before the break, with Fleetwood barely having an attack, but the hosts were let down by their finishing.
Barnsley had a big chance in the 14th minute. James Norwood was played clean through by Nicky Cadden but denied one-on-one by the goalkeeper Jay Lynch on the left of the box then Devante Cole’s scuffed follow-up was cleared on the line.
Cole and Norwood both saw powerful crosses by the wing-backs hit them in the box before being cleared while Adam Phillips and Cole each had hopeful penalty appeals turned down.
Herbie Kane fired just wide of the left post from 25 yards after good touches by him, Cole and Norwood.
Cole missed another huge chance in the 28th minute when he looked certain to tap in from a low Jordan Williams cross but got no power on the effort while sliding and the ball rolled to Lynch.
Phillips headed a Norwood cross well off-target from about ten yards out, then Luca Connell sent a long-range free-kick wide.
The first 15 minutes of the second half were very dull but Barnsley suddenly took the lead through an excellent Norwood finish. After a free-kick won by Norwood was cleared, Kitching played him in on the left of the box and he smashed in a very powerful shot for his second goal of the week and fifth of the season.
Fleetwood had their first shot in the 70th minute but substitute Cian Hayes screwed it well wide from the left of the box.
Their first shot on target came eight minutes later from the penalty spot when Admiral Muskwe was tripped by Andersen then fired into the spot-kick. The Fleetwood substitute had almost signed for the Reds last year but pulled out of the deal at the last moment.
It was the second time in a week that the Reds had dominated a game but conceded a leveller from the penalty spot.
They thought they should have had one of their own when Norwood was tackled in the box after being put through but referee Benjamin Speedie did not give it to the fury of Duff and his staff.
Duff’s reaction to the fourth official saw him shown a red card.
But seconds later his team were ahead again as Cundy headed in a left-wing cross to spark jubilant scenes.
Barnsley (3-5-2): Collins, mark out of ten: 7; Cundy 8, Andersen 7, Kitching 7; Williams 7, Phillips 6 (Wolfe 65mins), Connell 7, Kane 7 (Martin 85), Cadden 7; Norwood 8, Cole 5 (Jalo 85).
Unused: Walton, Moon, Ackroyd, Larkeche.
Yellow cards: Williams, Andersen, Jalo, Kane, Norwood.
Goals: Norwood 64, Cundy 87.
Fleetwood (4-3-3): Lynch; Johnston, Nsiala, Earl, Andrew; Wiredu, Warrington (Omochere 88mins), Vela; Morton (Lane 79), G Garner (Muskwe 67) Mendes-Gomes (Hayes 67). Unused: Stolarczyk, J Garner, Batty.
Yellow cards: G Garner.
Goals: Muskwe 78 (pen).
Referee: Benjamin Speedie (Merseyside).
Attendance: 10,219 (222 from Fleetwood).add article here…
AS IT HAPPENED
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7:51pm
2 Fleetwood free-kick on right is scrambled clear
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7:53pm
4 Dangerous cross from the left by Cadden hits Cole then it is cleared
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7:56pm
Devante Cole getting plenty of abuse aimed at him from the away end as a former Fleetwood player
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7:58pm
Nice move by Barnsley involving a fine crossfield pass from Connell out to Cadden then a Cole dummy but Williams' cross is too powerful and hits Norwood in the chest then is cleared
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7:59pm
Williams cross now caught by the goalkeeper. Pretty bright start by the hosts
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8:01pm
12 Phillips runs onto a Kane through ball and goes down under pressure from a defender but no penalty given
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8:04pm
14 First big chance of the game. James Norwood is put clean through on the left of the box and, after his shot is saved, Cole's rebound is cleared off the line
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8:06pm
From the resulting corner a looping header is easily saved. We think it was Mads Andersen
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8:08pm
Barnsley well on top here. Fleetwood haven't attacked since the first few minutes
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8:10pm
20 Free-kick on the left wing by Kane is headed out then Cundy's cross is caught by the goalkeeper
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8:13pm
23 Kane dummies a Kitching pass which goes into the box and Cole also lets it run through his legs then goes to ground after contact by Toto Nsiala but again no penalty
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8:15pm
26 Nice football from Barnsley. Good touches by Cole, Kane then Norwood before Kane's 25-yard shot is just wide of the left post
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8:18pm
28 Another big miss by Cole. He looks certain to tap in from a Williams cross but can't get any power on the shot five yards out while sliding and it rolls to the goalkeeper
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8:21pm
Barnsley have dominated this first half an hour and should be 2-0 up
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8:24pm
35 Norwood's cross from the right is met by Phillips about ten yards out and he heads well over
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8:25pm
Barnsley throwing men forward and causing the visitors a lot of issues. Right wing back Jordan Williams has often popped up up front with Norwood drifting out to the right
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8:27pm
Fleetwood have a rare attack but cannot get a cross in on the left of the box and Barnsley clear
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8:27pm
Barnsley and Norwood tries to square it for Cole but a defender just gets a boot on it and the goalkeeper claims it
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8:29pm
40 Phillips wins a free-kick about 30 yards out, slightly to the right
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8:30pm
41 Connell's right wing free-kick is a shot and goes just wide of the bottom right corner
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8:34pm
Barnsley are certainly the more attacking, threatening and adventurous side. They have played well and created chances but you can't really legislate for those two Cole misses
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8:35pm
HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0, Fleetwood 0
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8:52pm
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8:54pm
46 Phillips wins a header and Kane tries to shoot just outside the box but totally misses the ball
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8:55pm
48 A wild Andersen clearance gives Fleetwood a corner
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8:55pm
48 Andersen heads out the left wing corner
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8:57pm
Some pushing and shoving between Cundy and Fleetwood captain Josh Vela results in a talking to from the ref
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8:58pm
Jordan Williams booked for a wild tackle on Danny Andrew
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8:59pm
Seven minutes into the second half and it's been more even so far with Fleetwood looking a bit more adventurous. No chances yet
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9:02pm
Barnsley struggling so far in this half to get the ball in attacking areas as well as they did before the break
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9:04pm
Both sides struggling with their passing at the moment, a lot of moves breaking down as they approach the final third.
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9:07pm
Andersen goes down after an accidental hand to the face. He's up and back in play
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9:08pm
An hour gone. This second half just hasn't got going. The Reds need to find another gear
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9:10pm
A nice move involving Connell and Williams ends with Norwood winning a free-kick
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9:11pm
Barnsley try to play the free-kick quickly and put Norwood through on goal but the referee does not allow it
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9:11pm
James Norwood breaks the deadlock
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9:12pm
Liam Kitching plays him in on the left and he absolutely lashes in a very powerful shot from the left of the box
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9:13pm
Matty Wolfe on for Phillips
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9:14pm
Fleetwood bring on Admiral Muskwe and Cian Hayes for Carlos Mendes Gomes and Ged Garner
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9:18pm
70 Fleetwood's first shot of the game. is screwed well wide by Hayes on the left off the box
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9:20pm
Mads Andersen into the book for a foul on halfway
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9:23pm
Penalty to Fleetwood. Andersen tripped Muskwe
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9:24pm
Admiral Muskwe nets from the spot after he was tripped by Andersen
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9:25pm
It's Fleetwood's first shot on target. Clumsy by Andersen who bundled into him
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9:29pm
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9:30pm
Great run by Cadden on left to beat two men ion the box but his low cross is pushed away by the keeper
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9:31pm
Barnsley think they should have had a penalty after Norwood goes down under a challenge in the box but it's not given
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9:33pm
Michael Duff has been sent off. It must have been for his reaction to the fourth official after Barnsley were denied a penalty on Norwood
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9:34pm
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9:35pm
A cross from the left and the centre-back gets his second of the season. What a crazy end to this match
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9:38pm
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9:43pm
Cundy now heads away a corner
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9:44pm
FULL-TIME: Barnsley 2, Fleetwood 1
