Phillips nets but Reds held at home

Barnsley lost the lead and were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

Adam Phillips opened the scoring with his first goal of the season midway through the first half then the visitors levelled with 20 minutes to play.

The Reds pushed for the winner late on, and were marginally the better team overall, so remain seventh – two points off the top six.

Liam Roberts returned in goal after two months out with a finger injury, replacing Ben Killip, while Owen Dodgson came in at left wing-back for the injured Nicky Cadden.

Max Watters and John McAtee were back on the bench after injuries but there was no place for Callum Styles.

Charlton dominated the ball early on and almost took the lead when Mael de Gevigney and Jordan Williams both missed a long ball and Corey Blackett-Taylor went through on the left but hit the side netting from close range.

Phillips and Charlton’s Alfie May both fired wide with low long-range shots then, after Roberts easily held a weak effort by Chem Campbell from the edge of the box, Herbie Kane’s 30-yard strike was tipped out of the top right corner by Ashley Maynard-Brewer.

The opening goal arrived on 26 minutes when Herbie Kane chased a long ball into the left corner and tackled George Dobson who thought the ball had gone out but the referee disagreed and Kane advanced towards the box before picking out Phillips who supplied a powerful high finish from 15 yards. Phillips had played the original pass after Sam Cosgrove won a header. Charlton goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer and manager Michael Appleton were both booked for their reaction to the goal as the visitors fumed that the ball had gone out.

De Givegney’s long-range shot was easily saved just before half-time but the Reds went in ahead at the break.

In the second half, former Barnsley striker Slobodan Tedic shot just wide of the top left corner from 22 yards then Blackett-Taylor was denied from close range by Roberts after barraging through the home defence on the left of the box.

McAtee came on for Cosgrove and could have made it 2-0 when a Cole header broke to him but was denied one-on-one by the goalkeeper. Kane then scuffed a good shooting chance in the box before McAtee was inches from turning in a fine Corey O’Keeffe cross.

But Charlton levelled when, after Jordan Williams gave the ball away, a pass was flicked on to Blackett-Taylor who beat de Gevigney and Jamie McCart then finished from close-range.

Cole could have restored the lead within two minutes but headed a Kane corner well wide then Connell shot just over from 25 yards as Barnsley finished the stronger. The Reds got in several good positions but could not get the winner.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Roberts; Williams, de Gevigney, McCart; O’Keeffe, Kane (Watters 83mins), Connell, Phillips, Dodgson; Cole (Jalo 78), Cosgrove (McAtee 56).

Subs: Killip, Russell, Lopata, Cotter.

Yellow cards: McCart, Kane, Cosgrove, Dodgson.

Goals: Phillips 26.

Charlton (4-3-3): Maynard-Brewer; T Watson, Thomas, Hector, Edun; C Campbell (Mbick 83mins), Dobson, Fraser; Blackett-Taylor (T Campbell 90), Tedic (Kanu 63), May.

Unused: Walker, L Watson, Elerewe, Asiimwe.

Yellow cards: Maynard-Brewer, Fraser.

Goals: Blackett-Taylor 70.