Reds top two hopes suffer major blow in loss to Cambridge

Barnsley’s automatic promotion hopes suffered a massive blow as they lost 2-0 at home to relegation-battlers Cambridge United on Good Friday.

A disastrous own goal saw Mael de Gevigney’s back pass go into the net on 13 minutes.

The visitors – who had one point in their previous seven games and went down 6-0 and 4-0 in the last two – added another midway through the second half as the Reds produced a deeply disappointing performance.

They are still fifth and now ten points behind second-placed Derby County, with two games in hand, while they are seven points clear in the top six.

Neill Collins made three changes from the 11 which started the 0-0 draw with Cheltenham 13 days earlier.

Jordan Williams, Devante Cole and Herbie Kane – back from suspension – returned to the 11 in place of Corey O’Keeffe, Sam Cosgrove and Jon Russell.

Max Watters was back on the bench.

Barnsley had the first chance in the tenth minute when Williams surged into the box on the right and his low cross was deflected to Nicky Cadden who sliced a shot wide from eight yards out with little time to think about it.

The visitors took the lead in bizarre fashion on 13 minutes when de Gevigney passed back to goalkeeper Liam Roberts but it evaded him and went into the bottom right corner.

Roberts then tipped over a powerful Danny Andrew free-kick from the right wing. From the resulting corner, Ryan Bennett headed in but the referee ruled the goal out for a foul.

John McAtee looked certain to level on 33 minutes when he met Josh Earl’s fine low left-wing cross at the back post but somehow hit the post from just a few yards out.

Adam Phillips was played through but his shot from just inside the box on the left was well-saved by Will Mannion down to his left.

Overall, the Reds were sluggish and uninspiring in the first half against one of the worst teams in the division based on recent form.

Cambridge started the second half well and Lyle Taylor was put clean through but, under pressure from defenders, his weak shot was straight at Roberts.

Barnsley brought O’Keeffe on for Jamie McCart and he almost created a goal instantly but his cross come shot went narrowly wide of the bottom left corner. He did the same thing from wicked right-wing free-kick.

McAtee then saw a 25-yard strike saved by Mannion diving down to his left.

Cambridge’s Sullay Kaikai was played in on the right by a lofted pass but shot well over from a good position.

The second goal saw unmarked substitute Gassan Ahadme loop a fine headed in off the left post from Andrew’s left-wing free-kick.

Collins brought on Barry Cotter and Max Watters, who made his 50th appearance for the club.

Substitute Sam Cosgrove headed on for Cole whose tame volley was easily saved.

Kaikai again shot over in a good position in injury-time after Ahadme was clean through on goal but hesitated.

Luca Connell fired just wide of the bottom left corner from 25 yards.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Roberts; de Gevigney, McCart (O’Keeffe 57mins), Earl; Williams, Phillips (Watters 82), Connell, Kane, Cadden (Cotter 82); McAtee (Cosgrove 65), Cole.

Unused: Killip, Russell, Cosgrove, Grant,.

Yellow cards: McCart, Earl.

Cambridge (3-4-2-1): Mannion; Jobe, R Bennett, Andrew; L Bennett, Digby, Cousins, Gibbons (Rossi 82mins); Brophy (Kachunga 82), Kaikai; Taylor (Ahadme 54). Unused: Chadwick, Okenabirhie, Lancaster, May.

Goals: de Gevigney OG 13, Ahadme 72.