Away runs ends with loss at Charlton

Barnsley’s club record 11-game unbeaten away run ended as they lost 2-1 at Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

The hosts scored twice through league top-scorer in the first half, either side of an Adam Phillips penalty.

Barnsley played fairly well in the first half and missed chances but struggled after the break and could have lost by more – with Liam Roberts conceding then saving an injury-time penalty.

The Reds, who have taken eight points from seven games, remain fifth and eight points behind second-placed Derby who did not play. They are six points clear of seventh-placed Lincoln City with a game in hand.

Phillips, John McAtee and Devante Cole came back into the 11 with Sam Cosgrove, Herbie Kane and Corey O’Keeffe benched. Fabio Jalo replaced Nathan James on the bench.

McAtee almost opened the scoring in spectacular style in the fourth minute when he outmuscled a defender to latch onto a long ball and lobbed former Barnsley goalkeeper Harry Isted 30 yards out but the ball landed on the roof of the net.

Cole, and the Reds coaches, then wanted a penalty when he tangled in the box with Terell Thomas after McAtee flicked on a Jon Russell pass following a good passing move.

Alfie May opened the scoring on 20 minutes, curling a 20-yard free-kick into the left side of the net through the Barnsley wall.

The visitors levelled ten minutes later when, after a corner was cleared, Philips swapped passes with Earl and his cross from the left of the box was blocked by the arm of Kayne Ramsay. The referee this time pointed to the spot and, with usual penalty-taker Kane on the bench, Neill Collins instructed Phillips to take it and he expertly found the bottom left corner.

Barnsley looked set to take the lead almost immediately after when Cole looked set to tap in two yards out from a low right-wing Phillips cross but his shot somehow went over. It later transpired it had been turned over by a defender.

Earl then hit the crossbar from 12 yards out after Russell headed down a Connell free-kick.

Thierry Small headed a half-chance wide at the back post, but Charlton soon retook the lead amid calls for offside.

May got his second of the game on 40 minutes when he cut in from the left far too easily and shot across Liam Roberts into the top right corner.

Barnsley had played well but were denied by their own wastefulness and the goals of the division’s top-scorer.

Dan Kanu could have added a third for the hosts just after the break but his 15-yard header from a right-wing cross went just over the bar.

Connell sent a difficult 18-yard volley over the bar after a long throw was cleared.

May almost completed his hat-trick after collecting a Dobson pass and curling a 20-yard shot onto the underside of the bar, before Chuks Anneke’s rebound header went just over.

At the other end, Cole headed off-target from a Phillips cross.

McAtee thought he should have had a penalty when Willliams played him clean through after a good move, but the referee waved the claims away.

Dobson was then put clean through and rounded Roberts but hit the side netting from a tight angle on the right. Anneke also headed a cross wide.

Substitute Fabio Jalo thought he had levelled in injury-time with a fine finish from the right but the flag was up for offside.

Roberts conceded a penalty in injury-time after he hesitated on the ball in the box and felled Tyreece Campbell. But he produced a fine save from Anneke’s spot-kick.

Reds coach Jon Stead was sent off late on.

Cosgrove played through Anneke on the right of the box but Roberts saved.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Roberts; de Gevigney, McCart, Earl (O’Keeffe 69mins); Williams, Phillips, Russell (Cosgrove 69), Connell, Cadden; McAtee, Cole (Jalo 78).

Unused: Killip, Kane, Grant,, Cotter.

Yellow cards: Cadden.

Goals: Phillips 30 (pen).

Charlton (3-5-2): Isted; Thomas (Bakinson 88mins), Hector, Gillesphey; Ramsay (Edmonds-Green 57), Coventry, Dobson, Anderson, Small; May (Campbell 88), Kanu (Aneke 66).

Unused: Maynard-Brewer, LuaLua, Ladapo.

Yellow cards: Thomas, Anderson.

Goals: May 20, 40.