Mowatt stunner sees Barnsley bounce back from losses

The Reds were not at their best against the lowly Rovers but ground out a narrow victory which moves them up one place to fourth in League One. They are five points off the automatic promotion places and seven behind leaders Portsmouth, with a game in hand.

Daniel Stendel made three changes from the side which was beaten 3-1 at Shrewsbury Town four days earlier. Dani Pinillos returned from suspension to replace Ben Williams at left-back with the injured Kenny Dougall’s place in midfield being filled by Cameron McGeehan. George Moncur came in for the benched Mamadou Thiam on the left of a 4-2-3-1 formation. 

Barnsley began the game brightly and got their reward in the 11th minute. Pinillos ran down the left wing then found Brad Potts in the box and he cut it back to Mowatt who fired in an excellent high shot from 20 yards. 

McGeehan’s shot from even further out was easily saved by visiting goalkeeper Jack Bonham but overall the visitors responded well to falling behind and almost levelled through former Barnsley striker Stefan Payne. He was denied first by his former Reds team-mate Adam Davies who touched over an effort from a tight angle on the left wing then the goalkeeper made a good one-on-one save after Payne was played through on goal.

Bristol continued to look the better team with Liam Sercombe and James Clarke firing over from the edge of the box after corners. Barnsley went into the break knowing they would have to improve in the second half to maintain their lead, and did so.  

The Reds had a flurry of chances early in the second half. Mowatt’s right-wing cross was headed by Moore at the back post and blocked on the line then McGeehan could not get the ball out from under him three yards out and the scramble was completed by Moncur having a shot blocked. 

Potts then fired over from 15 yards out following an excellent passing move involving Moore, Moncur and Mowatt who squared to Potts in the box. McGeehan could not turn the ball in from a yard out at an awkward angle after Lindsay flicked on a corner. 

Rovers manager Darrell Clarke made a triple change on 64 minutes whille Thiam replaced Moncur for Barnsley. One of the Rovers substitutes Kyle Bennett fired over the bar from 20 yards in the 73rd minute after the visitors counter-attacked following a Barnsley corner. 

Thiam won a free-kick just outside the box then curled it onto the crossbar in the 80th minute with substitute Jacob Brown’s rebound header then being punched off his line by Bonham.

Barnsley (4-2-3-1): Davies; Cavare, Lindsay, Pinnock, Pinillos; Mowatt, McGeehan; Potts, Bahre (Hedges 82mins), Moncur (Thiam 65); Moore (Brown 75).  Unused: Kendrick, Williams, Jackson, Bird, Hedges.  Goals: Mowatt 11.  Yellow cards: Mowatt, Moncur, Davies. 

Bristol Rovers (3-5-2): Bonham, J Clarke, Lockyer, Craig; Leadbitter (Bennett 64) Lines, O Clarke (Rodman 64), Sercombe, Kelly; Reilly (Matthews 64) Payne.  Unused: Smith, Jakubiak, Upson, Partington Yellow cards: Kelly.