Barnsley were held to a 1-1 draw by League One’s bottom side Plymouth Argyle at Oakwell on Tuesday evening. 

Alex Mowatt scored a superb long-range goal in the eighth minute but Plymouth levelled late in the first half. Both sides had several chances to win as the visitors belied their lowly position with a good performance. 

The Reds are now unbeaten in nine matches at Oakwell since March while they have slipped down one place to sixth. 

Daniel Stendel made three changes from the side who won 3-1 at Fleetwood Town on Saturday. Weekend scorer Jacob Brown dropped out of the side along with George Moncur and Mike Bahre.

Into the starting 11 came Victor Adeboyejo, who made his first start in the league for Barnsley, as well as Ryan Hedges, who played for the first time this season due to injury, and Mamadou Thiam who netted at Fleetwood. 

Thiam forced visiting goalkeeper Matt Macey into two early saves, as he tipped a 25-yard effort over the bar then got down to his right to make an even better stop after the Barnsley winger slid in to get a foot on a low cross by fellow Frenchman Dimitri Cavare. 

But Macey was eventually beaten in the eighth minute by Mowatt who received a short corner and was not closed down as he brilliantly curled a shot from 25 yards out on the left wing into the top right corner.  Plymouth’s Stuart O’Keefe attempted to reply in similarly spectacular style but volleyed over from the edge of the box then, at the other end, Adeboyejo’s 15-yard shot was blocked by a defender after a good run and pass by Cavare. 

Kieffer Moore nodded a Thiam corner just wide of the top left corner but it was the visitors who began creating the better chances, with striker Freddie Ladapo producing three glaring misses in 15 minutes. 

He was put clean through twice by the impressive Ruben Lameiras but was first denied by Adam Davies who blocked well with his chest then fired wide of the bottom left corner. Ladapo then beat Adam Jackson in the box but scuffed wide of the right post ten yards out when the goal was once again gaping. 

It was Lameiras who equalised when he cut in from the left wing and fired a 20-yard shot into the bottom right corner. Barnsley were down to ten men at that point with left-back Dani Pinillos off injured, and he was then replaced by Brad Potts who went onto the wing with Hedges dropping back to left-back.  Barnsley finished the first half well, with some dangerous crosses just missing their intended targets and Moore forcing Macey into another good save as he clawed the low 20-yard shot out of his bottom left corner. 

It was Plymouth who began better after the break, with Graham Carey firing a shot from wide on the left of the box inches wide of the bottom right corner. 

But Barnsley improved with another Mowatt long-ranger forcing Macey to save at full strength after an excellent pass by Dougall then Potts headed wide from a tight angle at the back post when he met Hedges’ left-wing cross.

Moore then blazed over with the goal at his mercy ten yards out after being put through by a clever clipped Thiam pass. 

Moore forced another good save out of Macey with a low 25-yard shot which looked destined for the bottom right corner. He blazed over on the turn after resulting Thiam corner was headed down by Adam Jackson.

Lameiras’ attempted cross from the left wing almost swirling into the top corner but hit the crossbar, after a move down Barnsley’s right which was left totally unguarded by Cavare who appeared to have something in his eye and stopped playing. 

Substitute Mike Bahre came close in the 86th minute as he brought down a left wing cross, turned and fired over from 12 yards out. Another replacement George Moncur sliced a shot well over from 25 yards in injury time. 

Barnsley: Davies; Cavare, Jackson, Pinnock, Pinillos (Potts 41mins); Thiam (Moncur 85), Mowatt, Dougall, Hedges; Adeboyejo (Bahre 59), Moore. Subs: Walton, Lindsay, McGeehan, Brown.  Booked: Dougall, Pinillos.  Goals: Mowatt 8. 

Plymouth: Macey; Moore, Edwards, Grant, Smith-Brown, ; O’Keefe, Songo’o, Fox, Carey; Lameiras (Wylde 84), Ladapo. Subs: Grant, Ainsworth, Dyson, Letheren, Rooney, Fletcher Yellow cards: O’Keefe. Goals: Lameiras 39. 

AS IT HAPPENED
  •  
  • Quite a muted atmosphere in here tonight, you can hear the players and staff talking to each other.
  • 19:50pm
     
    2 Mamadou Thiam has the first shot of the game and his 25-yard effort from the left is tipped over the bar by Arsenal loanee Matt Macey
  • 19:51pm
     
    3 Thiam's left-wing corner is poor and cleared but only as far as Mowatt's whose 20-yard shot is blocked
  • 19:52pm
     
    A positive start from the Reds who have been mainly on the attack in the first four minutes
  • 19:53pm
     
    'Is this a library?' sing the away fans and it is quiet in Oakwell tonight
  • 19:55pm
     
    This is Victor Adeboyejo's first start in the league for Barnsley. He was named in the first 11 for the last home game but it was called off after volunteer Steve Croft's heart attack
  • 19:56pm
     
    GOAL!
    Alex Mowatt
  • 19:57pm
     
    What a fantastic strike for the midfielder, he curls it beautifully from the left 20 yards out into the top right corner
  • 19:57pm
     
    Barnsley deserve that for the bright start they have made.
  • 19:58pm
     
    It came after Thiam forced Macey into another save, diverting a Cavare cross and the Plymouth goalkeeper got down to his right to tip away for a corner. It was taken short to Mowatt who netted in spectacular style
  • 19:59pm
     
    It's Mowatt's second goal for the Reds. The first was against another South West team, Bristol City at Ashton Gate in April last year. That was a George Moncur shot which hit him and bounced in. The quality of this goal couldn't have been much higher
  • 20:00pm
     
    YELLOW CARD
    Stuart O’Keefe is the first man into the book after mistiming a sliding tackle
  • 20:01pm
     
    Barnsley are causing their visitors a lot of problems, especially Thiam who seems to be roaming all over the pitch, He picks up a Pinillos pass on the left wing and swings in a cross which is just over Moore in the box
  • 20:02pm
     
    The game is stopped with Argyle left-back Ashley Smith-Brown down injured
  • 20:04pm
    Alex Mowatt, who gave Barnsley the lead with a fine strike in the eighth minute
  • 20:04pm
     
    Play restarts again. Barnsley will be delighted with their start to this game but will want to keep going and make it 2-0 against a struggling visiting side
  • 20:05pm
     
    17 Plymouth win their first corner of the game. It comes in from the left and falls to Stuart O’Keefe who chests and volleys from the right corner of the box and it is a foot over the top right corner. It would have been as good a goal as Mowatt's
  • 20:06pm
     
    19 Another away corner taken short but the visitors are offside when the cross comes in
  • 20:07pm
     
    Plymouth have had a decent five-minute spell but are yet to trouble Adam Davies in the home goal
  • 20:08pm
     
    21 Barnsley have a good chance to make it 2-0. Cavare does outstanding work to run on to a long ball and burst into the box before cutting back to Victor Adeboyejo who shoots from 15 yards but it is blocked by a defender
  • 20:09pm
     
    The Reds are getting a lot of joy with extra players on the wing outflanking the compact away side
  • 20:10pm
     
    Stuart O’Keefe slides in on Thiam and gets a word from the ref. He needs to be careful because he's already been booked
  • 20:11pm
     
    Halfway through the first half and Barnsley lead thanks to Alex Mowatt's superb strike on eight minutes. They could have been further ahead against a visiting side who are struggling to contain their attacks
  • 20:12pm
     
    24 Massive chance for the visitors as Ruben Lameiras puts Freddie Ladapo clean through with a clever pass. But Adam Davies comes off his line and makes a good block with his chest
  • 20:13pm
     
    That's a wake up call for the Reds. The visitors have been a lot better in the last ten minutes
  • 20:14pm
     
    26 Thiam bulldozes 40 yards down the pitch, passes to Victor Adeboyejo who finds Hedges who wins a corner
  • 20:15pm
     
    27 Thiam's left-sided corner is headed by Kieffer Moore and it flies just over the top left corner
  • 20:16pm
     
    That was a decent chance for the big striker who spent the early part of his career not far from Plymouth with the likes of Truro and Yeovil
  • 20:18pm
    Alex Mowatt celebrates the strike that put Barnsley one-nil up
  • 20:19pm
     
    31 . Another one-on-one miss by Ladapo, this time he fires wide of the left post with only Davies to beat. It was another assist from the impressive Ruben Lameiras via a deflection off a defender
  • 20:20pm
     
    Barnsley have really been let off the hook by two glaring misses by Ladapo after being put clean through. The bottom side could be winning here
  • 20:21pm
     
    You have to give credit to Davies who sprinted off his line to put the striker off, and making the first from the first effort
  • 20:23pm
     
    34 Another opportunity for Ladapo. This time he makes it for himself as yet again he is played in behind the home defence, this time on the right wing and he cuts past Adam Jackson to open up a clear sight of goal ten yards out but drags badly wide of the near post
  • 20:24pm
     
    YELLOW CARD
    Dani Pinillos is booked for sliding in on Graham Carey. It looked harsh as he appeared to get the ball
  • 20:24pm
     
    Dani Pinillos has pulled up injured and will have to come off
  • 20:25pm
     
    He knew as soon as it happened and gestured to the bench that he would have to come off
  • 20:25pm
     
    Barnsley have no full-backs on the bench. Liam Lindsay the centre-back is warming up as is Jacob Brown who has played right-back this season
  • 20:26pm
     
    Pinillos sat on the floor in the far left corner of the pitch before limping off
  • 20:27pm
     
    Play is back underway but Pinillos is definitely coming off. No sign yet who will replace him
  • 20:28pm
     
    GOAL!
    Ruben Lameiras makes it 1-1
  • 20:28pm
     
    He's been the best player on the pitch and he equalises, cutting in from the left wing before firing into the bottom right corner from 20 yards out
  • 20:29pm
     
    It's no less than Plymouth deserve after being the better team for the last 20 minutes. They could easily be several goals ahead after the chances they have created
  • 20:29pm
     
    SUB OFF
    Dani Pinillos
  • 20:29pm
     
    SUB ON
    Brad Potts
  • 20:29pm
    Matt Macey couldn't do much to stop the swerving effort from Alex Mowatt
  • 20:29pm
     
    It looks like Ryan Hedges has gone to left-back with Potts playing in front of him on the wing
  • 20:32pm
     
    YELLOW CARD
    Kenny Dougall is booked after an altercation with a Plymouth player
  • 20:32pm
     
    44 Thiam's left-wing free-kick is easily headed clear by Peter Grant
  • 20:34pm
     
    45 Hedges' left-wing cross is flicked by a defender as it whizzes dangerously through the Plymouth box
  • 20:34pm
     
    We're into four minutes of added time
  • 20:34pm
     
    45+1 Moore forces Macey into a good low save, clawing a 25-yard shot out of his bottom left corner
  • 20:35pm
     
    45+2 Mowatt's corner is headed away then his second cross is caught by Macey
  • 20:37pm
     
    45+3 Barnsley are finishing the half well, Thiam's right-wing cross is just a bit too high for Moore who was lurking at the back post
  • 20:37pm
     
    HALF-TIME: Barnsley 1, Plymouth 1.
  • 20:54pm
     
    SECOND HALF BEGINS
  • 20:56pm
     
    47 Graham Carey fires a low cross in front of goal but no one is in the box for Plymouth
  • 20:57pm
     
    Barnsley haven't started this half particularly well, with a few passes going astray. They look a little bit nervous
  • 20:58pm
     
    49 Graham Carey hits it low but fires just wide of Adam Davies' far post
  • 21:01pm
     
    52 Mamadou Thiam breaks out for the first time this half, taking the ball from the halfway line but firing wide
  • 21:03pm
     
    53 Alex Mowatt forces a save from Matt Macey after Kenny Dougall plays a fine pass through with the outside of his boot. Nothing comes of the resulting corner
  • 21:04pm
     
    55 Barnsley put on the pressure but as the ball comes out of the crowded box Ryan Hedges skews it wide
  • 21:05pm
     
    Barnsley have been better in the last few minutes after the crowd started to get a bit annoyed following a slow start to the second half
  • 21:06pm
     
    Looks like Barnsley are now playing 4-3-3 with Adeboyejo and Thiam either side of Moore while Potts in playing just in front of Dougall and Mowatt in the middle
  • 21:08pm
     
    59 Mamadou Thiam plays it out to Ryan Hedges who lofts a ball to the back post, but Brad Potts can't squeeze in his header
  • 21:08pm
     
    SUB OFF
    Victor Adeboyejo
  • 21:08pm
     
    SUB ON
    Mike Bahre
  • 21:09pm
     
    60 Mamadou Thiam clips a ball over the top to Kieffer Moore, but he blazes it over the bar with his left from just inside the box
  • 21:11pm
     
    62 Some decent pressure from Barnsley ends as Mamadou Thiam hits a tame effort at Matt Macey, who collects the ball easily. The crowd are getting frustrated
  • 21:14pm
     
    64 Ryan Hedges gets two chances to cross it in, his second is blocked and goes out for a corner. Mamadou Thiam takes the corner but it ricochets out for a goal kick
  • 21:15pm
     
    65 Mike Bahre plays it out wide to Dimitri Cavare, but his cross is straight at the keeper
  • 21:17pm
     
    67 Alex Mowatt stays down after an off-the-ball incident but looks to be alright
  • 21:18pm
     
    Just 20 minutes left in a match which has quietened down recently. Can Barnsley beat the bottom side or will Plymouth cause a major shock?
  • 21:21pm
     
    Ryan Hedges is doing well out of position at left-back, tracking back to win a good sliding tackle. But he's stayed down. Barnsley don't need another left-back injury
  • 21:21pm
     
    Hedges gets to his feet and will continue
  • 21:22pm
     
    73 Kieffer Moore hits a curling strike from well outside the box but Matt Macey, who has had an excellent game, tips it wide
  • 21:23pm
     
    YELLOW CARD
    Ryan Hedges
  • 21:25pm
     
    76 Ruben Lameiras hits a cross from just inside the box which comes off the crossbar
  • 21:26pm
     
    78 Dimitri Cavare is down. He appears to have got something in his eye
  • 21:30pm
     
    81 Good play from Barnsley in getting up the pitch and Mamadou Thiam's powerful strike is deflected out off the defender. He has another effort blocked following the resulting corner - unfortunately it's Kieffer Moore getting in the way
  • 21:32pm
     
    SUB OFF
    Ruben Lameiras
  • 21:33pm
     
    SUB ON
    Gregg Wylde
  • 21:33pm
     
    SUB OFF
    Mamadou Thiam
  • 21:33pm
     
    SUB ON
    George Moncur
  • 21:34pm
     
    Mamadou Thiam has frustrated the fans this evening, but has had some good spells. He makes way for George Moncure who will be hoping to make a late impact
  • 21:35pm
     
    86 George Moncur plays the cross into Mike Bahre from the left, who controls before shooting on the turn. It goes over the bar
  • 21:37pm
     
    88 Graham Carey cuts in from the right but his effort is wild and goes well wide
  • 21:39pm
     
    4 minutes added time
  • 21:40pm
     
    YELLOW CARD
    Ashley Smith-Brown is booked for time wasting
  • 21:41pm
     
    90+2 George Moncur swings at it from just outside the box but it flies over the bar
  • 21:43pm
     
    FULL-TIME: Barnsley 1, Plymouth 1