Barnsley concede late leveller but maintain unbeaten start

The Reds struggled to reach their best form for the first 55 minutes but, after an own goal put them ahead, they had several excellent chances to go 2-0 up before the late leveller. 

They have now made their longest unbeaten start to a season since 1946, and remain third with 15 points from seven matches. 

Daniel Stendel made three changes from the side who beat Gillingham a week earlier, with Kenny Dougall and Adam Davies on international duty while Brad Potts missed the game through injury.  Jack Walton replaced Davies in goal while Cameron McGeehan came into central midfield for his first league start of the season and Mike-Steven Bahre was given his first league start for Barnsley on the wing. 

Mamadou Thiam started up front with Kieffer Moore but swapped with George Moncur, who had begun on the left wing, midway through a dull first half. 

Both sides had long-range efforts early on, with Thiam firing off target twice, but it was Walton who had to make the first save as he impressively tipped Morgan Ferrier’s header over following a cross from the right. 

Moore had Barnsley’s first shot on target in the 20th minute, with Liam Roberts diving to his left to save easily. The Reds should have been given a penalty soon after when Jack Fitzwater clearly tripped Bahre in the box but referee Craig Hicks did not give it. 

Dimitri Cavare fired wide and Moncur hit an effort from a tight angle straight at Roberts, while Connor Ronan fired long-range efforts over the bar for Walsall. 

Ethan Pinnock almost put the hosts ahead in first half stoppage time but his flicked header from Daniel Pinillos’ free-kick was clawed out of the bottom corner by Roberts.

Stendel replaced McGeehan, who had a poor game, with striker Adeboyejo at half-time as Bahre went into central midfield and Moncur returned to the wing. 

Walsall started the better in the second half, as Josh Gordon turned the ball over from close range when Barnsley tried to play him offside after clearing a corner. Luke Leahy then blasted a shot from the left of the box across the face of goal.

But it was the Reds who took the lead when they a short corner from the left and crossed to Victor Adeboyejo whose shot from close range was saved by Roberts before hitting Jack Fitzwater and going in. 

Barnsley then had a series of superb chances for 2-0. Thiam blazed over unmarked 12 yards out after Moore’s right-wing cross rolled to him, then Moore made no connection to an Alex Mowatt cross when he should have headed home from close range.

The hosts also had two excellent chances on the counter-attack. Adeboyejo was again denied from close range by Roberts after good work by Moore and Moncur, who then later should have set up Moore for a tap-in but overhit the pass. 

Barnsley were made to pay for their wastefulness in the 88th minute when substitute Andy Cook was given the time to turn into the box and fire in a 12-yard shot which Walton got a slight touch on. 

The hosts still also won it when Lindsay headed down a corner and Moncur had a shot which was deflected and went agonisingly wide of the bottom left corner.