Reds back into second place after win

Mike Bahre’s first goal in English league football put the Reds ahead then Cauley Woodrow doubled the lead before half-time.  Fleetwood pulled one back midway through the second half but had a man sent off almost instantly then Cameron McGeehan made it 3-1 and, although the visitors scored again, Jacob Brown got the hosts’ fourth. 

The result meant that Barnsley went into second above Sunderland who lost 5-4 at home to Coventry City in an extraordinary game and are now two points behind the Reds with a game in hand. Leaders Luton Town lost 3-1 at Charlton Athletic and are five points clear of Barnsley. Charlton and Portsmouth’s wins mean they are two and three points behind the Reds respectively. 

Head coach Daniel Stendel made three changes from the side that lost 3-1 at Burton Albion a week ago. Liam Lindsay, who has an injury, was replaced by Adam Jackson at centre-back while right-back Dimitri Cavare was dropped for Jordan Williams. Bahre came in for Ryan Hedges and played behind striker Cauley Woodrow with Mamadou Thiam moving back onto the left wing.

Barnsley began the game poorly and the visitors had several early chances. Williams misjudged a long ball in the third minute but did well to get back and tackle Ashley Nadesan who had been clean through on goal. Nadesan then headed the ball down to Lewie Coyle who fired just over the bar on the edge of the box. Goalkeeper Adam Davies came out onto the left wing and lost the ball with some poor control but Nadesan fired wide of the empty goal from near the right touchline. 

But the Reds eventually grew into the game and took the lead in the 20th minute. Woodrow controlled a long ball and played in Brown on the right of the box then the young winger fired the ball low across the six-yard box for Bahre to tap into the empty net from five yards out. 

Alex Mowatt’s shot from the left of the box then missed the top right corner by a matter of inches before, at the other end, Nadesan’s effort from a tight angle on the right of the Reds box hit the side netting. 

It was 2-0 on 34 minutes when Cameron McGeehan exchanged passes with Woodrow on the edge of the box then had a shot which was deflected high into the air. It dropped ten yards out and Woodrow challenged for it then, when the ball fell kindly for him, hit a shot on the turn into the bottom left corner for his 17th goal of the season. 

Barnsley had a couple of chances to increase their lead before the break with a Bahre shot and McGeehan’s header both drifting just wide. Visiting goalkeeper Alex Cairns then had to beat away a powerful effort from Brown on the right of the box which almost crept in at the near post. After a slow start, the Reds had been by far the better side in the first half. 

Fleetwood began the second half on top as Ched Evans headed a corner over the bar then Nadesan twice went through on the right of the box and but was denied by two excellent one-on-one saves by Davies, first diving to his right then standing up and blocking with his left shoulder. 

The visitors eventually pulled one back when Harry Souttar headed a corner towards goal and Evans flicked it in from close range. But Fleetwood were down to ten men within two minutes as centre-back Souttar saw red for an elbow on McGeehan.

It was 3-1 minutes later as Thiam went through on goal on the left of the box, rounded the goalkeeper and crossed for McGeehan to head into the empty net from three yards out.

Wes Burns got the ten men within a goal again in the 77th minute when he rose highest at the back post to head in Coyle’s left-wing free-kick. But, three minutes later, Brown smashed in an excellent volley at the back post after meeting a left-wing cross.

Barnsley (4-5-1): Davies; J Williams, Jackson, Pinnock, Pinillos; Brown (Green 86mins), Mowatt, McGeehan, Thiam (Hedges 81); Bahre (Styles 71); Woodrow.  Subs: Walton, B Williams, Cavare, Adeboyejo, Fryers.  Yellow cards: McGeehan, Pinillos.  Goals: Bahre 20, Woodrow 34, McGeehan 70, Brown 80. 

Fleetwood (3-5-2): Cairns; Eastham, Souttar, Husband; Burns, Coyle, R Wallace (Madden 61mins), Sheron, Hunter (Biggins 73); Nadesan (Baggley 89), Evans.  Unused: Jones, Southam-Hales, Rydel, Smith.  Yellow cards: Coyle. Red cards: Souttar.  Goals: Evans 64, Burns 77.