Barnsley beaten in Birmingham

The home side were on top for the majority of the game and netted in the 69th and 77th minutes to see off their underperforming visitors. 

Daniel Stendel made two changes to the side that drew 2-2 at home to Charlton Athletic on Saturday, with Cauley Woodrow not in the squad and replaced in the starting line-up by Alex Mowatt who had returned to fitness. Mamadou Thiam made his first start of the season in place of Mallik Wilks. 

City had the better of the first half, creating several good chances as their visitors struggled to keep the ball or advance up the pitch in a scrappy contest against a physical side. 

The hosts had the game’s first effort on goal with Kristian Pedersen heading a long throw by former Reds captain Marc Roberts straight at goalkeeper Sami Radlinger. Barnsley’s first shot came a minute later when Luke Thomas fired over from the edge of the area after good passes by Cameron McGeehan and Thiam.

Roberts should have put his hometown club behind when he met a left-wing free-kick by Fran Villalba seven yards out and nodded it well wide. Villalba almost scored himself soon after but his effort from just outside the box was tipped over by Radlinger after Thiam lost the ball deep in his own half.  Another Roberts long throw created a chance for Harlee Dean who headed narrowly over the bar just before the interval. 

In the second half, Barnsley started a lot more brightly and competed better but it was still the hosts who looked more likely to take the lead. 

Diaby’s clearance was charged down by Jutkiewicz who went clean through but saw his effort saved by Radlinger then Ben Williams’ clearance hit Andersen and went behind for a corner which was turned wide by Dean.  

The goal eventually came on 69 minutes when McGeehan's pass to Andersen was short and the Reds lost the ball just outside their box and could not clear before Wes Harding’s cross from the right of the area was headed in by Jutkiewicz. 

Another Roberts throw led to Pedersen again heading straight at Radlinger, but the second goal arrived after 77 minutes. A long ball from the left totally opened up the visiting defence put Alvaro Gimenez clean through and he lobbed the goalkeeper from just inside the box. 

Substitute Jefferson Montero caused Barnsley lots of problems late on and his low cross was nearly turned in by Steve Seddon three yards out. At the other end, the Reds had their first shot on target 15 seconds before the end of the 90 minutes when McGeehan fired into the ground and the ball was caught easily by Lee Camp. 

Barnsley (4-4-1-1): Radlinger; Sibbick, Diaby, Andersen, B Williams; Thomas (Halme 83), Mowatt, McGeehan, Thiam (Schmidt 72mins); Bahre (Wilks 72); Chaplin.  Unused: Collins, Green, Pinillos, Styles. Yellow cards: Andersen.

Birmingham (3-5-2): Camp; Pedersen, Roberts, Dean, Harding,  Davis, Sunjic, Villalba (G Gardner 75), Seddon; Gimenez (Montero 80), Jutkiewicz. Unused: Stockdale, Medina, C Gardner, Bailey, Crowley. Goals: Jutkiewicz 69, Gimenez 77.