Barnsley failed to record back to back wins since the lockdown restart at home against Millwall on Saturday afternoon after drawing 0–0.
The fixture gave chance for Reds fans to see Oakwell for the first time since the restart, with flags adorning the ‘Ponty end’.
After making 70 year history last Saturday at QPR by securing victory, the Reds were looking to shorten the gap between them and survival, with only eight games left to play.
Millwall on the other hand have aspirations at the other end of the table, with the Lions being only three points off sixth place before Saturday’s game.
The Reds began in similar fashion to the previous game against QPR, asserting their energy and pressing on the opposition. Much like the R’s, Millwall didn’t begin in an energetic fashion, losing out on the first and second balls.
An early free kick taken on the left hand side by Reds top scorer Cauley Woodrow stung the gloves of the Millwall goalkeeper Martosz Bialkowski, who tipped over the bar for a Barnsley corner.
Shortly afterwards Lions wing back Shane Ferguson had a chance to better Woodrow’s effort from a free kick, and almost nearly did so but his effort rattled the crossbar.
A few half chances followed for both sides, but Barnsley went into the break being the stronger side overall, but with Millwall closest to scoring.
At the break, identically to the previous game at QPR, Elliot Simeos was replaced by Conor Chaplin. This time unfortunately without a goal under his belt.
Barnsley skipper Alex Mowatt sustained a leg injury in the early stages of the second half which will have worried many Reds fans, but thankfully the midfielder continued.
Poor passing between the Millwall defence allowed Conor Chaplin to surge forward in an advanced area, passing to Jacob Brown, but his effort was fired straight at the goalkeeper.
Millwall grew into the game, and certainly showed more intent and energy in the second half, but nothing clear cut was produced by the Lions.
A late header by Matt Smith for Millwall almost caught Barnsley goalkeeper Jack Walton off guard, but the Bury born keeper acrobatically saved to prevent the Lions snatching the three points late on and resulted in the game finishing 0–0.
The result leaves Barnsley bottom, after relegation rivals Luton Town managed to secure a 0–1 victory in Wales against Swansea. Huddersfield Town, who play Sunday, have dropped into the bottom three with Hull drawing at Birmingham in 3–3 thriller, and newly appointed Neil Warnock guided his Middlesborough side to a crucial 0–2 win over Stoke City.
Millwall on the other hand had their gap extended towards the play offs, with the gap now becoming 5 points. The Lions face Swansea at the Den on Tuesday evening.
Up next for the Reds is Blackburn Rovers, another side looking to break into those highly competitive Top 6 places. Rovers will be keen to bounce back with a win after suffering a bruising 0–2 defeat to Lancashire rivals Wigan Athletic.
Barnsley will hope Alex Mowatt is fit for the game after sustaining a knock in the game on Saturday as he is integral in the Reds’ fight against relegation.
Lewis Robinson
LRobinsonJournalism 