Barnsley 2-0 Bristol City: Player ratings, MOTM, heroes & villains as Robins crash at Oakwell

Bristol City followed up their last gasp win at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday with defeat against a resurgent Barnsley on Tuesday evening.

Nigel Pearson’s side got off to a bad start as Carlton Morris netted following a corner after 10 minutes, and things got much worse just ten minutes later as another set-piece was headed in by Michal Helik.

After five consecutive 2-2 draws in this part of South Yorkshire, the run ended here as Antoine Semenyo and Andi Weimann missed good opportunities to claw the visitors back into the game.

To add insult were three injuries picked up to Alex Scott, Joe Williams and Semenyo that forced off all three during the contest.

Barnsley have lost just one of their last six league games and are once again mounting a late bid for Championship survival. City are a mite lucky that they continually keep their heads above water.

Tale of the game

Neither side were able to get a firm grip on the game in the opening exchanges, but a first score came at the first set-piece.

Robbie Cundy conceded a cheap corner and then was beaten to the first contact before the ball landed at Morris’ feet in front of goal. The 26-year-old Tykes forward made no mistake for his sixth league goal of the season.

And just 10 minutes later it was two for the home side via another corner from the same side, as Amine Bassi’s set-piece was powered in by Polish central defender Michal Helik, with the 6ft3’ aerial threat given plenty of space to find the corner of Dan Bentley’s goal.

Antoine Semenyo then managed to escape down the left and powered across a low pass that Weimann somehow put the wrong side of the goal.

With the possibility of another 2-2 scoreline on, City upped their game, though Alex Scott had to retire from the game with injury, with Joe Williams introduced on 39 minutes.

A lovely flowing Robins move led to Weimann crossing low, after good work by Semenyo, but Bradley Collins reached the ball before Chris Martin, and the first half ended 2-0.

Unfortunately for City, Williams injured what looked like his thigh 10 minutes into the second period and limped off to be replaced by Nahki Wells.

That dented the growing momentum and Morris almost capitalised, shooting at the near post after a dangerous run into the box from wide by Domingos Quina.

Quina’s deflected effort then almost found the side of the goal before another effort from the on-loan Watford winger once again almost hit the net, the 22-year-old a thorn in the Robins’ wing all night long.

With 20 minutes to go, the West Country men went close to halving the deficit, as Semenyo set up Jay Dasilva to cross with the forward’s effort blocked from close range.

Bentley spilled a Bassi long-ranger, but pounced on the loose ball, and the home side were looking comfortable.

Rob Atkinson met a late Matty James free-kick, and as Semenyo limped off with three minutes to go (replaced by Tommy Conway), it looked like one of those nights.

The outstanding Helik cleared a Chris Martin header off the line with seconds to go, and Wells somehow failed to make more of a delicious Weimann ball over the top of the defence in the final actions, as Bristol City slipped to a 12th away defeat from 19 fixtures on the road so far.

Heroes

Bristol City’s marketing team: free scarfs and hot drinks for the small number of fans who travelled up to Barnsley on this Tuesday evening.

Operations manager Matt Parsons: Parsons and others from the the club, including Nigel Pearson, visited the Centre Point homeless charity in Barnsley to hand over food parcels as they continue to visit local outlets with food donations on their travels around the Championship.

Antoine Semenyo: Along with Bentley, one of the few City players able to say he had a decent game. Looked the most likely to score for the side in black.

Villains

Nigel Pearson: Two more goals conceded from corners. Okay, the manager must be tearing his hair out at the poor defending from set-pieces but the buck stops with him. City can’t kick this bad habit.

Robbie Cundy: Caught out for the two goals from corners as the centre-back was beaten to the ball for the first goal and lost his marker for the second. But to be fair it was only his second Championship start.

That Oakwell pitch: Joe Williams played 16 minutes before injury struck. The former Wigan man was only brought on after an injury to Alex Scott and was to be rested until misfortune struck all round. And Semenyo picked up a late knock too.

Player ratings

Barnsley (4-2-3-1): Collins 6; Brittain 8, Helik 8, Andersen 7, Vita 6 (Odour 90+3’); Wolfe 6, Gomes 6; Styles 6 (Kitching 72’), Bassi 7, Quina 8; Morris 8 (Cole 70’)

Bristol City (3-5-2): Bentley 6; Cundy 5, Klose 6, Atkinson 6; Weimann 6, Massengo 5, Scott 5 (Williams, 39’; Wells 55’, 5), James 4, Dasilva 6; Semenyo 7 (Conway, 87’), Martin 6

Man of the match

Domingos Quina: The 22-year-old loanee tormented the visitors all night, though Helik and Callum Brittain were very good for the hosts too. Semenyo for the visitors.

What’s next?

Bristol City host West Brom and Steve Bruce on Saturday. Barnsley face a Yorkshire Derby against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.