The clash of the youngest average ages in the league saw the game end in a goalless draw, as both sides were left to rue missed chances, which left Barnsley still searching for their second victory of the campaign, whilst Rovers picked up their second clean sheet of the season.
Rovers’ second game of the week saw one change to the side that comfortably despatched Hull City, 2-0 at Ewood Park on Tuesday night. Ian Poveda returned to the side at the expense of Leighton Clarkson who dropped to the bench. Meanwhile, skipper Darragh Lenihan was set to make his 200th Rovers league appearance.
After the pre-match formalities occurred, it was Barnsley who got the game underway at the kick-off as they tried to grab their second victory of the campaign.
The first chance of the game took a while to emerge, as Ben Brereton Díaz latched onto a Lewis Travis pass whose industrial work in midfield saw him win the ball back. Despite crafting the opening, Brereton Díaz was unable to angle his effort on target, as it nearly took out teammate Tyrhys Dolan.
Clarke Oduor did magnificently in the 21st minute to fashion an opening for himself as he picked the ball up midway inside the Rovers half and burst towards goal. The Kenyan did brilliantly well to sidestep a few Rovers men before getting himself into a one-on-one position after nutmegging Darragh Lenihan. After doing all the hard work, Oduor was left with only Thomas Kaminski to beat, but despite the chance seeming easier to score than miss, the winger was unable to beat the Belgian who pulled off a fantastic save with his leg to deny the home side the lead.
Rovers let a gilt-edged chance pass in the 33rd minute as Tyrhys Dolan and Ian Poveda both missed a brilliant opportunity to give their team the lead. After some build-up play saw the ball flash across the face of Brad Collins’ goal, Brereton Díaz’s fine movement saw him slid through by Harry Pickering. The Chilean did well to look up and square the ball across the box where Dolan and Poveda were waiting alongside a few Barnsley defenders. Although the pass was fantastic, neither winger was able to stick a foot out in order to guide the ball into the empty net, as the ball once again flashed across the net’s face.
Barnsley’s corner in the 39th minute nearly saw Rovers ruing their missed chance a few minutes prior, but for the safe hands of Thomas Kaminski. The set-piece came in from the right-hand side as Polish international Michał Helik connected with the cross, but the Belgian shot-stopper was on-hand to catch the header with ease.
Despite a few half-chances, nothing really came of the rest of the first-half as after referee Andy Woolmer added on two extra minutes onto the end of the first period, which neither side capitalised on, half-time soon came with the scoreline goalless.
Barnsley manager Markus Schopp would have had mixed feelings going into the break as he could have seen his side lead as easily as they could have been behind. Although his side was one of the youngest in the division, they were proving why they had succeeded so much last season, as they continued to relentlessly pin Rovers back into their own box but failed to make their chances count. The Austrian would have wanted to see more of the same from his side in the hope that they could make their home advantage count, in the hope that they could secure their second victory of the campaign.
Rovers boss Tony Mowbray would have had similar feelings to his counterpart but would have been scratching his head as to how both Tyrhys Dolan and Ian Poveda failed to make contact with the ball from close-range. The former Celtic man would have been encouraging his side, however, as they showed glimpses of what they were capable of on the break, yet Mowbray would have been reminding his side of Tuesday night, where they stepped into another gear, after a poor first-half performance and he would have hoped a similar situation would have occurred at Oakwell.
Just prior to the start of the second-half, Barnsley made two changes at the break as Dominik Frieser and William Hondermarck replaced Toby Sibbick and Aaron Leya Iseka.
As referee Andy Woolmer got things ready for the second period, it was Rovers who resumed proceedings, hoping they could capitalise on their fine early season form and put Barnsley to the sword to continue their unbeaten away form.
In the 47th minute, Tyrhys Dolan became the first player to be booked in the game after he slid into Helik after slipping on the turf. Although the tackle was accidental, the referee deemed the event quite reckless as the teenager was given a yellow card.
11 minutes later, Ben Brereton Díaz thought he’d put Rovers ahead after he was slid through by John Buckley, but the Chilean’s fine finish was ruled out courtesy of the offside flag.
The hour mark saw Barnsley make their final change as Victor Adeboyejo replaced Claudio Gomes, who had been struggling with injury prior to the change.
Moments after the change, Cauley Woodrow tried his luck from range, but saw his effort fly wide of the mark.
In the 66th minute, Rovers made a double change in hope of livening the game up. Reda Khadra and Leighton Clarkson came on to replace Ian Poveda and the booked Tyrhys Dolan.
Three minutes after the change, Barnsley came forward again as they had a corner that was again superbly denied by Kaminski, who did brilliantly to top Frieser’s header over the bar, for another corner that Rovers dealt with.
After dealing with the corner, Rovers hit Barnsley on the counter with pace as Reda Khadra drove forward with pace before finding Brereton Díaz with a fantastic through ball. This time, the forward was onside as his heavy first-touch saw him chase the ball before his effort was denied by ‘keeper Brad Collins.
As the game turned into an end-to-end encounter, after Collins saved from Brereton Díaz, Barnsley had the ball up the other end within seconds as the 71st minute nearly saw them take the lead as Callum Brittain’s half-volley skewed wide of the mark.
Prior to Kaminski’s goal-kick, Rovers made their final change of the game as Tayo Edun replaced Joe Rothwell, as the new signing came on for his first Rovers game.
Barnsley again saw an opportunity pass as substitute Adeboyejo failed to tap home from yards out for the home side on the 78th minute.
Following on from that missed effort, the game became frantic as Callum Styles tried his luck from 30-yards in the 85th minute, but he also missed his long-range effort.
Rovers nearly won the game in the 88th minute on the counter-attack as the pace and skill of Khadra saw him break into the Barnsley box before he pulled the ball back for Leighton Clarkson who saw his near-post effort saved by Collins, before Barnsley did enough to clear the ball.
As time ticked over in the 90th minute, referee Andy Woolmer added on three extra minutes to the end of the game, but neither side were able to capitalise on the game’s final moments as both sides were forced to settle for a draw and a clean sheet, which on reflection, seemed the fair result.
Whilst both sides will be ruing their missed chances in the dressing room, it would be unfair to say that a draw was fair for both sides, given the chances and the effort both teams put in. Although Rovers would have felt they had the better of the chances, given they were a touch away from going ahead in the first-half and also had a goal disallowed in the second, they showed a lot of encouraging signs at both ends of the field which helped them build on the clean sheet they earnt in midweek.
Although we shouldn’t be getting ahead of ourselves, that draw has seen Rovers move up into the final playoff spot, in 6th. Whilst the goal-difference remains the same at +3, the Blues’ points tally has gone up to 13.
Rovers’ next clash sees them return to Ewood Park as they host Mick McCarthy’s Cardiff City side on Saturday 25th September at 3pm. Following that clash, Rovers are back on the road to Yorkshire, next Tuesday as they face Huddersfield Town on 28th September at 7:45pm. Once Rovers’ stint West Yorkshire ends, they move from West Yorkshire to West Lancashire, as Saturday 2nd October at 3pm sees Rovers travel to Bloomfield Road to face newly-promoted Blackpool.
