A goalless final score line was just about right to end a scrappy clash with
both teams cancelling each other out and lacking ideas going forward.
Birmingham hot-shot Paul Furlong claimed he should have been awarded a penalty
when he was through on goal. He showed good skill to work his way in on goal,
but at the last minute scuffed his shot with the goal at his mercy.
The big attacker was furious, claiming Ade Moses had nicked him inside the
area, but the referee waved play on.
Birmingham often seemed content to hoof the ball long for Dele Adebola and
Furlong to chase, and Barnsley never got into a smooth passing rhythm.
Barnsley centre-back Scott Jones had the first real chance of any note after
13 minutes. Nicky Eaden curled in a free-kick, and the stopper out-jumped the
Birmingham defence to head over.
Midfielder Craig Hignett picked out Eaden with a superb pass, but the
wing-back's tame volley from close range fell into the grateful arms of
Birmingham 'keeper Kevin Poole.
Barnsley skipper Kevin Richardson hit a great shot from over 25 yards out, but
the ball sailed just over the bar with the 'keeper beaten.
Tykes 'keeper Tony Bullock spared Eaden's blushes by keeping out a
goal-bound mishit.
The wing-back made an uncharacteristic blunder from a corner, but Tony Bullock was
at his athletic best to save and Gary Ablett's follow-up flew wide of the mark.
Birmingham fought their way back, and Furlong came close with a diving
header then should have done better from close range after he was picked out by
Jon McCarthy but fired straight at Tony Bullock.
Hignett showed good skill to ghost past two defenders, but his shot fell wide
of the far post.
Then moments later McCarthy put the ball into the back of the net at the end
of a good move between Peter Ndlovu and Adebola, but the goal was
disallowed for offside.
Teams
Barnsley: T. Bullock, De Zeeuw, Jones, Moses, Eaden,
McClare (M. Bullock 78), Hignett, Richardson,
Barnard (Sheridan 65), Goodman, Turner (Rose 90).
Booked: Hignett.
Birmingham: Poole, Rowett, Ablett, Johnson, Marsh (Grainger 67),
McCarthy, O'Connor, Robinson, Ndlovu, Furlong, Adebola.
Subs Not Used: Forster, Holland.
Booked: Adebola.
Att: 17,114
Ref: P Richards (Preston).
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