Barnsley were left cursing another three points to evade their grasp as they
failed to stretch their winning Oakwell run to five matches against Everton
today.
It was an all-too-familiar story for manager Danny Wilson's side as they
completely dominated the first half but found themselves remarkably going into
the break on level terms.
Everton then proved their recent rise out of the relegation zone has been no
fluke as they eventually went in front early in the second half with only their
second shot on target.
The Tykes of old would then have folded, but they are made of sterner stuff
these days and a point was the least they deserved, particularly when they
should have been three up by the half hour.
Everton had picked up seven points out of their previous nine prior to this
game, including convincing wins over Chelsea and Crystal Palace. But they were
on the back foot for the entire opening 40 minutes, although goalkeeper Thomas
Myhre remained relatively untroubled.
The Norwegian international was first called into action in the 22nd minute as
Jovo Bosancic and Jan-Aage Fjortoft carved open the visitors' defence with a
superbly worked one-two around the edge of the area.
Yugoslav midfielder Bosancic then only had Myhre to beat but as he tried to
pick his spot the signing from Viking Stavanger spread himself superbly to beat
away the chance.
Barnsley were not to be denied and within three minutes gained their just
reward with Bosancic and Ashley Ward setting up Fjortoft for his first goal
since his £800,000 move from Sheffield United three weeks ago.
Bosancic, who in tandem with Martin Bullock were going through the visitors at
will, pierced the rearguard again with a byline ball to Ward whose first-time
far-post cross was met with the simplest of headers by Fjortoft from just six
yards.
Within a minute Barnsley should have been two up as Bullock, Ward and Nicky
Eaden set up wide-open skipper Neil Redfearn from inside the six-yard box, but
he completely fluffed his chance to the relief of all concerned with Everton.
The home side kept up the pressure and continued to play some delightful
football - but just five minutes from the break Everton were level.
Skipper Duncan Ferguson started and finished the move, which incorporated
strike partner Mickael Madar and Mitch Ward, eventually stooping to head home
the latter player's curling cross for his eighth goal of the season.
The impetus was now with Howard Kendall's side and within five minutes of the
restart they were 2-1 ahead, with Tony Grant celebrating his first goal for the
club for almost two years.
The midfielder beat David Watson with a delicately floated 18-yard chip shot
which the keeper could only help on its way into the back of the net, to the
delight of Grant, who has missed the majority of the last 12 months with ankle
and calf injuries.
Fjortoft then attempted a mirror image of Grant's goal seconds later but the
slightly taller Myhre was at full stretch to tip the ball over the bar.
A double substitution just after the hour, with Madar coming off for Danny
Cadamarteri for Everton and Fjortoft being replaced by John Hendrie for
Barnsley, paid handsome dividends for the Tykes.
Within seconds of Hendrie coming on the pitch the Scot and Darren Barnard
combined to set up Ward with a curling 18-yard shot which cracked off the bar
with Myhre beaten.
Left wing-back Barnard was the first to respond and eventually bundled the
ball over the line from inches out for his third goal in his last six matches.
In the 70th minute Barnsley had the best chance to win the game in the closing
stages as Arjan de Zeeuw powerfully headed a Redfearn corner goalwards, but
Myhre was on hand to make a scrambling save low to his right.
While Barnsley are now unbeaten since November 29 at Oakwell, Everton have now
failed to lose their last four Premiership matches, with Howard Kendall at least
managing to celebrate his January manager of the month award this week with
another welcome point.
Teams
Barnsley: Watson, Eaden, Moses, De Zeeuw, Redfearn, Bullock,
Bosancic, Barnard, Ward, Morgan (Hristov 86),
Fjortoft (Hendrie 62).
Subs Not Used: Leese, Tinkler, Markstedt.
Booked: Moses, Bullock
Goals: Fjortoft 24, Barnard 63.
Everton: Myhre, Watson, Madar (Cadamarteri 62),
Barmby (Thomsen 45), Ferguson, Short, Grant, Farrelly, Ward,
Ball, O'Kane (Oster 83).
Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Allen.
Booked: Madar, Farrelly
Goals: Ferguson 40, Grant 50.
Att: 18,672
Ref: M J Bodenham (East Looe).
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