........This really was a game that had everything. A penalty- that was missed by Millwall’s Darius Henderson who scored a hat trick against the Reds 11 months ago- a red card for the Lions Adam Smith, his third in three years, and a 93rd minute winner from Marcus Tudgay.
Tudgay has scored two goals for The Reds since joining from Nottingham Forest, both of them in injury time.
The Reds have often being the victim of last minute goals but this was the first time Barnsley have scored a post 90th minute winner since November 2009 when Carl Dickinson did it in a 1-0 win over Cardiff.
This first win in 12 for The Reds was only the second defeat inflicted on Millwall in 17 matches and their first at home in eight.
This was The Reds first win at Millwall since 1994 and only their second ever at the New Den.
It is also only the second time this season Barnsley have led at half-time and full-time, the other occasion being the very first game of the season when they defeated Middlesbrough 1-0.
It only the third time The Reds have scored more than once in a match, but they have now managed it in two successive away matches. They have, amazingly, won three matches on the road since their last home victory, and all three matches they have scored more than once in have been away from Oakwell.
Unfortunately, one downer on the day is that The Reds remain in the relegation zone, but before Tudgay’s winner they were set to end the day bottom of the division. It would have been the first time they would have been bottom of a league at Christmas since the 1997-1998 Premier League campaign.
That Tudgay goal briefly lifted The Reds out of the bottom three, but Sheffield Wednesday’s last minute second goal against Charlton dropped them back in on goals scored.
Rather ominously Barnsley have 21 points from their 23 games, exactly the same amount as they had at the same stage of the 2001-2002 season- the season they were relegated from this division.
Barnsley Team:
Luke Steele
Bobby Hassell
Scott Golbourne
Stephen Foster (YC)- now suspended.
Martin Cranie
John Stones
Stephen Dawson
Jim O’Brien (YC)
David Perkins
Chris Dagnall
Marcus Tudgay (YC)
Substitutes:
Scott Wiseman (for Cranie 20) (YC)
Marlon Harewood (for O’Brien 73)
Matty Done (for Perkins 84)
Unused Substitutes:
Ben Alnwick, Tomasz Cywka, Jonathan Greening, Danny Rose.
Match Reports:
Npower Championship results Saturday 22nd December 2012:
Birmingham 2-2 Burnley
Ipswich 1-1 Bristol City
Leeds 2-1 Middlesbrough
Leicester 0-1 Cardiff
Millwall 1-2 BARNSLEY
Peterborough 5-4 Bolton
Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Charlton
Watford 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Crystal Palace 1-1 Huddersfield
Barnsley lie in 22nd place in the Npower Championship with 21 points from 23 games.
We are 16 points off the Play-Offs, 23 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 26 points off First place and inside the Relegation Zone on goals scored.
Up to 22.12.12
Next Up:
At Oakwell:
Npower Championship Matchday Twenty Four: Barnsley v Birmingham City Wednesday 26th December 2012 Kick-Off 3pm
Tickets:
Adult Member - £25
OAP (Over 65) Member - £17
Student (18-20) Member- £17
Juvenile Under 18 Member - £17
Non-Member Prices
Adult - £28
OAP (Over 65) - £18
Student (18-20)- £18
Juvenile Under 18 - £18
Juvenile 5-11 - £7
On The Road:
Npower Championship Matchday Twenty Six: Peterborough United v Barnsley Tuesday 1st January 2013: Kick-Off: 3pm
Tickets:
Adult Seated - £20
Adult Standing - £15
OAP (Over 60) Seated - £11
OAP (Over 60) Standing - £11
Student (with a valid NUS Card) Seated - £11
Student (with a valid NUS Card) Standing - £11
Juvenile Under 16 Seated - £8
Juvenile Under 16 Standing - £8