The Reds lined up with Paul Reid replacing Antony Kay, Robbie Williams in for Tom Williams and Nicky Wroe back in place of flu victim Simon Johnson.
The game started at a lively pace with Daniel Nardiello showing his sharpness with a clever turn giving him space to fire a low shot just wide. Both teams seemed capable of creating chances and while Wrexham were passing the ball better, the Reds took the lead after 26 minutes. Chris Shuker broke well before releasing a perfectly timed ball to the unmarked Nardiello who notched his sixth goal of the season – he's only started 10 games – Paul Hart take note.
Rather predictably, Wrexham almost equalised immediately and were looking especially dangerous down the Reds left where Nicky Wroe was struggling against the impressive Carlos Edwards.
Andy Ritchie had obviously noticed this as well as he brought Kay on for Wroe at half-time. However, the Reds started the second half with a sloppy lacklustre approach which was just asking Wrexham to equalise and they soon did. A cross from the right allowed the in rushing Darren Ferguson to finish well on 57 minutes.
The few Welsh supporters rejoiced as their side sensed the game going their way with the Reds now incapable of keeping possession for any length of time. On 63 minutes, Wrexham took a deserved lead after a little bit of fortune. Juan Ugarte crossed from the left again for
The Reds loss of another lead livened up Oakwell as did Ritchie seeming to switch the team to a
Kay looked more comfortable in the centre of midfield and it was his cross which landed at Michael Chopra’s feet on 72 minutes. The Reds leading scorer gleefully poked home number 17 for the season.
Wrexham should probably have scored a decisive third goal soon after when Scott Flinders fumbled a Llewelyn header before redeeming himself with a tremendous save from the follow up.
Both teams appeared to abandon defence in the last 10 minutes and despite a winner looking likely at both ends, a draw was a fair result.
Ratings
Flinders - 6 - A couple of decent saves and one great one after his own error but didn’t command his area as well as usual
Tonge - 8 – Excellent display – improves with every game
Reid - 6 – Decent comeback after injury
Hassell – 8 – Another composed display
R.Williams – 7 – Defended well against an excellent winger
Wroe – 5 – Seemed slow to the ball tonight and passing average
Burns – 5 – Poor, gave the ball away far too often
McPhail – 6 – Decent first half when we had the edge – should have been subbed in the second half
Shuker – 7 – usual 100% effort and set up Nardiello’s goal
Chopra – 7 some brilliant stuff as usual and another goal - he’ll be missed
Nardiello – 7 – a bit selfish, a bit lazy, another goal, a natural striker!
Kay – 6 – No good on the left – he should be central midfield or nothing if hes here next season
Robert Miles says: Roll on the end of the season. Half the team know we are stuck in midtable and just cant be bothered. Only people like Nardiello and Chopra who know they are in the shop window seemed bothered now.