Barnsley ended their preparations for the 2008-2009 season in the same way they started them- with a win- but it will have done little to allay fears brought about by the results in between the 4-1 win at Buxton and yesterday's 2-0 success against a poor Chengdu Blades side who have been walloped 7-0 by Chelsea this summer.
The only surprise was that it took until first half stoppage time for the deadlock to be broken.
A Martin Devaney corner caused havoc in the area and Dennis Souza prodded home.
Reds boss Simon Davey went with the line-up that is likely to start in the Coca Cola Championship against Queens Park Rangers next Saturday and they sealed the win from the penalty spot on 70 minutes. Blades Demar Stewart floored Iain Hume and Jon Macken slotted home from the spot (the 32nd consecutive successful penalty from a Barnsley player- which includes three shootouts.)
The "friendly" became anything but in the closing stages as first Stewart was sent off two minutes after conceding the penalty for a reckless lunge on Devaney and then Chinese international Lie Tie was shown a second yellow card after 88 minutes for bringing down substitute Kayode Odejayi when the Nigerian ran clean through....he would probably have missed anyway!
BARNSLEY: Steele, Foster, Moore, Souza, Van Homoet, Campbell-Ryce, Hassell, El Haimour, Devaney, Macken (Odejayi 78), Hume (Mostto 78).
Subs: Letheren, Butterfield, Atkinson, Kozluk, Togwell.
CHENGDU BLADES: Bing, Stewart, Ming Yi, Tie, Qi, You Gen (Xiang 84), Chao Song (Jain Bing 74), Qi Xi (Peng 45), Xiao Gang, Song, Danielson (Jun 72).
Subs: Zezhi, Yi, Qing, Wang Yong, Xiin Li, Chao.