Barnsley’s five match winning run came to an end however a point at Accrington extended their unbeaten league run to six matches.
It is the second time this season they have put together a six match unbeaten league run, a feat achieved for the first time (on separate occasions) since 2018-2019 when they had a run of seven and then a run of 20 (note they had a 12 match unbeaten league run in 2020-2021)
This was Barnsley’s first stalemate in 11 outings (all comps). Since drawing 0-0 at Bolton on the 15th October they had won seven and lost three.
James Norwood had given the Reds the lead after just eight minutes, the 13th time they have opened the scoring in League One this season and only the second time they have not gone on to win (also a 1-1 draw with Port Vale in September)
It was the ninth league game in which they have led at half-time with this and the aforementioned Port Vale match the only two occasions Barnsley have not won when leading at half-time in League One this season.
It was Norwood’s fourth goal for the club but first in 10 appearances (all comps)
The goal was assisted by Adam Phillips, his first assist of the season. He has now been involved in a goal in six of the last seven games (five goals, 1 assist) the only blip being against Port Vale in the EFL Trophy.
Accrington’s equaliser came via the penalty spot, the first league goal conceded this way in 2022-2023 and first time since the final game of 2021-2022 at West Brom.
It is the first League One goal conceded via a penalty since Joe Jacobson for Wycombe on the 16th February 2019.
This was Barnsley’s first away game on Boxing Day for eight years and they are now unbeaten on this festive day since that match at Preston back in 2014 (W3 D3) – did not play on Boxing Day in 2015 or 2021.
Barnsley ended a two match losing run on a Monday with this draw, and have now lost only two their last nine games on this day (W5 D2 L2)
Despite conceding a goal for the 17th time in League One this season, the Reds have the joint best defensive record in the division, along with Derby.
This was the first ever draw between Accrington and Barnsley, in the 15th meeting (10 Barnsley wins, 4 Accrington wins) however the Reds remain unbeaten against this current guise of Accrington Stanley (from three meetings)
It was the first time Accrington had scored against Barnsley in four clashes.
Barnsley had 21 shots in the game, their most in a league game since the 21st April 2021 at Huddersfield (also 21)
Barnsley Team:
40. Brad Collins
24. Robbie Cundy
6. Mads Andersen (c)
5. Liam Kitching
48. Luca Connell
2. Jordan Williams
30. Adam Phillips
8. Herbie Kane
7. Nicky Cadden
9. James Norwood
44. Devante Cole
Substitutes:
33. Matty Wolfe (for Connell 45)
14. Josh Martin (for Norwood 75)
Unused Substitutes:
1. Jack Walton, 15. Jasper Moon, 26. Ziyad Larkeche, 27. Jack Aitchison, 29. Fabio Jalo.
Accrington Team:
40. Toby Savin
50. Baba Fernandes
5. Ryan Astley
16. Harvey Rodgers
28. Seamus Conneely (c)
2. Mitchell Clark
6. Liam Coyle
4. Ethan Hamilton
10. Joe Pritchard
7. Shaun Whalley
8. Tommy Leigh
Substitutions:
14. Rosaire Longelo (for Clark 45)
42. Leslie Adekoya (for Fernandes 51)
39. Josh Woods (for Whalley 75)
21. Harry Perritt (for Leigh 88)
Unused Substitutes:
1. Lukas Jensen, 17. Jack Nolan, 22. Dan Martin.
Accrington manager John Coleman said:
“We looked rusty in the first half,”
“We couldn’t get going, we couldn’t mount a challenge. They scored a decent goal from their perspective, it was poor from us.
“We didn’t look ourselves and the lads were told in no uncertain terms at half-time.
“In the second half we livened up, and sometimes you have to take what you get and - not playing particularly well - we got a point.
“We were better in the second half, we competed better. It would be easy to make excuses, we have had injuries and sickness, which isn’t ideal.
“But sometimes, when it’s all hands to the pump and you get a result when you are not quite at your optimum force, you have got to be grateful.
“Overall, they have been on a good run and you have got to be pleased with a point and we have to keep moving the scoreboard along.”
Match Reports:
League One Results
Monday 26th December 2022:
Accrington Stanley (20th) 1-1 BARNSLEY (4th)
Norwood 8
Leigh pen 62
Burton Albion (23rd) 3-0 Lincoln City (14th)
Hughes 5
Smith 14
Adeboyejo pen 27
Cambridge United (19th) 2-1 Shrewsbury Town (12th)
Saydee 64
Tracey 67
Smith 76
Charlton Athletic (17th) 1-1 Peterborough United (8th)
Leaburn 49
Clarke-Harris 65
Cheltenham Town (18th) 0-1 Plymouth Argyle (1st)
Whittaker 78
Exeter City (13th) 0-0 Portsmouth (11th)
Fleetwood Town (16th) 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday (3rd)
Rooney 8
Byers 16
Johnson 73
Ipswich Town (2nd) 3-0 Oxford United (15th)
Ladapo 39
Burns 45
Chaplin 81
Milton Keynes Dons (21st) 1-0 Forest Green Rovers (22nd)
Harvie 58
Port Vale (9th) 1-0 Morecambe (24th)
Massey 40
Wycombe Wanderers (7th) 2-1 Bristol Rovers (10th)
Coburn 4
Wheeler 22
Wing 48
Tuesday 27th December 2022:
Bolton Wanderers (5th) 0-0 Derby County (6th)
Barnsley lie in 4th place in Sky Bet League One with 37 points from 21 games. We are 2 points inside the Play-Offs, 11 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 13 points off First Place and 16 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to 28/12/22
Next Up:
At Oakwell:
Sky Bet League One Matchday Twenty Two: Barnsley v Fleetwood Town, Thursday 29th December 2022 Kick Off: 7:45pm
On The Road:
FA Cup Third Round: Derby County v Barnsley, Sunday 8th January 2023 Kick Off: 12:30pm