Barnsley’s impressive home record against West Brom continued as a 0-0 draw infront of the SKY cameras extended their unbeaten Oakwell record against the Baggies to 19 games however a point leaves the Reds seven points adrift of safety at the halfway stage of the season – albeit having played a game more than 21st placed Reading.
Their 13 points at the half-way stage of a campaign is their worst ever in the three point era and only in one season have they ever reached less if you adjust each season to three points which was way back in 1899-1900 when they had 10 – however that was only a 34 game season compared to 46 now.
Barnsley’s current tally of 15 goals is also their worst ever at the half-way stage of a season and currently the lowest total in the Championship with only League One Docanster (13) have netted less in the entire EFL.
Barnsley will spend Christmas Day in the relegation zone/a re-election spot for the 18th time in their history – of the previous 17 occasions they have gone on to be relegated/not re-elected on only five occasions.
Barnsley have won only one of their last 10 matches played on a Friday with this the sixth draw in that run.
Barnsley have drawn nine matches so far this season in all competitions, with four of them 0-0.
Barnsley managed only one shot on target in the game, the fourth time this season they have had one or less shots on target in a game.
This is the first time Barnsley have drawn their last game before Christmas since 2013-2014 which was also a 0-0 draw (against Leeds), winning three and losing three in the years since.
This game saw the return of arguably the greatest Barnsley manager of the last 20 years Valerien Ismael with this only his second game at Oakwell in front of supporters. He has now only lost six of 25 games at Oakwell as a manager.
This was Barnsley’s third draw in their last four outings whilst only Derby (10) and Millwall (9) have drawn more than their eight in the Championship this season.
Barnsley have now won only one of their last 21 league matches (W1 D7 L13), their worst run since the 1952-1953 season when they won only one of their final 26 Second Division games (W1 D6 L19) which included failing to win any of their final 23 and finished bottom, 15 points adrift of second bottom.
Poya Asbaghi is the first permanent Barnsley manager to fail to win any of his first five games in charge since Danny Wilson’s second spell in 2013-2014 who failed to win any of his first five games in charge (4 league, 1 cup, D2 L3)
As mentioned before Barnsley are unbeaten in 19 Oakwell meetings with West Brom now (W9 D10) however is the first goal-less Oakwell meeting in 22 since a Christmas Day stalemate back in 1930.
There were 25 fouls in the game, the most in 14 Barnsley matches since Blackpool away in September (30)
Barnsley Team:
40. Brad Collins
30. Michal Helik
6. Mads Andersen
5. Liam Kitching
2. Jordan Williams
17. Claudio Gomes
10. Josh Benson
7. Callum Brittain
4. Callum Styles
11. Aaron Leya Iseka
14. Carlton Morris
Substitutes:
44. Devante Cole (for Benson 64)
22. Clarke Oduor (for Leya Iseka 84)
Unused Substitutes:
1. Jack Walton, 15. Jasper Moon, 23. Will Hondermarck, 26. Remy Vita, 29. Victor Adeboyejo.
West Brom Team:
1. Sam Johnstone
21. Cedric Kipré
5. Kyle Bartley
16. Matt Clarke
2. Darnell Furlong
8. Jake Livermore
27. Alex Mowatt
3. Connor Townsend
7. Callum Robinson
18. Karlan Grant
17. Jordan Hugill
Substitutions:
14. Jayson Molumby (for Livermore 72)
11. Grady Diangana (for Robinson 72)
20. Adam Reach (for Hugill 90+3)
Unused Substitutes:
6. Semi Ajayi, 25. David Button, 29. Taylor Gardner-Hickman, 41. Tom Fellows
West Brom manager Valerien Ismael said:
"We are very strong defensively. We kept another clean sheet but we need more quality in front of goal.
"We need to have that killer instinct to change the destiny of a game. Players have to take responsibility in the final third. We need to put the ball behind the line.
"It is half-time, 23 games. We are still in a good position. But this was a confirmation of what we have known for weeks that the first thing we have to do is something about is with the front three.
"From a strategic point of view, it is always easier to get players in as quickly as possible and not wait until the last minute."
Sky Bet Championship results
FRIDAY 17TH DECEMBER 2021
BARNSLEY (23rd) 0-0 West Bromwich Albion (4th)
SATURDAY 18TH DECEMBER 2021
Cardiff City P-P Derby County
Middlesbrough (9th) 1-0 AFC Bournemouth (2nd)
Sporar pen 53
Blackburn Rovers (3rd) 4-0 Birmingham City (17th)
Buckley 6
Khadra 52
Brereton Diaz pen 60
Brereton Diaz 79
Blackpool (13th) 3-1 Peterborough United (22nd)
Dembele 11
Anderson 27
Carey 86
Yates 90
Bristol City (18th) 2-3 Huddersfield Town (10th)
Weimann 2
Holmes 41
Sinani 46
Ward 55
Weimann 90+7
Coventry City P-P Stoke City
Millwall P-P Preston North End
Nottingham Forest (7th) 2-1 Hull City (19th)
Lewis-Potter 43
Grabban pen 55
Johnson 72
Queens Park Rangers P-P Swansea City
Reading P-P Luton Town
MONDAY 20TH DECEMBER 2021
Fulham (1st) 0-1 Sheffield United (11th)
N’Diaye 3
Barnsley lie in 23rd place in the Sky Bet Championship with 13 points from 23 games. We are 21 points off the Play-Offs, 29 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 31 points off First Place and 7 points inside the Relegation Zone.
Up to 21/12/21
Next Up:
On The Road:
Sky Bet Championship Matchday Twenty Four: Blackburn Rovers v Barnsley, Wednesday 29th December 2021. Kick-Off: 7:45pm
At Oakwell:
FA Cup Third Round: Barnsley v Barrow, Saturday 8th January 2022. Kick-Off: 3pm