Barnsley extended their unbeaten league run to nine matches by winning a match in which they had opened the scoring but then being pegged back for the first time in 2023-2024 and first time since the derby against Sheffield Wednesday in March 2023 when they led 2-0, were pegged back to 2-2 and won 4-2. It is the first time going 1-0 up, being pegged back to 1-1 and winning 2-1 since 29th December 2022 against Fleetwood.
As mentioned before Barnsley are now unbeaten in nine league matches (W5 D4), their best unbeaten league run since going 12 unbeaten (W10 D2) last season between 21st January and 21st March 2023 and they have now lost only one of the last 15 (W8 D6)
Barnsley's opening goal came via top scorer Devante Cole who bagged his 15th league goal of the season, only Charlton’s Alfie May (16) has more so far this season.
It was the third successive league game Cole has scored in, the first Barnsley player to achieve this feat since Cole himself netted in four successive league games between August and September.
It is the 18th time Cole has opened the scoring for Barnsley since his initial debut for the club in August 2014.
Chris Martin brought Rovers level with a header – it is the eighth goal he has netted against Barnsley in 17 appearances against them for four different clubs (Bristol Rovers, Norwich, Derby and Fulham) Martin has now scored in each of his last three appearances against the Reds.
Barnsley are now unbeaten in their last four meetings with Rovers (W2 D2) and have lost only one of the last ten (W6 D3 L1)
The away side has failed to score more than once in any of the last eight meetings – Barnsley were the last side to do so in a 5-1 win at Rovers old Twerton Park ground in November 1992.
This victory saw Barnsley just edge ahead in the head-head stakes with this their 13th victory compared to Rovers 12 – there has also been 11 draws.
Barnsley have won the last five Oakwell meetings, the last three of which have come in League One.
They have lost only one of the last eight Oakwell clashes, 1-0 in November 1991.
Barnsley Team:
1. Liam Roberts
2. Jordan Williams
41. Jack Shepherd
6. Mael de Gevigney
8. Herbie Kane
30. Adam Phillips
20. Callum Styles
22. Corey O’Keeffe
3. Jon Russell
45. John McAtee
44. Devante Cole
Substitutes:
9. Sam Cosgrove (for Russell 61)
4. Kacper Lopata (for O’Keeffe 85)
7. Nicky Cadden (for McAtee 85)
36. Max Watters (for Cole 90+3)
Unused Substitutes:
23. Ben Killip, 17. Barry Cotter, 12. Fabio Jalo.
Bristol Rovers Team:
33. Matthew Cox
25. Tristan Crama
2. James Connolly
4. Josh Grant
21. Antony Evans
6. Sam Finley
11. Luke Thomas
19. Harvey Vale
23. Luke McCormick
18. Chris Martin
20. Jevani Brown
Substitutions:
42. Jack Hunt (for McCormick 66)
9. John Marquis (for Brown 66)
28. James Gibbons (for Connolly 80)
10. Aaron Collins (for Thomas 80)
Unused Substitutes:
31. Jed Ward, 30. Luca Hoole, 7. Scott Sinclair.
SkyBet League One Results:
SATURDAY 13TH JANUARY 2024:
BARNSLEY (6th) 2-1 Bristol Rovers (11th)
Cole 43
Martin 68
O’Keeffe 73
Blackpool (8th) 2-0 Exeter City (20th)
Morgan 39
Morgan 49
Cambridge United (16th) 2-1 Fleetwood Town (24th)
Taylor 71
Omochere 77
Kaikai 90+1
Carlisle United (23rd) 1-3 Oxford United (5th)
Harris 39
Harris 47
Goodrham 68
McCalmont 71
Charlton Athletic (13th) 1-2 Peterborough United (2nd)
Mason-Clark 28
May 49
Mason-Clark 75
Northampton Town (9th) 1-1 Wigan Athletic (18th)
Hoskins pen 16
Magennis 64
Portsmouth (1st) 0-3 Leyton Orient (10th)
Forde 30
Brown 35
Agyei 45+5
Shrewsbury Town (17th) 0-1 Stevenage (7th)
Reid 84
Wycombe Wanderers (14th) 1-1 Lincoln City (12th)
Taylor 29
Erhahon 90+8
MONDAY 15TH JANUARY 2024:
Derby County (3rd) 3-2 Burton Albion (19th)
Barkhuizen 29
Collins 49
Seddon 54
Hugill 65
Hourihane 90+3
Barnsley lie in 6th place in Sky Bet League One with 46 points from 25 games. We are Goal Difference inside the Play-Offs, 6 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 7 points off First Place and 23 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to 15/1/24
Next Up:
At Oakwell:
Sky Bet League One Matchday Twenty Six: Barnsley v Carlisle United, Tuesday 16th January 2024. Kick Off: 7:45pm
On The Road:
Sky Bet League One Matchday Twenty Seven: Stevenage v Barnsley, Saturday 20th January 2024. Kick Off: 3pm