Barnsley moved into their highest league position of 2023 with another impressive home win over a play-off hopeful – their seventh in an unbeaten nine match league run.
It is Barnsley’s longest unbeaten league run (W7 D2) since a run of 12 Championship matches (W9 D3) between January and March 2021.
They have now lost only two of their last 19 league games (W13 D3 L2)
This victory moved Barnsley up to fourth in the table, above Bolton on goals scored, a position they last occupied on the 29th December 2022 when they defeated Fleetwood 2-1.
James Norwood gave Barnsley the lead, his eighth goal of the season, the last five of which have been the opening goal of the game.
The Reds have won seven of the eight games Norwood has scored in, the one exception a 1-1 draw at Accrington.
Barnsley’s opening goal of a game has been scored by either Norwood or Devante Cole on 11 occasions in the league this season whilst they both scored in the same game for the fourth time.
The Reds were at least two goals to the good after 20minutes for the fourth time this season.
This was the nineth time Barnsley have scored 3+ goals in a league game in 2022-2023, four of which have come in the last five outings.
It is their most in a season since 2018-2019 (11)
This was Barnsley’s ninth home win in their last ten league outings at Oakwell (L1)
They have won each of their last four home league matches, the first time they have been on two separate runs of at least four straight league home wins in the same season since 1999-2000.
Adam Phillips set up two of the goals giving him six assists for the season, the joint most at the club along with Jordan Williams – he has now been involved in 14 goals this season (8 scored 6 assisted) – the most goal involvements from any Barnsley player this season.
Phillips is the second Barnsley player to assist two league goals in a game this season after Luca Connell at Ipswich in August.
The other goal was assisted by Norwood, the eighth time this season (all comps) that a player has both scored and assisted in the same game.
Barnsley picked up their first win in five meetings with Portsmouth (D3 L1)
This was the first time Barnsley has netted as many as three goals against Pompey in nine clashes since a 4-4 draw in February 2002.
Barnsley have though now won three of the last four Oakwell meetings and 11 of the last 15, losing only one, a 4-1 hammering in September 2001.
Barnsley Team:
1. Harry Isted
12. Bobby Thomas
6. Mads Andersen (c)
5. Liam Kitching
48. Luca Connell
2. Jordan Williams
30. Adam Phillips
8. Herbie Kane
7. Nicky Cadden
44. Devante Cole
9. James Norwood
Substitutes:
31. Slobodan Tedic (for Norwood 69)
47. Max Watters (for Cole 70)
10. Josh Benson (for Phillips 78)
26. Ziyad Larkeche (for Cadden 81)
16. Luke Thomas (for Kane 82)
Unused Substitutes:
3. Jon Russell, 20. Jamie Searle.
Portsmouth Team:
1. Matt Macey
17. Joe Rafferty
20. Sean Raggett (c)
34. Ryley Towler
6. Conor Ogilvie
16. Joe Morrell
8. Ryan Tunnicliffe
15. Owen Dale
26. Tom Lowery
19. Dane Scarlett
9. Colby Bishop
Substitutions:
24. Michael Jacobs (for Lowery 58)
10. Joe Pigott (for Scarlett 75)
23. Louis Thompson (for Tunnicliffe 75)
29. Paddy Lane (for Dale 75)
Unused Substitutes:
18. Reeco Hackett-Fairchild, 28. Di’shon Bernard, 33. Toby Steward.
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho said:
The result was probably about right in terms of what we deserved and it’s a difficult one to pick the bones out of straight after the game.
“Off the back of the highs of last week, we weren’t able to replicate those levels against one of the division’s better sides. It’s probably a good indication of where we are.
Match Reports:
Sky Bet League One Results:
Tuesday 7th March 2023:
BARNSLEY (4th) 3-1 Portsmouth (8th)
Norwood 17
Cadden 20
Bishop 49
Cole 60
Cambridge United (23rd) 1-1 Morecambe (21st)
Lankester 14
Stockton 45+2
Cheltenham Town (17th) 0-0 Lincoln City (11th)
Ipswich Town (3rd) 3-0 Accrington Stanley (20th)
Broadhead 12
Jackson 56
Edwards 90+4
Peterborough United (8th) 2-1 Shrewsbury Town (9th)
Clarke-Harris 17
Flanagan 21
Kent 87
Wycombe Wanderers (7th) 2-0 Fleetwood Town (14th)
Forino 4
Vokes 66
Plymouth Argyle (2nd) 2-1 Derby County (6th)
Mendez-Laing 17
Wright 59
Hardie pen 70
Barnsley lie in 4th place in Sky Bet League One with 63 points from 33 games. We are 6 points inside the Play-Offs, 11 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 11 points off First Place and 30 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to 8/3/23
Next Up:
At Oakwell:
Sky Bet League One Matchday Thirty Four: Barnsley v Plymouth Argyle, Saturday 11th March 2023. Kick Off: 3pm
On The Road:
Sky Bet League One Matchday Thirty Five: Wycombe Wanderers v Barnsley, Saturday 18th March 2023 Kick Off: 3pm