The last time Barnsley visited the Memorial Stadium they were already promoted from League One and were looking for a first league title since 1955 but ultimately lost – in this game they drew to go eight league games unbeaten (W6 D2) for the first time since a run of 12 Championship matches (W9 D3) between January and March 2021.
They have now lost only two of their last 17 league games (W12 D3 L2)
Barnsley have now had separate league unbeaten runs of six, seven and eight games in 2022-2023.
This was a fifth league game on the road without defeat (W3 D2) their second such run this season.
This was only Barnsley’s sixth stalemate in League One this season, only Peterborough (3) and Cambridge (5) have drawn less.
They have had two goal-less draws which have both come away from home, the first time they have had two goal-less away league matches in a season since 2019-2020.
This point saw Barnsley reach 60 points after 32 matches, five points less than they had at this stage in their previous League One promotion season of 2018-2019.
This was Barnsley’s seventh league clean sheet on the road this season, their most in a season since 2018-2019 (11)
Its their 12th league clean sheet overall in 2022-2023 with their tally of 28 goals conceded only bettered by league leaders Sheffield Wednesday (22) – Bolton have also conceded 28.
Barnsley have now lost only one of their last eight meetings with Bristol Rovers (W5 D2)
This was only the second ever goal-less meetings (from 34 clashes)
They have though now only won one of their last 12 visits to Rovers (D4 L7) and both of their last two clean sheets there have been 0-0 draws.
There have been 10 corner kicks in each of Barnsley’s last three matches.
Barnsley Team:
1. Harry Isted
6. Mads Andersen (c)
5. Liam Kitching
12. Bobby Thomas
3. Jon Russell
2. Jordan Williams
30. Adam Phillips
8. Herbie Kane
7. Nicky Cadden
44. Devante Cole
9. James Norwood
Substitutes:
31. Slobodan Tedic (for Norwood 73)
10. Josh Benson (for Russell 74)
16. Luke Thomas (for Kane 74)
47. Max Watters (for Cole 74)
Unused Substitutes:
17. Barry Cotter, 20. Jamie Searle, 26. Ziyad Larkeche.
Bristol Rovers Team:
1. James Belshaw
30. Luca Hoole
5. Jarell Quansah
17. Lewis Gibson
3. Lewis Gordon
22. Lamare Bogarde
6. Sam Finley (c)
8. Grant Ward
7. Scott Sinclair
9. John Marquis
10. Aaron Collins
Substitutions:
40. Josh Coburn (for Marquis 83)
18. Ryan Loft (for Collins 88)
28. James Gibbons (for Sinclair 88)
Unused Substitutes:
2. James Connolly, 21. Antony Evans, 23. Luke McCormick, 35. Ellery Balcombe.
Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton said:
"It was a good game against the in-form team in the division and they have been free-scoring and with the evolution of this group, it was probably as tough a test at the junction we're at,"
"This was the true acid test for our progress in recent weeks and I thought the lads were outstanding. I’m really proud of a lot of performances out there and barring one moment in the first half, the lads were superb.
"I’m a bit disappointed we haven’t converted one of our chances and caused a bit of an upset.
"Three clean sheets in four, two against free-scoring teams in Ipswich and Barnsley today. Steps in the right direction.
Match Reports:
Sky Bet League One Results:
Saturday 4th March 2023:
Morecambe (21st) 0-0 Bolton Wanderers (4th)
Accrington Stanley (20th) 2-1 Forest Green Rovers (24th)
Peart-Harris 22
Pressley 44
Longelo 64
Bristol Rovers (15th) 0-0 BARNSLEY (6th)
Cambridge United (23rd) 0-1 Portsmouth (10th)
Bishop 65
Cheltenham Town (18th) 1-0 Fleetwood Town (14th)
May 56
Derby County (5th) 2-2 Shrewsbury Town (8th)
Roberts 20
McGoldrick 45+1
Bayliss 49
Leahy pen 72
Ipswich Town (3rd) 4-0 Burton Albion (19th)
Chaplin 31
Broadhead 38
Ladapo 42
Chaplin 69
Lincoln City (11th) 1-0 Oxford United (17th)
Mandroiu pen 23
Plymouth Argyle (2nd) 2-0 Charlton Athletic (16th)
Hardie 46
Ennis 87
Port Vale (13th) 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons (22nd)
Donnelly 22
Sheffield Wednesday (1st) 1-0 Peterborough United (9th)
Thompson og 60
Wycombe Wanderers (7th) 1-1 Exeter City (12th)
Campbell 2
McDonald 68
Barnsley lie in 6th place in Sky Bet League One with 60 points from 32 games. We are 6 points inside the Play-Offs, 11 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 14 points off First Place and 28 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to 6/3/23
Next Up:
At Oakwell:
Sky Bet League One Matchday Thirty Three: Barnsley v Portsmouth, Tuesday 7th March 2023. Kick Off: 7:45pm
On The Road:
Sky Bet League One Matchday Thirty Five: Wycombe Wanderers v Barnsley, Saturday 18th March 2023 Kick Off: 3pm