Barnsley drew an away league game for the first time in 16 such matches, gaining a hard fought point against a Cambridge United side who despite residing in the relegation zone had won three of their previous four league games including the last two at home.
Eight games is the longest Barnsley have had to wait for an away league draw since 2016-2017 (also eighth game)
The Reds fell behind after just four minutes, the earliest they have conceded in any competition in almost a year – they also fell behind after four minutes at Stevenage on the 23rd December 2023.
Barnsley levelled after 17 minutes with a wonderful solo goal from Stephen Humphrys who ran with the ball from his own half before finishing, his second goal in successive games, the first time he has achieved this feat since February/March for Wigan.
This was the first time in 10 games in all competitions that neither Barnsley or their opponents netted at least twice in the match.
In the 22 games they have played so far in 2024-2025 it has only occurred on four occasions.
Barnsley are now unbeaten in five league outings, their best streak since a run of seven between 3rd February and 9th March and have lost only one of the last nine - 2-0 at Huddersfield on the 5th October.
Despite this being the first away draw of the League One season it was their fifth overall in the league this season, only Stockport (6) have had more stalemates.
In the FA Cup first round tie at Port Vale on 2nd November Darrell Clarke became the first manager since Daniel Stendel to make only one substitution in a game, 330 games ago, Clarke has now made only one in two out of the last three matches.
The introduction here was of Kelechi Nwakali after just eight minutes following an injury to Max Watters – Barnsley’s earliest change since the opening game of 2016-2017 when Sam Winnall went off after only four minutes at Ipswich.
Barnsley have now lost only one of their last eight meetings with Cambridge (W5 D2) with this the first draw in seven clashes dating back to 1992.
This was the first time in seven meetings that at least one team has not netted at least twice and is the first time in six meetings both teams have managed to score.
This draw ended a run of three successive wins for Barnsley at Cambridge and was their first draw there in eight visits.
Barnsley Team:
23. Ben Killip
6. Mael de Gevigney
4. Marc Roberts
32. Josh Earl
7. Corey O’Keeffe
8. Adam Phillips
3. Jon Russell
17. Georgie Gent
44. Stephen Humphrys
40. Davis Keillor-Dunn
36. Max Watters
Substitutes:
50. Kelechi Nwakali (for Watters 8)
Unused Substitutes:
12. Jackson Smith, 5. Donovan Pines, 15. Kyran Lofthouse, 2. Barry Cotter, 18. Matthew Craig, 11. Fabio Jalo.
Cambridge Team:
1. Jack Stevens
15. Jubril Okedina
5. Michael Morrison
3. Danny Andrew
2. Liam Bennett
14. Korey Smith
24. Jordan Cousins
7. James Brophy
10. Elias Kachunga
9. Dan Nlundulu
34. Brandon Njoku
Substitutions:
18. Ryan Loft (for Njoku 49)
19. Shayne Lavery (for Nlundulu 78)
6. Kelland Watts (for Brophy 90)
Unused Substitutes:
31. Louis Chadwick, 16. Zeno Rossi, 29. Connor O’Riordan, 37. Amaru Kaunda
Sky Bet League One Results:
Saturday 16th November 2024:
Cambridge United (22nd) 1-1 BARNSLEY (5th)
Nlundulu 4
Humphrys 17
Blackpool (18th) 0-0 Northampton Town (16th)
Bristol Rovers (14th) 0-0 Crawley Town (21st)
Stockport County (4th) 1-0 Wrexham (3rd)
Barry 24
Barnsley lie in 5th place in Sky Bet League One with 26 points from 15 games. We are 2 points inside the Play-Offs, 4 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 6 points off First Place and 13 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to 18/11/24
Next Up:
At Oakwell:
Sky Bet League One Matchday Sixteen: Barnsley v Wigan Athletic, Saturday 23rd November 2024. Kick Off: 3pm
On The Road:
Sky Bet League One Matchday Eighteen: Wrexham v Barnsley, Tuesday 3rd December 2024. Kick Off: 7:45pm