Barnsley avoided defeat on the opening day in the Championsh9p for only the second time in their last six second tier seasons and only fifth in the last 14.
Since defeating Norwich 1-0 in the first game of 2000-2001, only against Sheffield Wednesday (2-2) in 2009-2010, Nottingham Forest (0-0) in 2011-2012, Middlesbrough (1-0) in 2012-2013 and Fulham (1-0) in 2019-2020 have the Reds not started a second tier season on 0 points.
It is the first time at this level they have also not lost their first away game of the season since the goal-less draw at Forest 10 years ago.
It is only the fourth time (all levels) Barnsley have started with a draw this century, 2004-2005, 2009-2010, 2011-2012, 2021-2022.
Barnsley managed to avoid defeat in Wales for only the third time in seven visits however they have failed to win any of those seven – last winning in Wales, at Cardiff in December 2016.
This was the third time Cardiff have been Barnsley’s season opening opponents and they have now won (1-0 away in 1958-1959), drawn (1-1 in 2021-2022) and lost (2-1 at home in 2006-2007)
This was the first time Cardiff have avoided defeat in their opening game since 2017-2018.
Toby Sibbick earned Barnsley the point, with his first goal for the club in his 45th appearance. It is his first ever league goal having previously scored for AFC Wimbledon in the Football League Trophy (2) v Tottenham Under 21s in October 2017 and against West Ham in the FA Cup in January 2019.
Josh Benson assisted the goal on his debut, it is the second Barnsley game in a row where a substitute set up a goal following Jordan Williams for Cauley Woodrow in the play-off second leg at Swansea in May.
There were no bookings in the game, Barnsley’s first opening day game at this level with no cards shown since 1996-1997.
Barnsley have gone three successive games without a booking (includes both play-off legs) for the first time since April 2019 in League One, v Shrewsbury, Plymouth and Blackpool.
Barnsley have started 2021-2022 with a draw – they only had four away draws in the entirety of 2020-2021 with this only their third away stalemate in 2021.
They have gone five games without a win (all comps) for the first time since a run of seven between 19th September and 24th October 2020.
Barnsley have now gone eight games without a win against Cardiff (D3 L5) and have won only one of the last 15 (W1 D5 L9)
They have failed to win any of their last four trips to Cardiff however this draw ended a run of three defeats.
Barnsley had 55% possession, their most in seven outings.
There were a total of 20 shots in the game (10 each) as there has been now in three of Barnsley’s last four matches.
There were only 13 fouls given in the game, the lowest in a Barnsley league match since October 2019 when they faced another Welsh side – Swansea.
Barnsley Team:
40. Brad Collins
5. Liam Kitching
30. Michal Helik
20. Toby Sibbick
3. Ben Williams
21. Romal Palmer
4. Callum Styles
7. Callum Brittain
28. Dominik Frieser
9. Cauley Woodrow
14. Carlton Morris
Substitutes:
10. Josh Benson (for Palmer 63)
22. Clarke Oduor (for Frieser 72)
15. Jasper Moon (for Williams 76)
Unused Substitutes:
1. Jack Walton, 24. Aapo Halme, 2. Jordan Williams, 46. Cameron Thompson.
Cardiff Team:
1. Dillon Phillips
2. Mark McGuinness
5. Aden Flint
16. Curtis Nelson
8. Joe Ralls
21. Marlon Pack
38. Perry Ng
3. Joel Bagan
7. Leandro Bacuna
26. Ryan Giles
19. James Collins
Substitutions:
15. Ryan Wintle (for Ralls 65)
10. Kieffer Moore (for Bacuna 76)
29. Mark Harris (for Collins 86)
Unused Substitutes:
25. Alex Smithies, 4. Sean Morrison, 37. Sam Bowen, 27. Rubin Colwill.
Cardiff manager Mick McCarthy said:
"It was emotional and having fans back in was great, it was a shame we couldn't turn it into a win.
"You won't have a tougher physical game than that and if you aren't going to win, don't get beaten.
"I've been around a lot of crowds and that was as good as any.
"I hope we can improve on that and give them something to really shout about.
"There is a lot to be happy with. You can't knock the team for effort and work-rate and playing for the shirt."
Sky Bet Championship results
FRIDAY 6TH AUGUST 2021
AFC Bournemouth 2-2 West Bromwich Albion
Marcondes 12
O’Shea 33
Billing 52
Robinson 67
SATURDAY 7TH AUGUST 2021
Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Swansea City
Gallagher 36
Brereton pen 48
Paterson 52
Bristol City 1-1 Blackpool
Martin 44
Lavery 90+3
Cardiff City 1-1 BARNSLEY
Pack 54
Sibbick 69
Derby County 1-1 Huddersfield Town
Davies 39
Sarr 45
Luton Town 3-0 Peterborough United
Adebayo 30
Cornick 68
Onyedinma 71
Preston North End 1-4 Hull City
Riis Jakobsen 8
Lewis-Potter 35
Smallwood 62
Magennis 85
Cannon 90+2
Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Millwall
Wallace 11
Dickie 31
Stoke City 3-2 Reading
Powell 25
Swift 26
Brown 28
Moore 60
Surridge 85
Sheffield United 0-1 Birmingham City
Colin 19
SUNDAY 8TH AUGUST 2021
Fulham 1-1 Middlesbrough
Wilson 29
Bola 77
Coventry City 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Taylor 36
Gyokeres 81
McFadzean 90+6
Barnsley lie in 9th place in the Sky Bet Championship with 1 point from 1 game. We are 2 points off the Play-Offs, 2 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 2 points off First Place and 1 point above the Relegation Zone.
Up to 8/8/21
Next Up:
On The Road:
Carabao Cup First Round: Bolton Wanderers v Barnsley, Tuesday 10th August 2021. Kick-Off: 8pm
At Oakwell:
Sky Bet Championship Matchday Two: Barnsley v Coventry City, Saturday 14th August 2021. Kick-Off: 3pm