Barnsley came back down to earth with a bump as it proved unlucky 13th at Exeter following a run of 10 wins and two draws.
It was the Reds first defeat on the road in seven (W4 L2).
In all competitions Barnsley have had four separate runs of four straight victories this season and three of those have now been ended by a defeat, two of which by Exeter.
Barnsley have either scored or conceded three goals in four of their last five outings and seven of their last nine.
This was the third time Barnsley have conceded three goals in a league match in 2022-2023 but the first time away from home.
Barnsley currently have the third best away record in League One with this only their fifth defeat away from Oakwell this season, only Ipswich (3) and Sheffield Wednesday (4) have lost less.
Prior to this game Barnsley had the best away defensive record but by conceding three times on their travels for the first time since the final game of 2021-2022 they have now conceded two more away goals than Wednesday.
It is the first time they have conceded three goals away from home in League One since a 3-1 defeat at Burton on the 6th April 2019 – Exeter was their 21st away League One match since then.
Overall this was Barnsley's ninth league defeat of the season – only they, Ipswich (4) Wednesday (5) and Plymouth (6) remain in single figures for league defeats in League One this season.
This was also only Barnsley’s third league defeat in their last 23 – equivalent of half a season (W16 D3 L3)
This was only the third time in the league this season that Barnsley have equalised after being 1-0 down and the first that they have then gone on to lose (Ipswich 2-2, Portsmouth 1-1)
Indeed of their nine league defeats so far this is only the second one in which they have scored themselves – a 2-1 reverse at Derby back in August being the other.
This was the 11th time in 37 league games so far this season in which the Reds have conceded the opening goal and they have failed to win any (D2 L9)
Indeed they have failed to win any of their last 27 league games in which they have conceded the opening goal (D3 L24) last doing so against Derby at Oakwell in November 2021.
Jay Stansfield opening the scoring for Exeter to go along with the brace he netted in the Grecians 2-0 win at Oakwell in October. He is the third player to score in both league meetings with Barnsley this season after Portsmouth’s Colby Bishop and Accrington’s Tommy Leigh.
Exeter’s game clinching third goal came from the penalty spot, the fifth league goal conceded in this manner this season.
In contrast Barnsley have now gone 47 league matches without being awarded a penalty. It last occurred on the 12th March 2022 when Carlton Morris scored from 12 yards v Fulham.
Barnsley’s equaliser came courtesy of Bobby Thomas from a Luca Connell freekick – Connell’s sixth assist of the season, the joint most along with Jordan Williams and Adam Phillips in 2022-2023.
Exeter goalkeeper Jamal Blackman picked up a yellow card, the first opposing keeper booked since Joe Wildsmith for Sheffield Wednesday on the 20th March 2021.
Exeter have completed a league double over Barnsley for only the second time, the other occasion being in 1976-1977 however they have done so in two of the last four seasons in which both teams have been in the same division.
Both teams scored for the first time in four meetings.
Exeter have won seven of the last 11 meetings overall.
Exeter have won back to back meetings, prior to this Barnsley had won two in a row.
Barnsley have now lost nine of their 11 visits to Exeter including eight of the last nine (W1) although this was their first visit for 43 years.
Barnsley Team:
1. Harry Isted
12. Bobby Thomas (Y)
6. Mads Andersen (c)
5. Liam Kitching
2. Jordan Williams
30. Adam Phillips
48. Luca Connell (Y)
8. Herbie Kane
7. Nicky Cadden
44. Devante Cole
9. James Norwood
Substitutes:
10. Josh Benson (for Cole 63)
16. Luke Thomas (for Norwood 63)
31. Slobodan Tedic (for Kane 64)
47. Max Watters (for Connell 64)
24. Robbie Cundy (for Kitching 87)
Unused Substitutes:
26. Ziyad Larkeche, 40. Brad Collins.
Exeter Team:
18. Jamal Blackman
26. Pierce Sweeney
14. Will Aimson (c)
5. Alex Hartridge
12. Josh Key
29. Kevin McDonald
16. Harry Kite
7. Demetri Mitchell
8. Archie Collins
23. James Scott
9. Jay Stansfield
Substitutions:
10. Sam Nombe (for Scott 66)
6. Rekeem Harper (for McDonald 78)
11. Joe White (for Stansfield 82)
Unused Substitutes:
3. Jack Sparkes, 21. Josh Coley, 22. Harry Lee, 27. Jonathan Grounds.
Match Reports:
Sky Bet League One Results:
WEDNESDAY 29TH MARCH 2023:
Cheltenham Town (17th) 2-2 Sheffield Wednesday (2nd)
Keena 62
May 69
Flint 76
Gregory 87
Barnsley lie in 4th place in Sky Bet League One with 72 points from 37 games. We are 9 points inside the Play-Offs, 7 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 8 points off First Place and 37 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to 30/3/23
Next Up:
At Oakwell:
Sky Bet League One Matchday Thirty Eight: Morecambe v Sheffield Wednesday, Saturday 1st April 2023. Kick Off: 3pm
On The Road:
Sky Bet League One Matchday Thirty Nine: Burton Albion v Barnsley, Friday 7th April 2023 Kick Off: 3pm