Adam Davies became the first goal-keeper to play every league minute of Barnsley’s season since Luke Steele in 2010-2011.
Steele kept 10 clean sheets in those 46 games and conceded 66 goals, Davies has kept 14 clean sheets and conceded 67.
If Barnsley had only lost 1-0 at St James’ Park it would have been the first time ever that they had not conceded more away goals than they had scored in the second tier but they finish having scored 32 and conceded 34. The 34 they have conceded is the lowest at this level since 1998-1999 (26) and the 32 away goals scored is their most at this level since 1999-2000 (40)
Barnsley finished on a negative goal-difference for the 11th successive second tier campaign (since 1999-2000 +21) but –3 is their lowest negative GD since 1987-1988 (-1)
Barnsley finish the 2016-2017 in 14th position, their highest league finish since 1999-2000 (4th in the second tier) with the 58 points they accrued also their most at this level since then (84)
Other milestones for the second tier include winning 15 games – the most since 2000-2001 (also 15) and losing 18- the least since 2010-2011 (18). The 64 goals scored is the best since 99-00 (88) and the 67 conceded the lowest since 2010-2011 (66)
The Reds finish seven points above the relegation zone which is only the most they have finished above the Championship drop zone since 2011-2012 (8) but that was only because the team who finished third bottom, Portsmouth, were deducted 10 points, 2010-2011 (14) is a more accurate season to compare with. However this has been a tough season to be relegated, Blackburn occupied the final spot with 51 points, the most a team has gained at this level yet still been relegated since 2012-2013 when Peterborough went down with 54, and Barnsley survived by gaining just a point more in their final day draw at Huddersfield – indeed it is only the second time in nine years that a team has been relegated from the second tier with 50 or more points.
Barnsley’s 3-0 reverse in the North East was their 10th defeat in the past 12 meetings with the Magpies and they have now lost on each of their last seven trips to St James’ Park, conceding 24 goals in that run and scoring just four.
Dwight Gayle scored Newcastle’s third in the 90th minute making him just the fourth player (after Fulham’s Chris Martin and Scott Malone and Bristol City’s Tammy Abraham) to score both home and away against Barnsley this season.
Barnsley finished the season in relegation form, in complete contrast to how they started it. Prior to the closing of the winter transfer window at the end of January, Barnsley had won 13 of 29 games and sat 8th with 44 points, since then they have won only two of the subsequent 17 picking up a paltry 14 points.
It has been a major season of change at Oakwell- only eight of the 18 man squad from last May’s play-off final remain at the club and only two started this game (Adam Davies and Josh Scowen)
Paul Heckingbottom took charge of his 72nd game for his hometown club. He is the first manager to complete a full season in charge at Oakwell since Keith Hill in 2011-2012. No manager has completed two full seasons in the hotseat since Simon Davey.