Barnsley left it late but managed to grab a priceless point at bogey ground Fratton Park and keep them three points inside the play-off places.
Bobby Thomas’ second goal in two games came after 89minutes, Barnsley’s latest leveller in a game since Cauley Woodrow scored a penalty against Bristol City after 90+12 in October 2020.
This was only the second time this season Barnsley have conceded the opening goal and not lost (also at Ipswich in August) They have conceded the first goal on 10 occasions in League One this season.
This only the fifth league game Barnsley have drawn this season (only Peterborough, 2, and MK Dons, 4, have drawn less) in comparision this was Portsmouth’s 11th league stalemate of 2022-2023, only Lincoln with 13 have drawn more.
Four of Barnsley’s five draws have been away from home including each of the last three, and the last two have been 1-1.
Seven of Barnsley’s last nine league stalemates home or away have been 1-1.
Three of the last four meetings between Barnsley and Portsmouth have now ended in a stalemate and Barnsley have won only one of the last seven (W1 D3 L3)
Barnsley are winless in eight visits to Fratton Park (D3 L5) and have won only one of the past 22 (W1 D7 L14)
Both teams reached double figures in terms of shots – only the third time it has happened in a Barnsley game in League One this season (also v Wycombe and at Sheffield Wednesday)
Only five of those shots were on target though, the lowest amount in a Barnsley match in nine outings (at Peterborough 4)
There were 32 fouls in the match, the most in a Barnsley game this season and most since 13th February 2021 v Brentford (33)
Barnsley Team:
40. Brad Collins
2. Jordan Williams
12. Bobby Thomas
6. Mads Andersen (c)
5. Liam Kitching
7. Nicky Cadden
30. Adam Phillips
48. Luca Connell
8. Herbie Kane
44. Devante Cole
47. Max Watters
Substitutes:
23. Oli Shaw (for Watters 64)
14. Josh Martin (for Phillips 64)
3. John Russell (for Connell 76)
17. Barry Cotter (for Williams 76)
Unused Substitutes:
1. Harry Isted, 22. Clarke Oduor, 26. Ziyad Larkeche.
Portsmouth Team:
1. Matt Macey
28. Di’Shon Bernard
20. Sean Raggett
34. Ryley Towler
6. Connor Ogilvie
8. Ryan Tunnicliffe
7. Marlon Pack (c)
16. Joe Morrell
15. Owen Dale
9. Colby Bishop
24. Michael Jacobs
Substitutions:
29. Paddy Lane (for Jacobs 71)
23. Louis Thompson (for Tunnicliffe 83)
Unused Substitutes:
3. Denver Hume, 10. Joe Pigott, 18. Reeco Hackett-Fairchild, 19. Dane Scarlett, 21. Josh Oluwayemi.
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho said:
“The mood in the dressing room was one of disappointment and all the boys were gutted because they should have won the game.
“So it does feel more like a defeat and that’s something we have to take on board before stripping away the equaliser and looking at the huge amount of positives we can take.
Match Reports:
Sky Bet League One Results:
Saturday 4th February 2023:
Accrington Stanley (23rd) 0-3 Lincoln City (16th)
House 24
Roughan 65
Bishop 58
Bolton Wanderers (5th) 1-0 Cheltenham Town (18th)
Dempsey 80
Bristol Rovers (13th) 0-2 Milton Keynes Dons (19th)
Eisa pen 3
Dean 90+1
Cambridge United (22nd) 1-1 Ipswich Town (3rd)
Knibbs 24
Ladapo 54
Derby County (4th) 5-0 Morecambe (21st)
McGoldrick 45
McGoldrick 47
McGoldrick pen 50
Collins pen 66
Knight 69
Exeter City (11th) 1-2 Charlton Athletic (12th)
Rak-Sakyi 8
Blackett-Taylor 18
Mitchell 31
Fleetwood Town (17th) 2-3 Burton Albion (20th)
Stockley 58
Oshilaja 60
Hamer 80
Omochere 90+4
Kirk 90+6
Forest Green Rovers (24th) 0-2 Peterborough United (7th)
Clarke-Harris pen 72
Kyprianou 90+5
Oxford United (15th) 0-1 Shrewsbury Town (9th)
Bowman 74
Port Vale (14th) 0-3 Wycombe Wanderers (8th)
Hanlan 13
Jacobson pen 79
McCleary 82
Portsmouth (10th) 1-1 BARNSLEY (6th)
Bishop 49
Thomas 89
Sheffield Wednesday (1st) 1-0 Plymouth Argyle (2nd)
Paterson 7
Barnsley lie in 6th place in Sky Bet League One with 47 points from 27 games. We are 3 points inside the Play-Offs, 14 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 14 points off First Place and 20 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to 6/2/23
Next Up:
At Oakwell:
Sky Bet League One Matchday Twenty Eight: Barnsley v Cambridge United, Saturday 11th February 2023. Kick Off: 3pm
On The Road:
Sky Bet League One Matchday Twenty Nine: Port Vale v Barnsley, Tuesday 14th February 2023 Kick Off: 7:45pm