On a fine bank holiday Monday afternoon, Barnsley had to come from behind twice as to salvage a draw against visitors Doncaster who have now all-but ensured, like the Reds, that they will be playing Championship football next season.
After doing well after coming on as sub in several of Barnsley’s previous fixtures, Ruben Noble-Lazarus was given his first start in the senior team – almost three years after Simon Davey gave him his debut as a 15 year-old. He still remains the youngest player ever to feature in a league game in England.
Opportunities for both teams were few and far between in the first half and it remained scoreless until the hour mark when Jason Euell put the visitors in front – amazingly, Euell scored at Oakwell thirteen years previously whilst playing for Wimbledon in 1998 in what was a Premier League game.
Ten minutes after the opening goal, Steve Foster – back in the side after injury, but more due to the departure of Paul McShane – equalised for the Reds following a corner in front of the Reds faithful in the Pontefract Road End.
Luke Steele hasn’t made too many mistakes this season, although he gifted Euell a second goal just a few minutes after the Barnsley equaliser. Steele couldn’t hold what
seemed like a tame shot from John Oster and put it right into the path of the experienced Euell who couldn’t miss.
With goals generally lacking for Barnsley in 2011, and with more inexperienced young players on the pitch, the Reds best opportunity to level score was going to be from a set-piece. When the opportunity came, Kieran Trippier stepped up to place the ball perfectly into the top right-hand corner of the goal.
Many supporters had been calling out for Mark Robins too use these last few games of the season as a chance to introduce some of young players who have been doing well in the reserves and the Barnsley manager did just that. Jordan Clarke and Danny Rose getting a further taste of first-team action in the final quarter of the game.
The game continued Barnsley’s run of decent performances without recording a win. Rovers did look the more likely winners for a large part of the game seeing as they were still entirely safe from relegation.
Barnsley v Doncaster Rovers Highlights
Click here for highlights of the game (Video is courtesy of the BBC and will be available for around 7 days after the end of the game)
Related articles
- South Yorkshire derby between Barnsley and Doncaster ends all square (tribalfootball.com)

Discussion
No comments yet.