[BFC SITE] Reds beaten by Terriers

Derby day at Oakwell ended with Huddersfield taking all three points after Barnsley failed to maintain their first-half lead.

Davis Keillor-Dunn had Barnsley’s first chance of the game driving into the box from the right wing, but his shot forced Lee Nicholls into a save. Humphrys got the follow-up, but smashed the ball over the crossbar. Just minutes later at the other end of the pitch, Maël de Gevigney displayed a brilliant defensive challenge to stop a quick Huddersfield attack.

After a positive start from the Reds, Jon Russell broke the deadlock in the 14th minute. Driving with the ball down the centre of the pitch, the number three eased past the Huddersfield players, cutting in on his right foot just outside the area, and slotting the ball past Nicholls. Corey O’Keeffe almost made it two for the Reds with a curling left-footed shot from just outside the box minutes later, but it went inches over the crossbar.

A fantastic cross-field ball over the top found O’Keeffe in space down the right wing. He cut the ball back to Keillor-Dunn, but his shot was blocked by the visitor’s defence. Both teams had good spells of possession in the first half, but the Reds found themselves on top at the break.

Half time: Reds 1-0 Huddersfield Town

The second half started with Huddersfield as the stronger side. Hoping to get themselves back in the game, the Terriers piled on the pressure, but Barnsley sustained the early onslaught. After a Barnsley freekick from outside the box, the visitors countered quickly. Taking advantage of their overload in attack, Huddersfield got an equaliser via substitute Josh Koroma. With the Reds on the back foot, the visitors doubled their lead two minutes later. Winning a free kick just outside the box, the Terriers' delivery skipped through everyone catching Joe Gauci off-guard, putting Barnsley 2-1 behind.

With work to do, the Reds made two changes replacing O’Keeffe and Neil Farrugia with Dexter Lembikisa and Jon Lewis, making their Oakwell debuts this afternoon. Josh Earl had a chance on goal in the 81st minute, but it was straight into the hands of Nicholls. A misplaced pass from Steven Humphrys almost led to another Huddersfield goal but the chance came to nothing.

A disappointing second-half performance from the Reds meant they took nothing from the game, and the score ended 2-1 for the Terriers.

Full time: Reds 1-2 Huddersfield Town

Barnsley FC: Gauci (GK), Russell, Pines, de Gevigney ©, O’Keeffe (Lembikisa 71’), Farrugia (Lewis 71’), Earl, Rodrigues (Benson 63’), Humphrys (Dyer 87’), Keillor-Dunn, Nwakali

Subs unused: Smith (GK), Gent, McCarthy,

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