Barnsley 1-1 Burton: Albion secure survival

Burton secured their Sky Bet Championship status by clinching a point from a 1-1 draw at Barnsley.

George Moncur put the home side in front towards the end of the first half but a goal from substitute Luke Varney soon after the restart ensured Burton's survival.

Burton went into the game knowing that a point would be enough to keep them in the second tier for a second season. Moncur saw his early low drive comfortably saved by Stephen Bywater and Burton's first chance of note fell to Jackson Irvine, whose attempted chip failed to beat Adam Davies.

For the home side, Ryan Kent put a long-range effort over the bar while Luke Murphy did likewise at the other end.

The visitors had a couple of promising openings, firstly when Michael Kightly saw his free-kick deflected wide and then Irvine headed just over from the resulting corner. But it was Barnsley who took the lead through Moncur in the 38th minute. Kent and Josh Scowen were involved in the build-up and Moncur fired past Bywater from inside the area.

Burton boss Nigel Clough made a change to his line-up for the start of the second half with Lucas Akins coming on in place of Irvine. The hosts made a bright start to the second period and went close to extending their lead.

Moncur got a shot on target which was saved by Bywater and with the Burton defence failing to fully clear, Tom Bradshaw followed up with an effort which was also kept out by the keeper.

Bywater was then called into action to keep out a spectacular overhead kick from Angus MacDonald, producing a superb save to turn the ball wide.

Clough made a second substitution, sending on Varney as a replacement for Kightly. It proved to be an inspired move as he scored the equaliser moments after joining the action, meeting a corner from Lasse Vigen Christensen with a header.

Varney was proving to be a thorn in Barnsley's side as he had a deflected shot saved and tested Davies with another effort after the hosts were caught on the break.

Kyle McFadzean went close to scoring an own goal when he sliced an attempted clearance from Moncur's cross narrowly wide of Bywater's right-hand post.

There was a scare for Burton in the closing minutes of the game when Bradshaw threatened to find a way through before the ball was eventually hacked clear.

Barnsley coach Jamie Clapham:

"You have to congratulate Burton for the season they've had. Staying up is a great achievement for them. Today was always going to be difficult because we knew they were always going to get bodies behind the ball, make it tough and slow the game down, so it's nothing we didn't expect.

"Unfortunately, we just didn't have the quality to open them up. The quality that we did have was in the first half on the counter-attack and it was good, intricate play to score the goal. We gave everything but we just couldn't break them down. The players gave everything for the Barnsley shirt, as they have done all season, but it was incredibly difficult to break down that yellow wall.

"The season's not over. We're really looking forward to going to Newcastle and spoiling their party."

Burton boss Nigel Clough:

"I'd say this is our greatest achievement because of the clubs we have been up against this season and the strength of the league. To get 52 points and survive is a bigger achievement than actually reaching the Championship.

"We have had to play the likes of Newcastle, Aston Villa, Derby and Sheffield Wednesday, week in, week out, so there are no easy games. You look at the resources and we are on a par with a lot of teams in League One, but we're not on a par with anyone in the Championship.

"You have to embrace that and say 'we are the smallest club' and get like-minded players who want to come and fight against the odds. It was a scrappy, nervy game, but our character got us through in the end. We needed that point because of the situation with the other results and it's good to do it with a game to go."