Barnsley vs Sheffield Wednesday. Sky Bet Championship.
Oakwell StadiumAttendance16,858.
Saturday 10 February 2018 17:05, UK
Barnsley started life without Paul Heckingbottom with a 1-1 draw in a South Yorkshire derby against Sheffield Wednesday at Oakwell.
Atdhe Nuhiu opened the scoring with a penalty-kick for Wednesday before Oliver McBurnie hit back for the hosts, in their first outing since their manager took over as Leeds boss, as the game was settled in the first half.
It was a derby played at a frantic pace in the first half - and it took the Owls 18 minutes to find themselves the opening goal. Lucas Joao tangled with Tykes right-back Andy Yiadom inside the area, and referee Lee Probert pointed to the penalty spot.
Nuhiu stepped up for the visitors and comfortably struck his spot-kick down the middle to make it 1-0 after 18 minutes.
Before that Frederico Venancio had gone close, heading wide at the back post after Ross Wallace's corner was flicked on.
It was soon 1-1 as Barnsley equalised almost straight away following a wonderful individual run from McBurnie with 21 minutes gone. The on-loan Swansea player skipped through the Wednesday defence and then got into the box before finding the bottom corner.
Both teams were playing on the front foot and there could have been more goals in a lively first half. Lloyd Isgrove was causing problems down the right flank and he almost provided the Reds' second goal of the game - delivering the ball for Tom Bradshaw who saw a flicked effort denied by Joe Wildsmith after 33 minutes.
Barnsley were much the better team but spurned a host of chances at the beginning of the second half. McBurnie and Yiadom both put opportunities over the bar, while Bradshaw's tame attempt was easy for Wildsmith.
With 54 minutes on the clock, Barnsley were denied a strong appeal for a penalty. Adam Hammill got past Venancio and then looked to have been brought down by the Wednesday player, but a goal-kick was given.
The home side continued to press and McBurnie then went close again just before the hour mark on what was an impressive home debut. He managed to work space for an opening but Wildsmith made a good stop low down to his right.
There were few signs of life from Jos Luhukay's Wednesday in the second half but a rare moment of quality came from Wallace with just under half an hour remaining. He came inside and then hit a shot which curled inches wide of the far post.
Daniel Pinillos' free-kick for Barnsley was gathered at the second attempt by Wildsmith as the match entered its final 10 minutes. Joey Pelupessy bent an effort wide late on for the Owls as the match finished all square.
Barnsley caretaker Paul Harsley: "You never know what's going to happen but the second I walked into the changing room on Tuesday morning I knew everyone was on side. We knew clearly what we wanted. After the game I told the lads I couldn't thank them enough. They could have had their heads turned.
"The lads responded brilliant. We all came together. I was asked to do this game and I've done it to the best I could in the short space of time. I'm just gutted we didn't get the three points. In the first half I thought we were the more dominant team. The last 30 minutes fizzled out a bit - both teams were maybe worried about conceding."
Jos Luhukay: "I think after 90 minutes we must live with this draw. Both teams had chances. We scored the first goal but we couldn't stay in front. Barnsley had also two or three good chances but we had a very good goalkeeper in Joe Wildsmith. He made some fantastic saves.
"We had four or five situations but we only scored from the penalty spot. Today who scores the second goal would have left as the winner."
