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Coca Cola Championship |
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Barnsley 0 |
Crystal Palace 0 |
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The badly needed home win didn't happen against a resiliant Palace keeper. We had countless chances, and had we had better finishing on the day should have had at least four against a Palace side who didn't offer too much opposition, but held on for what is a good point for them.
It was Palace who in the end secured what could prove a very important point in their battle against the drop and goalkeeper Julian Speroni kept everything out and earned a 0-0 draw against the reds at Oakwell.
Former reds manager Paul Hart's side were up against it for much of the game as the Tykes hoped to bounce back from the 6-1 defeat at leaders Newcastle last week.
But as much as we tried the tykes could not get past an inspired Speroni and with his heroic efforts, Palace held on to claim a point.
Mark Robins made four changes to the side that lost by a big margin at St James' Park. David Preece continued in goal for Luke Steele in goal, and there were recalls for Adam Hammill, Jon Macken and Daniel Bogdanovic.
Kieran Djilali and Neil Danns came back into the Palace team, with Johnny Ertl and Calvin Andrew relegated to a seat on the bench.
Hammill had a initial opportunity in the seventh minute but fired over with his 25 yard effort.
Preece was then forced into action to keep out a header from Palace striker Alan Lee.
At the other end Bogdanovic broke clear but his shot was too close to Speroni, who gathered comfortably.
Hammill saw another shot fly wide, Bogdanovic tested Speroni for a second time and Hugo Colace was off target with an ambitious 25-yard volley as Barnsley enjoyed a useful spell of pressure. The reds had some lovely delivery from midfield which often carved open the Palace defence, presenting one on one opportunities, but all these chances were spurned, we should have won this game comfortably but for these missed chances.
We were unable to make the breakthrough and Palace came away with a point for their hard defensive work.
Palace did go close themselves in the 34th minute as Darren Ambrose dragged a left-footed shot just wide from 12 yards.
Bogdanovic had another chance three minutes later but was unable to get past Speroni from 20 yards, the Palace keeper had to be alert again to deny the ever impressive Filipe Teixeira as the half drew to a close.
Both sides made changes at the break, Barnsley bringing on Luke Potter for Carl Dickinson who got injured in a bad challenge that again went barely noticed by another very bad official at Oakwell, and Palace brought on Ertl for Nick Carle.
The reds continued to press Palace the most likely to open the scoring, with Teixeira and Bogdanovic having chances which brought further heroics from Speroni.
The reds were on the attack again with Macken firing straight at Speroni from the edge of the area.
Tykes captain Stephen Foster headed just over from Hammills corner and Teixeira saw another chance get away as time started to run out for the reds to get a badly needed win to keep play off hopes alive.
Speroni then pulled off a brilliant save to keep out Ryan Shotton's back header and also reacted well again to deny Macken from the corner.
Palace could have snatched an unlikely win at the end as sub Alassane N'Diaye headed straight at Preece from Danns' cross. We've seen that happen at Oakwell before after a dominating performance but no goals to show for the work, teams have had a chance and put their effort away.
Man of the match: Bobby Hassell, once again impecible at the back. In attitude and skill.
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