Relegation beckons for Barnsley after late heartbreak once again

Barnsley fail to hold on to all three points with Reading’s 82nd-minute equaliser pushing the Reds one step closer to the drop.

The Tykes’ susceptibility to conceding late goals has become a recurring problem, with Reading the latest team to hinder their survival hopes.

An early goal from Barnsley forward Carlton Morris was sure to settle any early nerves inside Oakwell, however. A quick passage in the final third followed up by a low strike from the edge of the box highlighted the quality their side possessed at times.

Goals haven’t been an issue as of late, particularly at home. Barnsley have scored in their last six home games, a surprising achievement for a team with the lowest number of goals scored in the division. Finding the back of the net has resulted in a sharp upturn in form too, with an unbeaten run during this six-game spell.

Victories against QPR, Middlesbrough and Bristol City as well as a shock result against league leaders Fulham are clear season highlights while Poya Asbaghi’s side has shown serious signs of improvement in recent weeks.

Now while such improvements are pleasing to see, it may be too little, too late for the Tykes. The appointment of Asbaghi back in November lacked the new manager bounce the club so desperately needed. With his first league win not arriving until mid-February, any side picking up three points out of a possible 36 in the build-up would leave themselves a mountain to climb. A mountain of 14 points, in fact.

Nevertheless, Barnsley have shown character and conviction in their attempts to hold on to the possibility of another year of Championship football. This 14-point deficit has since dropped to eight with seven games and 21 points left to play for in the coming weeks.

However, it is results such as a draw against Reading which has prevented this difference from being even slimmer.

Late heartbreak is nothing new for Barnsley this season but dropping points so late on in games, so late on in the campaign seems to carry an extra layer of importance as well as frustration when survival is dangled right in front of you. The regularity of this problem seems to be the issue here.

While results overall are on the up, an alarming number of points have been carelessly dropped in the dying moments of games. Since February alone, 90th-minute goals by Dominic Hyam, Lewis Baker and Harry Wilson have caused the Reds to drop a collective five points to Coventry, Stoke and Fulham respectively. A small tally over the course of a season; a massive one at such a critical part of the campaign.

Josh Laurent’s late goal for Reading at the weekend now joins this list. After failing to clear their lines, the midfielder was given a glorious opportunity from six yards out to aid the Royals’ own relegation battle endeavours. The ultimate sucker-punch for Barnsley, too – giving a leg-up to a team stuck in the same fight as themselves.

It’s not even the quantity of goals conceded which is the issue, either. Five teams have conceded more goals than Barnsley this campaign with the likes of Peterborough letting in 26 goals more than the South Yorkshire side. They have rarely been victims of heavy defeats but instead it’s the inability to see games out which could prove to be their fatal flaw. Ultimately, more than ever now, results matter more than performances.

With a trip to Millwall coming up next, Barnsley need to secure the three points with Derby and Peterborough breathing down their neck and Reading slipping out of reach.

So, does that mean Barnsley’s fate is sealed already? Not yet. However, time is running out and there is no margin for error here and absolutely no room for any more late slip-ups.

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