Barnsley settle for point

Barnsley had to settle for a point against Preston which left Simon Davey fuming at a number of bizarre decisions from the referee.

The Reds were looking for their third win in three games as Alan Irvine`s men set up Barnsley with Lancashire opposition for the second time over the short Christmas period.

Barnsley were unchanged from their victory over Burnley on Boxing day, Jon Macken started up front despite complaints of a groin strain.

Foster let Sunderland loanee Ross Wallace know he was in a match as the former Burnley man thumped the winger in a crunching challenging with a minute on the clock.

Neither side saw a clear cut chance fall their way, though half chances for Nicholson and Hassell failed to trouble either ‘keeper.

The Tykes found themselves in front on eighteen minutes as Cureton produced his second goal in two games out of nothing. Kozluk`s free-kick wasn`t properly cleared by Mawene and Jamie Cureton lobbed Lonergan with a neat strike from twelve yards.

Heinz Muller was called in to action as Elliott`s header looked destined for the bottom corner. The big German has been in fine form recently and must be attracting the attention of Premier League clubs.

A splendid counter attack from Barnsley saw Kozluk in on goal but the full-back blazed over with only Lonergan to beat from twelve yards.

The second half saw Preston nearly equalise as Billy Jones` blistering thirty yard drive sail just wide of the top corner.

A string of bemusing decisions from the referee Anthony Taylor gifted Preston several free-kicks in dangerous positions.

The introduction of Mounir El Haimour settled the Reds back into the game with a 4-4-2 formation. The Frenchman had a chance to double his side`s lead but blazed Cureton`s neat pass high and wide.

Alan Irvine introduced Jon Parkin and Neil Mellor as he looked to bully a result out of Barnsley.

The two front-men combined well immediately to produce a stop from Muller, before Jones picked up the first yellow card of the match after a late foul on Bobby Hassell who was breaking down the left.

Parkin went down under a challenge from Foster like he had been shot, the referee, unfortunately, was conned by the former Barnsley striker`s theatrics. This allowed Wallace to plant his edge-of-the-box free-kick into Muller`s top-left-hand corner with 18 minutes remaining.

Barnsley pressed but failed to find the winning goal, leaving visiting manager Alan Irvine very happy with a point, and Simon Davey fuming.

Attendance: 13,851

Team line-ups:

Barnsley: Muller, Van Homoet, Foster, Moore, Kozluk (Colace 45), Hassell, Campbell-Ryce, Anderson, Leon (El Haimour 53), Macken (Rigters 73), Cureton.

Subs not used: Odejayi, Souza.

Preston North End: Lonergan, Davidson, Chaplow, Mawene, Brown (Parkin 64), Nicholson, St Ledger, McKenna, Jones, Wallace, Elliott (Mellor 64).

Subs not used: Carter, Nolan, Neal.

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Grt Manchester)
Assistant referee: Rob Merchant (Staffordshire)
Assistant referee: Gary Sutton (Lincolnshire)
Fourth official: David Benton (South Yorkshire)