Barnsley V QPR – Report

A pretty lively start from both sides saw the first chance fall to the reds inside 3 minutes, Brian Howard was through one on one with Lee Camp but his shot was tipped comfortably around the post.
The resulting corner brought claims for a handball but the referee waved away the claims for a penalty.

Although QPR began passing the ball well, the next chance fell to the reds. After some great interchange play between Hassell and Devaney, Ferenczi forced Camp to drop the ball on the edge of his area, but the Hungarian failed to take advantage of an empty net after he took one touch too many.

The first real chance for the away side fell to Hungarian international Ákos Buzsáky, the midfielder`s left foot shot went just over the bar from 20 yards.
Ferenczi nearly made amends for his earlier howler on 13 minutes, Hassell fed the ball in but the striker`s 25 yard effort went just over.

Jon Macken nearly gave the reds a deserved lead after 17 minutes, Brian Howard took the ball around Buzsáky and then found Macken with a lovely through ball, but the striker`s shot was well blocked by Martin Rowlands.
A couple of minutes later the reds were on the attack again as Jon Macken nodded down for skipper Brian Howard twenty yards from goal, but his right foot volley went high into the stand.

Thirty minutes in and Brian Howard showed great awareness to volley a neat pass for Jamal Campbell-ryce on the right, the little winger produced a splendid cross for Istvan Ferenczi with the goal at his mercy, but his header somehow hit the wrong side of the post.

Bobby Hassell was pulling the strings in the middle of the park, finding Jamal Campbell-ryce with some marvellous long passes.

The visitors nearly found a breakthrough as Foster`s backheader to Luke Steele nearly fell short to Dexter Blackstock, but the young stopper was like lightning off his line to deny the striker a goal.

Second Half

Dexter Blackstock blazed over a golden opportunity for Rangers in the beginning of the second half, Luke Steele couldn`t gather Rowland`s long range effort but Blackstock couldn`t convert the rebound.

The tykes nearly broke the deadlock on 52 minutes, as Howard`s cross found Campbell-ryce at the back post but the winger`s decent effort was straight at Lee Camp.

Barnsley got lucky on 56 minutes, as a cross come shot from Rowlands fizzed across the goal-line.
Istvan Ferenczi was replaced by Kayode Odejayi on the hour mark, the Hungarian should have bagged at least two goals for Barnsley in the first half.

Martin Devaney was replaced by Diego Leon on 68 minutes.

Buzsáky was again the main threat for the hoops but his 20 yard strike went over Steele`s goal.
Substitue Odejayi headed down for Macken in the box on 70 minutes, but his effort deflected into the hands of a grateful Lee Camp.

A Barnsley free kick 30 yards from goal saw Spaniard Diego Leon step up to produce a neat save from Camp who tipped over the bar.
The next chance fell to Leon again on 75 minutes, the midfielder tricked his way into the box but his lob grazed the roof of the net.

Odejayi was causing havoc in Ranger`s box as his cross was cleared for a corner by Delaney. The resulting corner saw defender Dennis Souza head over the bar.

Barnsley were denied a penalty in the dying minutes of the game as Macken appeared to be brought down by Fitz Hall in the box, but the referee signalled for a corner.

Neither side could break the deadlock in the four minutes of added time, reds manager Simon Davey will feel aggrieved that his side didn`t take all the points.

Line-up

Barnsley: Steele, Foster, Souza, Nyatanga, Van Homoet, Campbell-Ryce, Hassell, Howard (c), Devaney (Leon 68), Macken, Ferenczi (Odejayi 60).
Unused subs: Togwell, Ricketts, Potter.

QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mancienne, Blackstock (Vine 78), Buzsaky (Stewart 90), Rowlands, Connolly, Agyemang, Hall, Leigertwood, Balanta (Ephraim 62).
Unused subs: Pickens, Lee.