Barnsley finally ended their six-game winless run with a determined 1-0 victory over Rotherham United at the New York Stadium, with Adam Phillips' second-half penalty proving the difference.
It was a match marred by controversial refereeing decisions, with the Reds denied two strong penalty shouts, but Darrell Clarke’s side showed grit and resilience to grind out a vital three points.
The victory moves Barnsley up to tenth in the League One table, now just seven points off the play-off spots. Meanwhile, Rotherham continue their struggles, remaining in 14th place after their third defeat in four matches.
First Half: Tight Contest with Early Controversy
Clarke, under pressure to turn results around, made three changes to the starting XI, maintaining their familiar 3-5-2 formation. Luca Connell, Adam Phillips, and Marc Roberts were restored to the lineup, replacing Kelechi Nwakali, Clement Rodrigues, and Donovan Pines.
Barnsley had an early penalty appeal turned down in the fourth minute when Reece James appeared to pull back Phillips in the box after a defensive mistake. The referee waved away the appeals, setting the tone for a frustrating afternoon for the visitors.
Possession was evenly contested in the early stages, with Barnsley edging it at 55.8% by full-time. However, the first half saw few clear-cut chances. The Reds’ best opportunity came when Phillips met a Josh Earl cross but directed his header straight at Dillon Phillips.
Rotherham, despite registering ten shots to Barnsley’s ten, managed just two on target. Their best chance fell to Jordan Hugill just before the break when he failed to convert from two yards out after Mallik Wilks’ deflected cross.
Second Half: Phillips Converts Amid More Controversy
Rotherham came out stronger after the break, with Wilks forcing Joe Gauci into a smart save from distance. However, it was Barnsley who broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second half.
A long ball from Connell was misjudged by James, whose weak header back to his goalkeeper allowed Davis Keillor-Dunn to nip in before being brought down by Dillon Phillips. This time, the referee pointed to the spot, and Phillips calmly slotted home the penalty to give the Reds the lead.
Barnsley had another strong penalty claim shortly after when Zak Jules clearly handled the ball in the box, but once again, the officials refused to award the spot-kick, leaving Clarke visibly frustrated on the touchline.
Despite Rotherham’s pressure, Barnsley’s defence held firm, recording 50 tackles compared to Rotherham’s 73. The home side also struggled in aerial duels, winning just 53.5% compared to Barnsley’s 46.5%—a testament to the Reds’ defensive resilience.
Final Stages: Injury Blow for Gauci but Reds Hold Firm
With Rotherham chasing an equaliser, Clarke introduced Clement Rodrigues and Dexter Lembikisa for Humphrys and Farrugia. The Millers pressed forward, but their best openings—headers from Nombe and Clarke-Harris—failed to trouble the Barnsley goal.
Barnsley suffered a late blow when goalkeeper Gauci had to be replaced by debutant Jackson Smith in the 76th minute. However, the young keeper was rarely tested, making a comfortable save from Hakeem Odoffin deep into stoppage time.
Adam Phillips almost wrapped up the points with a dipping long-range effort that Dillon Phillips did well to parry away, but the single goal was enough to hand Barnsley a crucial derby win.
Final Thoughts
It wasn’t a classic performance, but it was a much-needed result for Clarke’s men, who displayed resilience in tough conditions. The officiating will be a talking point, but Barnsley fans will be relieved to see their side return to winning ways ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.
The Reds now travel to Northampton on Tuesday, where they will be without Connell due to suspension after his tenth booking of the season. With Barnsley now within touching distance of the play-offs, Clarke will be eager to build momentum in the coming weeks.
Barnsley XI (3-5-2):
Gauci (Smith 76); de Givegney, Roberts, Earl; O’Keeffe, Phillips (Benson 87), Connell, Russell, Farrugia (Lembikisa 63); Keillor-Dunn, Humphrys (Rodrigues 63).
Unused Subs: McCarthy, Nwakali, Lewis.
Booked: Connell.
Goals: Phillips (52, pen).
Rotherham XI (4-3-3):
Phillips; Rafferty, Jules, Odoffin, James; Mpanzu, Powell (Kayode 86), Sibley (Clarke-Harris 63); Wilks, Nombe, Hugill (Green HT).
Unused Subs: Dawson, McWilliams, Holmes, Hatton.
Booked: Wilks.
Match Stats:
- Possession: Rotherham 44.2% - 55.8% Barnsley
- Total Shots: Rotherham 10 - 10 Barnsley
- Shots on Target: Rotherham 2 - 3 Barnsley
- Blocked Shots: Rotherham 3 - 3 Barnsley
- Passing Accuracy: Rotherham 62.6% - 75.5% Barnsley
- Corners: Rotherham 11 - 3 Barnsley
- Fouls Committed: Rotherham 12 - 13 Barnsley
- Yellow Cards: Rotherham 1 - 1 Barnsley
Barnsley’s defensive display proved key to the win, limiting Rotherham to just two shots on target despite their 11 corners. With a strong showing in possession and passing accuracy, the Reds controlled the midfield battle and took their one big opportunity to claim the derby victory.
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