Barnsley undone by late Exeter strike

Another bleak night at Oakwell as Barnsley’s miserable run continues. A late goal from Exeter condemned the Reds to a 2-1 defeat, stretching their winless streak to six games. As the full-time whistle blew, the mood around Oakwell was one of weary resignation – another match, another late collapse.

The Story of the Match

It wasn’t the start Barnsley wanted, and it certainly wasn’t the end they deserved. Within 13 minutes, Ryan Trevitt had bundled Exeter into the lead after Kieren Flavell had already pulled off two solid saves. As has so often been the case this season, the Reds found themselves chasing the game far too early.

There were flickers of life – Stephen Humphrys looking sharper than he has in months, darting down the left and creating the odd chance. However, for all their huff and puff, Barnsley lacked that final bit of quality to truly trouble Exeter’s defence. The visitors even thought they’d doubled their lead before half-time, but the goal was chalked off after a foul in the build-up.

Hope Restored – Briefly

Conor Hourihane shuffled the pack at half-time, introducing Luca Connell and Max Watters to try and spark a response. It seemed to pay off when, on 58 minutes, Davis Keillor-Dunn drove forward and laid it on a plate for Humphrys to fire low and hard into the corner – his first goal in 23 games. Relief rippled through Oakwell – finally, something to cheer.

But in keeping with the story of the season, that spark was soon extinguished. With just three minutes of normal time remaining, Mael de Gevigney miscontrolled a simple pass just outside his own box. Josh Magennis pounced, and before Flavell could set himself, the ball was in the back of the net. Another late hammer blow.

Fans Left Frustrated

It’s become a worrying trend at Oakwell – brief glimpses of fight followed by the inevitable sting in the tail. Hourihane’s post-match comments again highlighted the need for focus, but the reality is that too many players are switching off at crucial moments.

There were some positives – Humphrys finally breaking his drought, Flavell looking more composed in goal, and Russell’s relentless pressing. But when defensive errors become routine, even those bright spots feel like afterthoughts.

One thing is clear: the fans have had enough. Sparse crowds and growing discontent reflect the collective exhaustion of a fanbase that’s seen this movie one too many times. With Birmingham next on the fixture list, something needs to change – and fast.

Team Lineups

Barnsley (3-4-1-2): Flavell; de Gevigney, McCarthy, Nwakali; Russell, O'Keeffe, Jalo, Durand de Gevigney; Keillor-Dunn; Humphrys, Bland.

Subs: Hayton, Lewis, Lembikisa, Barratt, Rodrigues, Watters, Connell.

Exeter (4-4-2): Whitworth; Turns, MacDonald, Hartridge, McMillan; Trevitt, Francis, Niskanen, Jones; Watts, Magennis.

Subs: Purrington, Harper, Cole, Tognane, Oluwabori, Cox, McDonald.

Match Stats

Statistic	Barnsley	Exeter
Possession (%)	63.5	36.5
Total Shots	15	14
On Target	6	4
Off Target	7	2
Blocked Shots	2	8
Passing Accuracy (%)	81.2	68.5
Corners	0	6
Tackles (%)	62.5	72.7
Aerial Duels (%)	42.5	57.5
Fouls	13	12
Yellow Cards	2	1
Red Cards	0	0

Final Whistle

Another late gut punch for Barnsley, and the questions keep piling up. How does a team with so much fight keep falling short? How does an interim boss inspire belief when results say otherwise? Next up, Birmingham – a team that doesn’t let up. The Reds need more than just a reaction – they need a complete rethink.