Clarke Hails Gritty Barnsley as Reds Survive Late Scare at Northampton

Barnsley picked up a vital three points on the road with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Sixfields Stadium, thanks to a brace from Davis Keillor-Dunn. The Reds controlled large spells of the game but had to survive a late Northampton fightback after Sam Hoskins struck late on and Mael de Gevigney was sent off.

Needing a response after a patchy run of form, Barnsley delivered when it mattered, securing their tenth away win of the season. The result puts them within four points of the League One play-off places as they look to mount a late push for promotion.

Match Summary

Barnsley made two changes from the side that edged past Rotherham, with Jackson Smith making his full debut in goal in place of the injured Joe Gauci, while Kelechi Nwakali replaced the suspended Luca Connell in midfield.

The visitors started the brighter of the two sides and almost took the lead early on when Jon Russell’s shot was deflected wide. Northampton responded with a spell of pressure, forcing Smith into a smart save from Liam Shaw’s low drive.

But the breakthrough came in the 35th minute. A pinpoint pass from Josh Earl found Keillor-Dunn on the right, and the forward stepped inside before rifling a stunning 25-yard strike into the net. It was his 12th goal of the season, and Barnsley had the lead.

The Reds nearly doubled their advantage before the interval, with Neil Farrugia’s low effort being smothered by the keeper. At the other end, Northampton threatened through a Sam Hoskins header that drifted just over.

Barnsley’s second came on 59 minutes in a moment of real quality. A misplaced pass from Jordan Willis was seized upon by Earl, who nodded it forward. Stephen Humphrys flicked the ball beyond his marker before squaring for Keillor-Dunn to finish emphatically.

Late Drama as Barnsley Dig Deep

The game looked to be drifting towards a routine away win until a lapse in concentration handed Northampton a lifeline with 11 minutes left. Corey O’Keeffe’s loose pass allowed Cian Costelloe a shooting chance, and after his effort was blocked, Hoskins was on hand to fire home from close range.

That goal sparked a frantic finish, with the hosts throwing everything forward. Hoskins saw an acrobatic strike take a deflection and flash just wide, before Mitch Pinnock’s header narrowly missed the target from the resulting corner.

Then came the big talking point. With two minutes left, Mael de Gevigney was shown a straight red card for a challenge on ex-Red Will Hondermarck, leaving Barnsley to see out the game with ten men.

Despite the pressure, the visitors stood firm, and Russell could have wrapped it up late on but saw his header comfortably saved. The full-time whistle brought relief for Barnsley, who head back to Oakwell with a crucial win.

Manager Reaction

Speaking to Doug O’Kane at the Barnsley Chronicle, Darrell Clarke admitted the win ‘took a few years off his life’ but was proud of the way his side dug in for the victory. He said: “We were in control without getting loads going but never looked in danger of conceding. Then we give a really silly goal away and it’s backs to the wall and Mael gets sent off. It took a few years off my life. Credit to the boys. We’ve talked about those moments when we have to dig in.”

On O’Keeffe’s mistake leading to the Northampton goal, Clarke added: “I was frustrated because I was getting ready to change him because he was leggy. I didn’t bring him off because he made the mistake. Players make mistakes. Corey has been superb this season and the lads got him out of it there.”

Clarke also hinted that Barnsley might appeal de Gevigney’s red card, stating: “He didn’t need to make the tackle. We will have a look at it because, with the injuries we’ve got, it’s not a good thing. We’ll analyse it.”

Match Stats

• Possession: Northampton 52.8% - 47.2% Barnsley
• Total Shots: Northampton 14 - 9 Barnsley
• Shots on Target: Northampton 6 - 5 Barnsley
• Corners: Northampton 5 - 3 Barnsley
• Fouls Committed: Northampton 5 - 16 Barnsley
• Pass Accuracy: Northampton 61% - 63.8% Barnsley
• Red Cards: Northampton 0 - 1 Barnsley

What’s Next?

Barnsley will look to build on this result when they return to Oakwell for a crucial clash against Lincoln City on Saturday. Clarke is hoping the fans will back the team in numbers as they continue their push for the play-offs.

Final Thoughts

This was a much-needed victory for Barnsley, who showed resilience in the face of late pressure. The performance was far from perfect, with lapses in concentration giving Northampton hope, but ultimately, the visitors had enough quality to see out the result. Davis Keillor-Dunn’s clinical finishing proved decisive, while Jackson Smith handled his full debut well despite a nervy start.

Marc Roberts also earned praise from Clarke, who called him “a lion” for his defensive efforts. “Robbo has been absolutely outstanding the last two games. He’s headed everything. We needed him and he came up trumps,” Clarke said.

With just four points separating them from the play-off places, Barnsley must now find consistency. Their away form has been impressive, but they need to translate that into results at Oakwell. The upcoming fixtures will be crucial in determining whether they can sustain a genuine push for promotion.

Barnsley Line-up (3-5-2):

Smith; de Gevigney, Roberts, Earl; O’Keeffe (Lembikisa 80’), Phillips, Nwakali, Russell, Farrugia (Gent 64’); Keillor-Dunn (McCarthy 89’), Humphrys (Watters 80’).

Unused: Flavell, Benson, Rodrigues.

Goals: Keillor-Dunn (35’, 59’).

Yellow cards: Humphrys, Earl, Phillips, O’Keeffe.

Red card: de Gevigney.

Northampton Line-up (3-4-3):

Tzanev; Odimayo (Perry 51’), Willis (Magloire 64’), Dyche; Hoskins, Taylor, Shaw (Hondermarck 72’), Guinness-Walker (McGowan 64’), Fosu, Costello, Pinnock.

Unused: Burge, Wilson, Baldwin.

Goals: Hoskins (79’).

Yellow card: Shaw.

Red cards: None.