Barnsley 1 Burton 0: Hourihane steps off bench to prove spot on for Tykes

He confirmed after Saturday’s win that former Manchester City full-back Reece Wabara is joining the club on a short-term deal, the 25-year-old having left Doncaster at the end of last season.

After starting their home campaign with a win, Johnson said: “I’m relieved, to be honest. We were a bit flat and it was a difficult match. They set their stall out early to stifle the game and disrupt our tempo.

“We didn’t get the fans going. They will have seen good patterns of play but they did fizzle out. We have a team of bright little footballers, we were neat and tidy many times but a bit more energy is required.”

Burton missed the clearer chances in the first half after Joe Rothwell had gone close and Josh Scowen had fizzed a 25-yard drive over.

Dutch striker Abdenasser El Khayati then forced the recalled Adam Davies into a super one-handed save before he teed up Stuart Beavon, who again forced Davies into a smart, low stop.

Lucas Akins ought to have done better just before the break, but he screwed a low effort wide from 12 yards out.

Johnson then brought on Arsenal loanee Dan Crowley for George Smith, explaining: “I just had to give us a solid shape so we had more energy. We started 3-5-2 and it is a very expressive. If people aren’t on their games it gives the opposition a chance to get in behind us.”

Burton, however, almost went in front in the 58th minute when defender Phil Edwards headed over from a corner.

The Reds bounced back with substitute Conor Hourihane testing Jon McLaughlin with a fierce shot from the edge of the area before striking the winning penalty in the 67th minute after Scowen had been tripped.

Barnsley: Davies, Bree, Mawson, Roberts, Nyatanga, Smith (Crowley 46), Scowen, Pearson, Rothwell (Hourihane 54), Watkins, Winnall (Wilkinson 89). Unused substitutes: Ryan Williams, Townsend, Digby, George Williams.

Burton Albion: McLaughlin, Edwards, Mousinho, Naylor, Cansdell-Sherriff, Akins (Binnom-Williams 64), Weir (Palmer 80), McCrory, Duffy, El Khayati, Beavon (Thiele 80). Unused substitutes: Reilly, Butcher, O’Connor, Matthews.

Referee: J Simpson (Lancashire).

Man of the match: Josh Scowen.