Barnsley 1 Leicester City 1: Butterfield so desperate to lay down marker for Reds

Bradford-born Butterfield shone in a new role behind lone striker Andy Gray and scored the goal which earned a point against the expensively assembled Foxes, who would have left with nothing but for some great saves from former Leeds United goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Butterfield was in the right place at the right time in the 38th minute after one of the flowing moves reminiscent of Barnsley’s surge to the Premiership under Danny Wilson.

It was begun by Jim O’Brien, brought in by Keith Hill on the flank as he changed formation from the one employed in the goalless draw at Millwall, moving Bobby Hassell to right-back at Scott Wiseman’s expense and using Danny Drinkwater and David Perkins as holding midfield men.

O’Brien – praised and yet warned by his manager that he is no longer interested in cameo displays from off the bench – sent Jimmy McNulty on the overlap and the left-back delivered a great cross which Gray had only to head into the net.

However, the striker, who five minutes earlier had headed wide from six yards, sent his header against the bar and Butterfield was there to nod in the rebound.

“I thought we were brilliant but it’s not a win and we are disappointed not to get the three points which we deserved,” said Butterfield. “My goal was just a tap in header, the first header I’ve scored, but I think the build-up play was brilliant, the way we moved the ball so quick.”

Of his position in the formation, he added: “It was a slightly new role for me, slightly more advanced as a ‘No 10’ as a second striker. It is a perfect role for me really. It gives me freedom to play further up, attack more and be a bit more creative.

“With the two more defensive midfielders sitting back it gives me more of a licence to enjoy a free role.”

Butterfield confessed there have already been a couple of false dawns in his fledgling career but is determined to make the most of his opportunity under Hill.

“I’ve been here since 16 and I need to establish myself as a regular in terms of my career. Two years ago, I made 25 appearances, last year 42 but a lot off the bench.

“I think it is time now for me to be a regular starter. It’s something I have got to do and so far I have played every game under the new gaffer and I am really enjoying it, getting fitter and stronger.

“I’m not taking anything for granted but I am grateful he has given me the opportunity and hopefully I’m repaying him with performances.

“I need to score more than I have done as an attacking creative player. I need to chip in with a fair amount of goals – I don’t think it is something I need to add to my game because I feel I have already got it in there.

“In training, I have always scored goals but it has not quite worked out for me goal-scoring wise yet in games but I am sure it will come soon.”

Of Butterfield, manager Hill said: “I think he is a talent in the same vein that Danny Drinkwater is. I am encouraged with what he has done since I have been at the club and I am prepared to give him his opportunity to play as long as he produces. One thing I won’t do is put my neck on the block but he is an excellent player and his link-up play was superb today.

“He is a real talent who couldmake a real impact not just on the Championship but on his own career. I think he has found himself being a substitute quite a lot and that tells its own story.”

While Hill was happy with the performance but not the result against former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson’s men, he will know full well that lesser sides than the visitors – and there will be many of them – would have been sunk by Barnsley’s rip-roaring performance.

While Schmeichel saved the Foxes at one end, it was another former Leeds player, £2.5m deadline day signing from Everton Jermaine Beckford, who was the one Leicester player to trouble the Reds defence and who unlocked them for the equaliser.

In the first minute of the second half, debutant Beckford expertly controlled a long ball from Matt Mills, sent Barnsley captain and central defender Rob Edwards – later to withdraw with hamstring trouble – the wrong way and drilled in a low cross from the right which Andy King converted with his first touch, having come on at the break.

All Barnsley’s tremendous first-half work had been undone in an instant and one feared the worst for them.

Indeed, they did drop from the high-intensity display which had rocked Leicester in that first half but then found a second wind and finished on top, Schmeichel showing his class by blocking away a close-range drive from Butterfield before leaving the crowd gasping as he first denied substitute Danny Haynes, who had broken through the middle, and immediately beat away a cracking follow-up from O’Brien.

At the end, there was no guessing which of the two managers was most relieved.