Barnsley 2 Crewe 0: Goalkeeper hands victory to the Reds

Lewin Nyatanga scored midway through the second half and a late own goal from Crewe substitute goalkeeper Paul Rachubka sealed the result.

Barnsley’s Mark Burton said after his second game in charge alongside Paul Heckingbottom: “It was a tense atmosphere to start off with and the players were tense.

“You could see the players lift when the goal came. The goalkeeper and the back four were superb and the team took the game to Crewe.”

The hosts looked a different side after central defender Nyatanga’s 66th-minute headed goal from a corner.

They suddenly had a spring in their step, and the recalled James Bailey went close with an effort from a tight angle.

Kane Hemmings produced a neat turn and shot which fizzed inches over the crossbar, before the Reds clinched victory.

George Smith’s inswinging corner was headed into the air by Crewe defender George Ray, and, as the ball dropped back down, experienced Rachubka, on his debut and having replaced the injured Ben Garratt eight minutes earlier, could only palm the ball into his own net.

Barnsley: Davies, Cranie, Mvoto, Nyatanga, Smith, Scowen, Pearson, Bailey, Hourihane (O’Sullivan 46), Lita (Waring 65), Hemmings (Oates 90). Unused substitutes: Berry, Holgate, Lalkovic, Dibble.

Crewe Alexandra: Garratt (Rachubka 71), Davis, Tate (Waters 81), Ray, Turton, Jones, Baillie, Ness, Grant (Cooper 69), Ajose, Haber. Unused substitutes: Inman, Nolan, Leigh, Stewart.

Referee: D Deadman (Cambridgeshire).

Man of the match: Lewin Nyatanga.