Barnsley FC 1 Oxford United 1: 10-man Reds dig deep to claim valuable League One point

10-man Barnsley dug deep to claim a valuable 1-1 draw against high-flying Oxford United.

The bruised hosts lost defender Jack Shepherd to a red card after just nine minutes, prompting an abandonment of their signature high press.

Daniel Stendel’s men took the lead regardless, defying their numerical disadvantage to open the scoring through Vimal Yoganathan.

An onslaught of Oxford attacks followed but the U’s only managed one breakthrough, levelling via Mark Harris on the hour mark.

The visitors went down to 10 men themselves in the closing stages, losing goalkeeper Jamie Cumming to a red card, but there was little time for Barnsley to take advantage.

First half

The opening exchanges were scrappy, with both sides zipping into challenges and subsequently struggling to retain possession.

Barnsley were pressing with cohesion as well as gusto, but early optimism was swiftly dampened. Louie Sibley peeled away down the right and found himself on the end of a recklessly late challenge from Shepherd, who got to his feet to see a red card being brandished.

The hosts responded by going strikerless, sacrificing Tobi Adeyemo to get Jubril Okedina on the pitch and in at right-back, with Arley Kay moving inside to centre-back.

Bouyed by the numerical advantage, Oxford upped the ante. The newly-introduced Okedina’s first task of the afternoon was to block a Siriki Dembele shot after Mark Harris was denied by Cieran Slicker.

Harris was then released by Sibley, only to see Sam Gale recover and give Slicker a chance to snuff out the danger.

Barnsley were evidently lacking a body at the top end of the pitch and laying a glove on the visitors proved difficult. Cameron McGeehan wriggled himself into a yard of space near the edge of the box, but sent a low drive wide of the post. He went close again merely minutes later, only to see a tame shot cleared before it could reach goal.

Oxford, meanwhile, looked every inch a side with an extra man when they ventured forward. Slicker had to be alert to get down to his left and push a rasping Harris behind.

Aaron Ramsey’s men may have been dominating possession but it was the 10-man Reds who drew first blood at Oakwell. Reyes Cleary sent Okedina away down the right and the substitute drilled across the box, enabling Yoganathan to fire home an opener.

Barnsley’s foot remained on the gas after their goal and Cleary was unlucky to see a teasing delivery fizz across the box without finding a red shirt. Ziyad Larkeche eventually collected the ball out wide but could not find the target with his speculative piledriver.

Oxford returned to the ascendency in the closing stages of the first half, yet found Barnsley’s resolve to be strong and went into the break with a deficit to overturn.

Second half

The U’s resumed control of possession after the restart and Slicker had to dart off his line and stretch a boot at a dangerous Peter Kioso cross.

Jack Currie was the next to test Barnsley with a delivery but Slicker was again equal to the challenge, collecting before an Oxford attacker could pounce.

He then had to dive at the feet of Aidomo Emakhu before seeing a follow-up by Kioso hooked off the line in dramatic fashion by Gale.

Slicker was becoming increasingly busy, with Oxford moving through the gears at a somewhat alarming pace. The on-loan Ipswich Town goalkeeper could not get to a thunderous Currie shot and was visibly relieved to see it crash into the crossbar.

Barnsley eventually caved under the weight of Oxford pressure, failing to close down Harris at the required speed and seeing the frontman steer into the bottom corner.

The one-way traffic showed no signs of relenting and Aidomo Emakhu drew an impressive save from Slicker with a well-struck shot towards the near post.

Emakhu, who entered the fray at half-time, was proving to be one of the most instrumental figures in the peristent waves of Oxford attacks. He eluded his marker on the right-hand side of the box but was again denied by Slicker.

Barnsley had been camped in their own half for a lengthy period, although did briefly manage to emerge from under the cosh. Rylan Brownlie peeled away down the left before squaring for McGeehan, who lifted a shot narrowly over the crossbar.

Barnsley continued to carve open opportunities on the counter, taking advantage of Oxford’s committing of bodies. Brownlie unleashed a powerful drive from the edge of the box and U’s goalkeeper Cumming was at full stretch to keep it out.

Oxford probed in the dying embers but the winner they desired could not be found. There was even some late drama, as Cumming saw red for going in heavy on Brownlie with just minutes remaining.

Simon Eastwood took the place of Cumming between the sticks and his only task of note was to hold a Brownlie effort that had seen the sting taken out of it by a deflection.