Groundhog Day for Barnsley and Bristol City

It was the fourth 2-2 draw in a row between these sides and the fourth when a dramatic equaliser has arrived at the death.

Although few as late as Woodrow's leveller from the spot in the 12th minute of stoppage time after Michael Sollbauer - stretchered off amid worrying scenes after being taken out by substitute Callum O'Dowda - was pole-axed in the box.

With the ink still barely drying on his contract extension, Woodrow coolly blasted past Max O'Leary. All told, it was the sixth 2-2 draw between these two sides in the last nine outings.

Before Woodrow's leveller, there was also predictability about events.

Fortunately, Barnsley got out of jail at the end. But this should not mask over a very poor second-half display which showed Barnsley's deficiencies up front. A lousy second-half display saw Barnsley lack punch and attacking belief.

A different face in the dug-out, but the same old problem unfortunately. This was Groundhog Day. But with a late sting in the first game of Adam Murray's second spell in interim charge.

Plenty was made of Barnsley's deadline-day signings of Herbie Kane and Matty James to beef up their midfield options, but unfortunately, this was a day when their deficiencies up top - and lack of another strong Championship-ready forward option again reared its ugly head.

The Reds have energetic and willing runners in the final third, but they are currently floating like a butterfly and stinging like one.

Barnsley were well in the game in the first half, but sadly could not cope with a key spell early in the second half from the high-flying visitors - quite possibly energised by an interval rollicking from manager Dean Holden.

Trailing to an early strike from Michael Helik, his first in England, and far from at their best, the Robins recovered, albeit thanks to the beneficiaries of a couple of deflections which enabled ex-Reds loanee Jack Hunt and Tyreeq Bakinson - with his first ever City goal - to turn the game on its head.

To any prospective new head coaches watching the game remotely, the zip, attitude and team ethic of those in red will have at least heartened them in the first half with the hosts playing some nice triangles and being strong in their work ethic, while being relatively solid at the back in the first period without being overly threatening.

Against a side who were seeking to equal a club record of five straight league wins at the start of a league season for the first time since 1927/8, Barnsley were always going to come up against pockets of pressure.

Yet aside from a couple of moments when they were entitled to heave a sigh of relief, things went well enough.

For a side still awaiting their first league win of the season, the fillip of an early opener could not be over-estimated.

It came when Helik gravitated onto Romal Palmer's deep corner at the back post and seized upon some unconvincing defender to bury a header past Max O'Leary, in the side for injured City number one Daniel Bentley.

Bristol's predilection to play out from the back at every opportunity created plenty of problems for the high-fliers as they looked a work in progress in that department and Barnsley were quick in the press to ambush them on occasions.

Before Helik's opener, Woodrow should have given the Reds a lead, only for ex-Rotherham loanee Zak Vyner to make a saving block after Palmer's strike deflected invitingly into the Barnsley forward's path in front of goal.

Woodrow fired another low shot straight at O'Leary later on in the half and ballooned an effort over, with Luke Thomas - handed the number ten brief - shooting at O'Leary when well placed.

Barnsley's best chance after the goal fell just before the break to Michael Sollbauer - who stressed his commitment to the club in an interview in the match programme - with his header held by O'Leary.

Murray's team selection was an interesting one, albeit after being forced into making one change with Callum Styles missing out after picking up an injury in training which should not see him sidelined for over a week.

Survival hero Clarke Oduor was handed his first league start of the season while Palmer also lined up from the off for the first time in 2020-21 - with Jack Walton and Conor Chaplin also being fellow returnees.

Murray will have been relieved when a glancing header from Andi Weimann floated just wide after Barnsley switched off shortly after their opener while a big moment arrived on 38 minutes when Nahki Wells - in front of goal following Chris Martin's header - delayed for a split second and it was enough time for Jordan Williams to make a clearance near the goalline when he eventually got a shot away.

Martin also bundled a header wide under pressure from Sollbauer, but it was not the free-flowing Robins of early-season.

Fortunately, for their sake, developments at the start of the second half were more to their liking than the first.

Barnsley were opened up down their right with Weimann sending Wells away, with his initial effort blocked by Jack Walton before Helik got in the way of his follow-up - only for the ball to be quickly recycled to Hunt, who rifled home via the aid of a deflection off Mads Andersen after alert play by Martin and Paterson.

The West Countrymen then turned the game on its head to lead, if slightly fortuitously.

Wells shot was blocked by Walton and the loose ball fall obligingly twenty yards out into the path of Bakinson, whose side-footer looked to be covered by Walton, only to take another deflection off the unfortunate Alex Mowatt before nestling in the net.

The dual blows understandably winded Barnsley with debutant Herbie Kane and Simoes called into action, but it was not the precursor to an upturn.

One dangerous moment soon the ball almost drop for Simoes, but Vyner saved the day with a key challenge with most of the conviction arriving at the other end before the late twist.

Barnsley: Walton; Sollbauer, Helik, Andersen; J Williams, Palmer (Kane 57), Mowatt, Oduor (Simoes 63); Thomas; Chaplin (Schmidt 77), Woodrow. Substitutes unused: Collins, Brittain, Christie-Davies, Frieser.

Bristol City: O'Leary; Vyner, Moore, Mawson; Hunt, Paterson (O'Dowda 85), Bakinson, Weimann, Rowe; Wells (Semenyo 73), Martin (Kalas 79). Substitutes unused: Wollacott, Diedhiou, Kalas, Massengo, Sessegnon.

Referee: L Doughty (Lancashire).