O’Brien earns Reds first away point of season

Daryl Murphy had delighted the Portman Road faithful with his fourth of the season but Ipswich failed to build on their 41st-minute lead during a below-par second-half performance.

O’Brien equalised in the 70th minute and Barnsley were guilty of wasting some great chances to win the game before Ipswich left-back Aaron Cresswell was sent off on the final whistle for foul and abusive language as the game ended 1-1.

The dismissal came moments after striker Frank Nouble was left incensed when referee Andy D’Urso waved away his late shouts for a penalty.

The hosts’ early pressure finally paid off four minutes before the interval when Cresswell’s corner was met by the unmarked Murphy who thumped home his fourth of the season.

Out of nothing, the visitors went close to grabbing a shock equaliser on 50 minutes when Butland’s long kick was neatly laid off by Marcus Pedersen and Chris O’Grady’s powerful shot from 20 yards was parried around the post by Dean Gerken.

The chance galvanised the visitors who went on to enjoy the lion’s share of possession.

An equaliser looked likely and with 20 minutes left, Barnsley finally made the breakthrough.

Paddy McCourt’s cross brushed the head of Tommy Smith and O’Brien neatly steered the ball beyond Gerken’s despairing dive.

The game finally sprung into life with Christophe Berra denying former Town striker Jason Scotland with a fantastic block and Luke Chambers testing Butland’s handling from distance.

Four minutes from time, Scotland had a chance to win the match but his shot could only find the side-netting after he was able to control Tom Kennedy’s deep free-kick and find space in the penalty area.

Moments later, Town were indebted to midfielder Cole Skuse who twice cleared the danger from inside his own six-yard area before O’Brien should have done better when he found space in the area but his toe-poke was comfortably gathered by Gerken.

Finally, Ipswich mustered a great opportunity of their own with Nouble inches away from connecting with Jay Tabb’s shot before the bustling frontman was left fuming after tumbling over a challenge Jean Yves Mvoto in the penalty area.

Ipswich: Gerken, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Anderson (Tabb 69), Hyam, Skuse, Tunnicliffe (Taylor 82), McGoldrick (Nouble 82), Murphy. Unused substitutes: Loach, Hewitt, Edwards, Mings.

Barnsley: Butland, Wiseman, Mvoto, Cranie, Kennedy, McCourt (Etuhu 81), Fox, Perkins, Mellis (O’Brien 43), O’Grady, Pedersen (Scotland 74). Unused substitutes: Hassell, Jennings, Cywka, Dibble.

Referee: A D’Urso (Essex).