Bournemouth 2 - 3 Barnsley

A superb second half fight back saw Barnsley come from behind to win 3 – 2 at play-off rivals Bournemouth.

It truly was a stunning second half performance from the reds as at half time there looked to be only one winner.

Helik gave Barnsley the lead before Danjuma and Solanke put the hosts ahead. However, goals in the second half by Dom Frieser and Carlton Morris gave the Tykes a huge win in their attempts to make the play-offs.

Barnsley yet again made changes to their line-up as expected after the bore draw with Derby in mid-week. Frieser coming into the attack and Jordan Williams starting at left wing back at the expense of Callum Styles who had been poor recently by his high standards and did look to be in need of a rest.

Bournemouth dominated the possession early on and were looking to use the pace they had in wide areas to exploit the high line of Barnsley. But as we all now know, possession means naff all if you don’t do anything with it.

And despite the early possession it was Barnsley that carved out the early chances. The first came from a Mowatt corner from the right. He took the low road and picked out Chaplin and his effort was blocked well. It was one from the training ground as Barnsley yet again showed their variety at set pieces.

Soon after this first chance, Barnsley took the lead and it was again a Mowatt corner from the right that did the damage. This time it was floated into the front post and Mads Andersen flicked the ball on to Helik at the back post. The big centre back smashed home yet another goal from close range to make it 1-0.

The reds took confidence from this goal and dominated play for a little spell after this but were unable to hold onto their lead for long despite the good spell.

Barnsley won another corner but this time it was too close to Begovic and he claimed well. The keeper threw the ball out quickly to Stanislas on the right and he sprinted into the Barnsley half.

He skipped beyond a poor challenge from Williams who was tracking back before picking out Danjuma in the middle who took a touch before sliding the ball into the corner. A real sucker punch for Barnsley who had been done on the break from their own corner.

The goal gave the hosts the boost they needed and they began to dominate things. Not only in terms of possession now but also looking very dangerous and threatening the Barnsley goal. They came close to a second soon after getting level when Lerma picked out Stanislas with a nice chipped pass. He hit a volley first time but Collins reacted well to tip the shot onto the bar.

Right on the stroke of half time the Bournemouth pressure did pay off and they took the lead. Danjuma was found in space on the left and his low cross found Solanke who slotted beyond Collins into the bottom corner. A real blow to concede just before half time and the momentum was now well and truly with Bournemouth and they were knocking it about like a former Premier League side.

Ismael was clearly unhappy with his side in the first half and he made a triple change at the break with Styles, Morris and Kane coming on for Williams, Chaplin and Palmer. It is fair to say that Ismael possibly got his team selection wrong on this occasion. Williams was poor deputising for Styles, although prior to the match no one would have questioned it.

Apparently Ismael really lost his temper at half time and it seems whatever he said was what was needed to forge a second half comeback.

It’s fair to say the changes also really had the desired effect and Barnsley looked much better in the early stages of the second half. Mowatt tested Begovic from range after good pressing play in the Bournemouth half.

Despite the good start Barnsley almost gifted the home side a two goal lead when Brad Collins rushed out of his box to clear a long ball over the top, the keeper missed the ball completely but Solanke’s effort from a tight angle was cleared easily. This wasn’t to be the first instance of that happening to Collins in this match. An area in which he has been superb since he came back in to the team but a match like this was always going to happen at some point but luckily we weren’t punished for it.

The home side were soon made to regret the miss as Barnsley got the goal that their second half performance deserved and it was a really well worked one too.

Great work down the right allowed Woodrow to whip a cross into the middle. His cross took a slight deflection and it fell into the path of Dom Frieser who finished superbly into the far corner. I am pleased that Frieser has managed another to get himself another goal. His much improved performances, barring his throw-ins, and excellent work rate means he is deserving of finding the back of the net.

After getting level you could really see the confidence oozing through the away side and they were knocking the ball around so well despite recent criticism from opposing managers that Barnsley are a long ball team. It was like watching a different team completely to the first half.

The half time substitutions were so important in the superb second half display from Barnsley. Styles was excellent, always involved and always pushing forward, he looked a lot more like his old self.

Kane possibly produced his best display in a Barnsley shirt. He looked much fitter and much trimmer and that may have been what he has been working on during his recent absence from crossing that white line.

And Morris seems to do it every time he is introduced and Dike just gets better and better as well.

Morris fired a warning to the hosts as he rose well in the box to head a Mowatt cross just wide. Soon after this chance Herbie Kane struck a free kick well from the edge of the box, but his effort was tipped wide by the diving Begovic.

More clever play from Barnsley with Mowatt and Woodrow at the heart of it again as they linked up really well before the Barnsley skipper crossed towards Dike who attempted a clever back heel but his effort went narrowly wide.

With time ticking on Barnsley scored, which was no less than their second half performance deserved and it came from you guessed it, another Alex Mowatt set piece.

Woodrow was brought down just outside the area on the left hand side. Mowatt clipped the ball into the middle, super sub Carlton Morris rose highest to head home into the top corner. A really classy header from a player who has oozed class since joining the reds in January. Dike seems to be getting all the press out of the two of them and I have been impressed with him to be fair but far more impressed with Morris so far out of the two of them.

Barnsley defended really well in the last ten minutes to hold on to claim a massive three points in their fight for the playoffs.

It was hard to pick a man of the match given the sheer number of fantastic performances but for me it has to go to Alex Mowatt who never stopped running and his delivery from dead balls caused all sorts of issues yet again and lead to two of the goals.

It was a truly fantastic second half performance from the reds, huge praise has to go to Ismael for his changes at the break and the players to a man were excellent. The win extends their lead over Bournemouth to five points and it really is in our hands now.

Wycombe and Wednesday to come this week and neither will be easy games despite them both occupying positions in the bottom three.

COYR