Barnsley 2 - 2 Fleetwood (pens 5 - 4 ) - Match Report

The Super Reds won 5-4 on penalties at home to Fleetwood Town in the EFL Cup on Wednesday evening after conceding an injury-time leveller to draw 2-2 in normal time.

The Reds will now host local rivals Rotherham United in the second round on the week commencing August 25.

Jon Russell opened the scoring but Fleetwood equalised just before the interval then an own goal put the Reds back in front, before the last-gasp leveller.

The Reds played the better football throughout, with some stand-out individual displays from Cleary and Kelly in particular against League Two opponents, but both sides missed several good chances.

Barnsley made six changes from the side who beat Burton Albion in the league on Saturday. Debutant Tennai Watson, Patrick Kelly, Connor Barratt, Jack Shepherd, Jon Russell and Reyes Cleary came in for Mael de Gevigney, Josh Earl, Luca Connell, Adam Phillips, David McGoldrick and Vimal Yognathan.

Fleetwood had the first chance when George Morrison’s weak effort inside the box was easily saved by Murphy Cooper.

Caylan Vickers then shot wide of the bottom left corner from the right side of the box after good work by Patrick Kelly.

Kelly then found Reyes Cleary who beat a defender and crossed from the left for goal machine Russell to head home the opener.

Seconds later, Cleary set up Davis Keillor-Dunn with a big chance for 2-0 but he shot over from seven yards out.

Fleetwood then scored directly from a Will Johnson throw-in but no one touched it so it was ruled out.

The excellent Cleary again beat his marker and cross for Keillor-Dunn but he volleyed over with the goal gaping 12 yards out.

Former Barnsley striker James Norwood should have levelled amid calls for offside but Cooper made a brave one-on-one save then, seconds later, Keillor-Dunn put Cleary through on the left but he dragged his shot wide.

The Fleetwood goalkeeper’s kick was flicked on to Matty Virtue who was allowed to burst into the home box but hit the side netting from a tight angle on the left.

Fleetwood did level on the stroke of half-time when Liam Roberts’ right wing corner appeared to evade everyone before floating past Cooper into the bottom left corner.

Keillor-Dunn was replaced at the break by teenage striker Leo Farrell who made his professional debut.

Kelly’s superb pass put Russell through in the box but he hesitated and was tackled. Bland then put Kelly through one-on-one but the goalkeeper David Harrington made an excellent save.

Barnsley went ahead once again when Ogbeta, who came into a central position from left-back, picked up a pass by Vickers and played a fine ball to Cleary who burst into the box on the left and saw a cross turned in by defender Toby Mullarkey.

Will Johnson should have levelled in the 80th minute when Mark Helm set him up in the box but he shot wide of the top right corner from 12 yards.

Clearly could have added a third in injury-time but shot over from the left of the box after latching onto a Kelly pass.

Robson Woodcock, 17, made his professional debut in injury-time. The visitors levelled in the 94th minute when Barnsley could not clear a bouncing ball and Will Johnson’s cross from the right was turned in by substitute Owen Devonport.

Harrison Holgate headed over a chance to win it for Fleetwood but it went to penalties.

Cooper saved Fleetwood’s first penalty by Ryan Graydon then, after Connell, Russell, Farrugia and Farrell scored from the spot, Kelly missed the chance to win it by hitting the bar. Cleary scored then Cooper saved from George Morrison to put the reds through to round two.

Barnsley (4-3-3): Cooper; Watson, Barratt, Shepherd (Connell 79), Ogbeta; Kelly, Russell, Bland (Yoganathan 60); Vickers (Farrugia 60), Keillor-Dunn (Farrell HT) Cleary.

Unused: Flavell, Phillips, Woodcock, Connell.

Goals: Russell 15, Mullarkey OG 59.

Fleetwood (5-3-2): Harrington; Johnson, Rooney (Hume 73mins), Mullarkey (Holgate 60), Potter, Morrison, Roberts; Morris, Neal (Devonport 83), Virtue (Graydon 72); Norwood, Evans (Helm 73).

Unused: Lynch, Davies, Medley, Cirino.

Goals: Roberts 45+1, Devonport, 90+4.