Huddersfield Town 0, Barnsley 1
Battling Huddersfield Town were downed by a special Daryl Dike goal for promotion chasing Yorkshire rivals Barnsley.
Dike, who was a first half substitute for the Tikes, scored a superb overhead kick in the second half and Barnsley also hit the woodwork as Town became increasingly ragged in the second half against the visitors who worked hard for the three points to keep stay firmly in the top 6.
Tonight’s defeat was mitigated by the fact that Rotherham also lost at home to Middlesbrough to remain 8 points behind the Terriers despite having 2 games in hand.
But the injury hit Terriers will be concerned at the lack of clear chances they created, having only 1 on target from 5 shots on goal on a night when Barnsley racked up 7 on target from 21 shots on goal despite having only 47% of the possession.
Embed from Getty ImagesPipa, Harry Toffolo, and Fraizer Campbell were not included with injury concerns during Town’s win at Nottingham Forest.
Campbell sustained a shoulder injury and had to be withdrawn after the first half while no chances were being taken with recent injury returnees Toffolo and Pipa with just three games to go after today.
Josh Koroma returned after a lengthy hamstring injury while Yaya Sanogo had recovered from a deep gash to his foot with Rarmani Edmonds-Green the final change.
Promotion-chasing Barnsley were looking to consolidate their place in the play offs.
And the visitors had plenty of early chances with Cauley Woodrow seeing a shot blocked during one such early flurry and a gentle effort easily saved from the Barnsley striker they showed their top 6 credentials but could not find a way through the Town defence.
And although Sanogo saw his effort go wide Woodrow hit a chance narrowly wide of the back post when he found himself clean through on the right as the Terriers lived dangerously.
Koroma twice had shots blocked while Alex Mowatt drilled his shot wide and also blazed over a great chance after Carlton Morris was able to cut the ball back from the left touch line.
Daryl Dike comes on to score a special winner – an overhead kick for Barnsley at Huddersfield Town
Barnsley’s momentum was disturbed when they had to made a change just before the break when the injured Dominik Frieser had to be replaced by Daryl Dike.
Woodrow was at it again after the break with his goalbound shot deflected off Naby Sarr but only narrowly going wide.
And Ryan Schofield was called into action twice, saving from Morris at close range before plucking the resulting corner out of the sky as Barnsley pushed the Terriers hard.
Scott High was brought on after 58 minutes, replacing Aaron Rowe.
Town were under the cosh but had cleared the ball well until Daryl Dike found himself on the end of an uncleared ball after Morris’ corner was only half cleared and his overhead kick beat Schofield.
It was a special goal to give the Tykes a deserved lead and Town responded by bringing on Danny Ward and Sorba Thomas for Koroma and Edmonds-Green.
But the Tikes could have doubled their lead after they twice failed to clear the ball again and Michael Helik saw his effort deflected off the crossbar.
Town made their final changes – another double change after 77 minutes, bringing on Carel Eiting and Ronaldo Aarons for Juninho Bacuna and Duane Holmes.
And the Terriers finally gave Bradley Collins something to do in the Tikes goal when his tame shot was collected by the Barnsley keeper with 10 minutes to go.
But the night belonged to Barnsley whose players and staff celebrated loudly at full time knowing they had taken a massive stride towards the playoffs while leaving the Terriers – who only have one home game left from the three Championship games remaining – still a little worried about Derby and Rotherham below them.
GOAL – Huddersfield Town 0, Barnsley 1
Huddersfield Town 0, Barnsley 1: 65. Daryl Dike scooped in an overhead kick to send the loose ball past Ryan Schofield after Carlton Morris’ corner was only half cleared and Romal Palmer’s follow-up was blocked.
MATCH STATS – Huddersfield Town 0, Barnsley 1
Huddersfield Town: Schofield, Edmonds-Green (Thomas 69), Keogh, Sarr, Holmes (Aarons 77), Bacuna (Eiting 77), Hogg, O’Brien, Rowe (High 58), Koroma (Ward 69), Sanogo
Huddersfield Town subs not used: Pereira, Stearman, Duhaney, Brown
Booking: Hogg 21 (foul on Romal Palmer)
Barnsley: Collins, Sollbauer, Helik, Andersen, Brittain, Palmer (Williams 78), Mowatt, Styles, Frieser (Dike 45+2), Woodrow, Morris
Barnsley subs not used: Walton, Chaplin, Sibbick, Oduor, Halme, Adeboyego, Moon
Bookings: Andersen 59 (foul on Jonathan Hogg); Morris 86 (foul on Yaya Sanogo)
Goal: Dike 65
Referee: David Webb