Depleted Reds rattled by Saints

Whilst fixtures up and down the country were postponed due to the big freeze, the eleven thousand at Oakwell will have wished the same had happened after a dismal display in front of goal.

A striker is the top priority for Simon Davey to bring into the Club as the Reds failed to test Saints' Davies in goal.

A depleted and makeshift Barnsley lined up with a central midfield of Hassell and Campbell-Ryce with El Haimour and Rigters completed a diamond formation.

It was a sticky start for both sides but the Reds should have been in front through Jamie Cureton on two minutes. The on-loan striker got lucky as El Haimour`s long-range drive fell to the front-man twelve yards from goal but Cureton fired over when under no pressure whatsoever.

Surman had a shot blocked on 17 minutes for the visitors` first glimmer of goal. The Reds saw another effort fly over as Macken blazed Rigters` through-ball over the bar.

Campbell-Ryce was the next to clear the crossbar with a volley before McGoldrick`s 30-yard drive brought a routine stop from Heinz Muller.

A great move by the Reds saw Hassell release Van Homoet down the left, the Dutchman`s cross met Macken who tapped home on 33 minutes, but the linesman`s flag ruled Van Homoet out offside when the full-back clearly had to sprint past his marker to meet the ball.

El Haimour blazed another effort well over as it seemed the Reds would have been better off playing Rugby.

The away snatched the lead with a free header from McGoldrick, the striker notched up his ninth goal of the season as he didn`t even have to rise to meet Holmes` cross.

It was always coming for the Reds but in fairness they should have been awarded a penalty in the 86th minute. Substitute Kayode Odejayi was clearly wrestled to the ground but the referee was having none of it.

BARNSLEY: Muller, Foster, Souza, Moore, Van Homoet, Hassell, Campbell-Ryce, El Haimour (Butterfield 65), Rigters (Odejayi 77), Cureton, Macken.
Subs not used: Steele, Potter, Heslop.

SOUTHAMPTON: Davies, Perry, Saganowski (Wotton 81), Saejis, Surman, Holmes, McGoldrick, Schneiderlin, James, Wright-Phillips (McLaggon 89), Molyneux.
Subs not used: Gillet, Gobern, Bialkowski.

Referee: Tony Bates (Staffordshire)
Assistant Referee: Peter Quinn (Cleveland)
Assistant Referee: Andrew Scregg (Merseyside)
Fourth Official: Wayne Grunnill (East Yorkshire)

Attendance - 11,789

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