Lawrence late show saves day at Oakwell
MICK McCARTHY’S Ipswich struck late to snatch a draw at Oakwell.
Barnsley struck first through Marley Watkins in the 58th minute.
Ipswich striker Tom Lawrence then managed to score in injury time and rescue a point.
McCarthy – who played 272 times for hometown club Barnsley – said: “That’s the first thing I’ve stolen from here actually.
“I was here a long time and I never took a paper clip, a pen, a piece of paper or anything.
“But we’ve burgled a point today.”
Town arrived at Oakwell unbeaten in their previous seven matches.
The Tykes have gone five games without a victory, leaving them 11 points off a play-off place.
The visitors started brightly, with Christophe Berra flashing a header just wide of the front post from an early corner.
Barnsley responded with chances of their own when Adam Armstrong headed over a mis-timed volley from Matty James then Andy Yiadom blasted over a quickly taken free-kick.
The hosts’ goalkeeper Adam Davies was called into action shortly after when David McGoldrick burst into the area. Davies was equal to his first effort then reacted superbly to deny Ipswich the opener again.
The home side were unlucky not to break the deadlock several times, as Armstrong, Josh Scowen and James all missed chances to take the lead.
Barnsley went in front with a brilliant counter-attack.
James played in Watkins, who held off the Ipswich defenders, before prodding the ball past Bartosz Bialkowski.
Ipswich struck when sub Brad Pitman delivered a teasing ball into the box to find Lawrence, who arrived late at the back post to slot the ball home.
Barnsley head coach Paul Heckingbottom said: “You only get what you deserve and we didn’t kill them off – simple as that.
“Ipswich showed what they’re all about, why they’ve not been beaten in so long.”
Oumar Niasse – a £13.5million Everton buy from Lokomotiv Moscow a year ago – came off the bench to score twice in nine minutes and double his goal haul since joining Hull on loan in January.
The Senegale striker, who struck first in the 69th minute, made sure there was no revenge for Swansea boss Clement over counterpart Silva for the FA Cup Third-Round defeat on Humberside.
It was then that Silva and Clement took charge of their new clubs for the first time, the Tigers winning 2-0 as they did in the early-season meeting at the Liberty Stadium.
Swans centre-back Alfie Mawson nodded in a stoppage-time consolation this time but Hull held on for a win that moves them above Middlesbrough.
Silva said: “In January, we lost two players and Ryan Mason was injured – they were three big players for us. We tried to find solutions to help our team. Niasse plays differently to the other strikers that we have in our squad. “He feels as well that we believe in him, which is important.’’ The Tigers are still unbeaten at home after six games in all competitions under Silva. But wasteful Wayne Routledge had a glorious chance in either half to put Swansea in command before Niasse did the damage.
Both these clubs have enjoyed something of a bounce since making mid-season managerial changes – especially Swansea.
The Welsh side were bottom with only 12 points and half the campaign completed when Clement was confirmed as Bob