Hero Aden in like Flint to ensure City safety
ADEN FLINT headed a 74th-minute winner as Bristol City all but secured their Championship status with a thrilling victory over Barnsley at Ashton Gate.
The result means Lee Johnson’s men are six points clear of third-bottom Blackburn, with a vastly superior goal difference and only two matches to play.
City twice fell behind to goals from Alex Mowatt and George Moncur, with Tammy Abraham cancelling out the Barnsley opener.
Jamie Paterson then made it 2-2 in the 69th minute, before he turned provider as his corner set up Flint for the winner.
Barnsley went ahead in the 37th minute when, with a City player lying on the turf, referee Scott Duncan waved play on and Moncur saw his 25-yard shot deflected past Frank Fielding by team-mate Mowatt.
Abraham levelled in the 53rd minute with his 26th goal of the season, a close-range finish.
But in the 64th minute, defender Bailey Wright gave the ball away and Moncur hammered an unstoppable shot past Fielding.
Back roared City again four minutes later. The Barnsley defence were caught out by a long ball and Paterson coolly lobbed a second equaliser.
And when Paterson delivered a right-wing corner, Flint rose majestically to power home a header from the edge of the six-yard box to spark wild celebrations at the end.
Johnson said: “I’m buzzing for the players because they’ve worked so hard but I’m buzzing for myself and my staff as well.
“We worked our socks off and a lot went against us. It was quite symbolic of our season – some brilliant play and some awful play.
“I’m so pleased that we’re very, very nearly there – but not quite.”
Barnsley scorer Moncur said: “It was really frustrating. Great to get a goal obviously but really disappointed that we’ve ended up losing.
“The second half wasn’t great. In the first half we really dominated them but in the second half we couldn’t maintain it.”