Tom is Bark to his best
Bellerin is hero after Luiz horror
BARNSLEY PRESTON 0 3
PRESTON are back in the business of chasing a play-off spot.
Two Tom Barkhuizen goals sandwiched a Daniel Johnson strike putting had the visitors three-up by half-time and heading for a first away win in seven games.
Alex Neil’s men are now sixth, but only six points off Leeds in second. And with the teams above them not looking convincing they might even fancy a dart at the automatic spots.
Defeat was a big setback for Barnsley, who remain four points off safety.
They went close early on but Declan Rudd made a fine save to deny Conor Chaplin.
Preston broke through with their first meaningful attack.
Darnell Fisher’s ball across the box was slammed home by Barkhuizen.
The hosts made a mess of dealing with a long ball and when Josh Harrop’s shot was blocked, Johnson found the corner.
If that defending was bad, it was nothing compared to the third.
Barkhuizen’s shot went through keeper Sami Radlinger as centre-backs Aapo Halme and Mads Andersen got in each other’s way.
And it means the PNE striker and Johnson are level pegging to be the club’s top-scorer, with nine apiece this season. BARNSLEY defender Bambo Diaby has failed a drugs test. The 22-year-old has pleaded his innocence to teammates and insists he will clear his name.
It is understood the positive test was for a performanceenhancing substance.
The club said last night they could not comment. Diaby is believed to have been tested after Barnsley’s defeat at Blackburn on November 23. as an emergency centre-back. Chelsea had handball shouts against Mustafi and Bukayo Saka waved away by referee Stuart Attwell in the second half.
It looked like they would be made to pay when Martinelli streaked clear from Mustafi’s clearance, with N’Golo Kante slipping at the vital moment. Martinelli showed great composure to stroke home past a stranded Kepa Arrizabalaga only for unlikely scorer Azpilicueta to put Chelsea back in front (right) from a Hudson-Odoi cross. But there was still time for a late sting in the tail when Bellerin was allowed to cut inside and somehow beat Arrizbalaga from a tight angle to leave Arsenal and their fans in dreamland.