Sam’s in demand after his late strike
BARNSLEY manager Lee Johnson hopes that striker Sam Winnall is still at the club on Tuesday morning after his late strike gave the Reds their sixth win in seven games.
The game had been heading towards a goalless draw before Winnall struck in the 88th minute, finding the bottom corner from Josh Scowen’s rightwing cross.
Leeds United have already had a bid for Winnall turned down and the manager is hoping that the frontman stays at Oakwell.
Johnson said: “You never know what will happen in football, but I would love Sam to still be here next week.
“It’s well known that we have had a bid for him, and there is interest from more than one club, but I hope that Sam makes a decision that is best for the club.
“I thought the lads were great. We just about shaded it and probably deserved the win on the balance of play and chances created.
“I was particularly pleased with the performances of Alfie Mawson and Lloyd Isgrove. Lloydy was unlucky not to create a goal, or grab one himself.”
His opposite number Luke Williams was in a reflective mood after the Robins lost their first game this year.
Williams said: “We have been conceding goals at home, but we tried to address that by going three at the back.
“I thought we looked solid and I couldn’t see them scoring, so it was really disappointing to concede so late in the game.
“Our change in formation made us stronger at the back, but we probably weren’t quite as creative going forward.
“We had a good opportunity to equalise through Michael Doherty, which I think was blocked by one of our own players, but when you concede so late, it doesn’t give you much of a chance to react.”
Barnsley had the first chance of the game with Marley Watkins seeing his shot from Isgrove’s lefthand cross saved by Lawrence Vigouroux in the Swindon goal.
The Robins first chance came in the 24th minute when Adam Davies came out smartly to smother at the feet of Nicky Ajose.
Fabien Robert saw his lofted follow-up shot land on the roof of the net.
Vigouroux ensured that the sides went into the break level saving with his feet from Conor Hourihane after a quick-fire Barnsley counter-attack.
The Robins started the second-half well with Jonathan Obika’s shot from just inside the area well parried by Davies.
The second half was a largely scrappy affair with few clear-cut chances created before Winnall grabbed the winner.
There was still time for Swindon to miss an injury time chance when Doherty’s shot was blocked and Yaser Kasim headed wide in the scramble.