ROBINS RELIANT ON JUMPIN’ JOSH
Ex-Tyke’s header punishes old pals
JOSH Brownhill’s stoppage-time header earned Bristol City a vital point at Barnsley in the race for the play-offs, and Lee Johnson urged his side to back it up – starting with tomorrow’s clash with Brentford.
Goals from Kieffer Moore and Brad Potts, either side of Famara Diedhiou’s strike, looked set to gift Barnsley a huge three points in their battle to beat the drop until former Tyke Brownhill’s equaliser.
And Johnson hopes the late point will inspire the team as they enter a crucial period for their promotion ambitions.
“Before the game I’d have been disappointed with a draw, but after the game I’m quite pleased with a resilient point,” he said.
“But we need to move forward now. We’ve got a really tough game on Monday – it will be totally different.
“We’ve just got to go for it. I think the boys are in a good place. There are going to be many twists and turns and I think we’ve got to do everything we can to give promotion a shot.
“But we’re in it – we’ve got the last seven games to be enthused and give it a right go.”
Barnsley were incensed when Bailey Wright escaped with just a yellow card on five minutes, after bodychecking Moore when the Tykes striker headed down a long ball and ran in on goal.
But anger turned to delight just two minutes later when Moore beat Frank Fielding to George Moncur’s left-wing corner to head in from close range.
Barnsley continued to create chances, but Diedhiou notched a brilliant equaliser on 31 minutes – receiving the ball on the left of the box, before curling into the top corner.
Oliver McBurnie could have restored the lead on the stroke of half-time, when Moore nodded Andy Yiadom’s cross inside, but his free header was straight at Fielding.
Potts had an even better chance three minutes after the restart, sliding in at the back post to meet Moncur’s leftfooted cross but somehow not managing to force it over the line.
Gary Gardner’s long ball then released Moore on 59 minutes, who chested down with a superb first touch to get in behind the defence, but Fielding turned his volley wide.
Barnsley’s pressure finally paid off on 78 minutes, however, when Moore crossed low from the left and Potts arrived late to fire into the top corner.
But Brownhill had the last say – glancing a looping header from Joe Bryan’s cross over Adam Davies in the 91st minute, despite the keeper getting a hand to it.
Jose Morais refused to be downbeat, however, insisting it will be a confident team travelling to Nottingham Forest on Monday.
“I believe we have the quality to stay in this league, and we showed that quality so now let’s go again in the next game,” he said.
“I feel happy because the team created chances, and showed the quality expected in a league like the Championship.
“We are now in the process where we are believing. And when we believe together, things will happen – I am sure.
“In short periods, we showed the quality that teams playing for the play-offs have.
“We deserved to win but now we have to win these points somewhere else. I believe we are capable of doing that, so I am very positive.”