DIMI GIVES BOSS A NICE SURPRISE
DANIEL Stendel felt his Barnsley side deserved their victory over Accrington Stanley, despite not being at their best.
Dimitri Cavare’s strike and an own-goal from Will Wood gave the hosts all three points.
Cavare opened the scoring in the 41st minute, drilling a low shot beyond Jonny Maxted after Cauley Woodrow’s fine ball picked him out on the right-hand side of the area.
Maxted saved Jordan Green’s low shot before Barnsley extended their lead in time added on at the end of the half when Mamadou Thiam’s cross was turned into his own net by Wood.
Green was unlucky to see his low drive hit the inside of Maxted’s right-hand post and bounce away to safety soon after the re-start.
Accrington substitute Billy Kee wasted a great chance, shooting wide after being put through on goal.
Liam Lindsay went close to adding a third for Barnsley when his towering header was blocked on the line.
Stendel said: “I thought we controlled the game for most of the time. It was not our best performance but we deserved to win. I’m very proud of the team. It’s a good win.
“I was a little bit surprised, really (to see Cavare score). It was a good pass from Cauley (Woodrow) and Dimi scored an important goal for us.
“It’s not so easy to win against Accrington, especially in our situation, missing three important players. It was the first game for Jordan Green in the starting 11 and you can see he was a little bit nervous.
“We cannot influence the other results. You can only say it’s good for us when we win. All the people in Barnsley are looking forward to Tuesday night against Sunderland. It’s a big game.”
Accrington manager John Coleman said: “They were a couple of silly goals. Both of them were easily avoidable.
“It was a bit of confusion between the goalkeeper and defenders and then for the second one, it’s a mis-hit cross and the keeper’s in two minds whether to come and catch it or punch it. It’s ricocheted off Johnno and hit Will and gone in.
“There was not much in the game in the first half. In the second half they upped the intensity. They’re a good team and I’m not going to dress it up any other way.
“Billy’s (Kee) clean through – it’s like time stands still – and if you wanted any person in our squad over the last 10 years to be in that position, it would be Billy, but he snatched at it and it’s gone wide. “They are probably the best team in the league, truth be known, but we have come here and created some chances.”