BIRTHDAY BOY BEN GIFTS WIN TO BARNSLEY

BEN WILMOT held up his hands after wrecking his own birthday celebrations by gifting Barnsley all three points.

The Watford defender’s weak pass to Etienne Capoue was seized on by Alex Mowatt (above), who fired home the only goal.

Wilmot, who turns 21 on Wednesday, said: “I take full responsibility. It was my mistake for the goal. I’m very disappointed with myself.”

He had chances to make amends, but missed out twice with headers from corners.

Watford have taken just two points from a possible nine and boss Vladimir Ivic is concerned they are losing their winning ways as they bid to make an immediate return to the Premier League.

Ivic admitted: “A mistake by us let them score a fantastic goal. We must work harder and better.

“We started without great confidence and we were punished for our mistake. We need to improve our game in all quarters.”

New Barnsley chief Valerien Ismael has won both games during his first six days in charge.

And the French-born head coach revealed: “Both results give me a true feeling of pride. You can beat anyone when you invest a lot of energy. Everything is possible.

“Now we must focus on the game at Cardiff. Our aim is to put together more results and get away from the ‘red zone’ as quickly as possible.”

Tykes star Michael Sollbauer said the players had bought into Ismael’s principles of more energy and a high-pressing game.

The Austrian defender said: “He has a lot of power in him and he wants us to play powerfully. I like this way of playing.”

BARNSLEY: Walton 7, Sollbauer 6, Helik 7, Anderson 7, Brittain 5 (Oduor 45, 6), James 6 (Kane 71, 5), Mowatt 8, Styles 6, Frieser, 6, Schmidt 6 (Miller 59, 6), Chaplin 6

WATFORD: Foster 6, Femenia 7, Cathcart 6, Troost-Ekong 6 (Gray, 75), Wilmot 6, Sema 6, Cleverley 7 (Hughes 82), Capoue 6, Chalobah 6 (Garner 65, 6), Sarr 7, Pedro 6