MURRAY SALUTES HIS TYKES TROOPS
Swansea held by Mowatt leveller
BARNSLEY fought back to give their new caretaker boss Adam Murray a good start and earn a hardfought point against Swansea at Oakwell.
Andre Ayew gave the visitors the lead in the second half before Alex Mowatt’s equalised minutes later to earn a point for caretaker boss Murray, who only took charge last week after Daniel Stendel’s departure.
A proud Murray said afterwards: “Before the game, with the team we were facing, if you’d have said we would get a point we would have been satisfied with that. But the way the boys performed, we’re probably a bit gutted.
“When you face a team that is as high-flying as Swansea are, we are always going to have to rely on your goalkeeper and your defenders at some point.
‘‘When those guys were called upon they stepped forward and dealt with everything that was thrown at them.’’
The Swans went into the game unbeaten on their travels and manager Steve Cooper made four changes to his starting line-up, which included a first league start in more than a year for Tom Carroll.
Barnsley boss Murray had also made four changes and his side created the first big chance when Dimitri Cavare’s long throw fell to Cauley Woodrow, whose faint flick goalwards was well stopped by Freddie Woodman.
Woodrow threatened again, latching on to a loose ball before firing in a strong effort that was parried to Cameron McGeehan. But his follow-up was fired wildly over the bar.
Despite Barnsley’s impressive start, Swansea still looked to play their style of possession football and Ayew came close as he raced through on goal, firing in a low left-footed effort which Brad Collins comfortably stopped.
Barnsley continued looking for a deserved opener before the break, but McGeehan couldn’t keep his headed effort down from a Conor Chaplin cross.
Ayew came close again shortly after half-time when Jake Bidwell’s cross eventually fell to him but, at fullstretch, he saw his effort saved.
McGeehan should have scored when Chaplin’s dinked cross found him just outside the six-yard box, but his shot sailed over.
Sam Surridge was making his first start of the season and found himself through on goal, after Matt Grimes’ delicate pass, only for his side-footed effort to be stopped by Collins’ outstretched foot.
Swansea manager Cooper was disappointed his side failed to build on their lead and get all three points.
He said: “I know the game went a certain way and Barnsley had some decent moments in the first half.
“To go one-up was as we planned. But we missed two sitters before it, so we should have been two or three up.
“We’ve conceded at a really poor time and it leaves you with dissatisfaction because we should have gone on and won the game.’’