HOW DID HE MISS THAT!
MARCO SILVA defended Harry Wilson after the Fulham winger followed his delightful equaliser by serving up a contender for the worst miss of the season.
A controversial penalty by Carlton Morris put Barnsley ahead on the stroke of half-time and the struggling hosts were on course for a priceless win against the runaway Championship leaders.
Wilson curled home a stunning left-foot shot into the top corner to level matters in the 86th minute and should have claimed a winner — only to head Fabio Carvalho’s left-wing cross horribly wide from four yards out.
It was a shocking miss by the Wales international but Fulham boss Silva insisted: ‘Harry did brilliantly for his goal and the main thing about his miss was that he was there in the right spot to score.
‘If in three days’ time he has another chance from the same spot then he will score, definitely.’
The result was another knife in the side of a Barnsley side who were cruelly denied victory late on for the second time in five days. Stoke grabbed an equaliser in the fifth minute of added time on Tuesday and Wilson’s stunner broke Yorkshire hearts again.
Goalscorer Morris spoke of a ‘sinking feeling’ but Barnsley boss Poya Asbaghi insisted: ‘If you want to look at it positively, we could have lost it in the end with Wilson’s chance.
‘One or two months ago, people were saying Barnsley were already in League One but we have always had that fighting spirit, even when we have lost.’
Fulham dominated possession for much of the opening 45 minutes but spurned a number of chances to take the lead. And with half-time approaching, Morris dispossessed Tosin Adarabioyo before hitting the deck under a challenge from the Fulham defender.
Asbaghi said he was ‘hoping for a red card’ but opposite number Silva pointed the finger at referee Tim Robinson.
Silva said: ‘It was a clear mistake from the referee and his bad decision had a big impact on the game.’
Barnsley defended brilliantly until the closing stages when Wilson levelled matters before his late miss ensured the points were shared.