FULL TIME: Barnsley 2 Scunthorpe United 1
SCUNTHORPE United suffered a seventh straight loss on the road, this time losing 2-1 at Barnsley.
Marlon Harewood was in the right place at the right time to roll in the first from six yards in the 62nd minute.
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BATTLE FOR THE BALL: Scunthorpe United striker Lee Miller (right) and Barnsley's Paul McShane clash as the Iron fall to a 2-1 defeat at Oakwell. Picture: Carl Gac.
And the game was effectively decided on 83 minutes, Harewood bagging his second of the night.
The visitors did reduce the deficit in added time, Michael Collins firing into the back of the net, but it was not enough to salvage a point.
United remained unchanged for their trip to south Yorkshire.
Manager Ian Baraclough opted to stick with the starting XI that won 1-0 over Swansea City on Saturday, a result which moved the Iron to within a point of fourth from bottom Crystal Palace heading into the Oakwell encounter.
Both sides had been struggling for goals of late, Scunthorpe having failed to net in nine hours of football away from home, while the Tykes were somewhat shot-shy themselves, netting just seven in their last eight games.
Both sides made a far from inspiring opening to the contest, the first chance of note coming in the 19th minute when home skipper Jason Shackell headed over from a corner.
United were content to frustrate the home side in the early exchanges, but soon started to threaten in attack, Collins striking a vicious half volley from the right which forced Tykes stopper Luke Steele into a fine 25th minute save.
It was a rare opportunity in a dour first half which promised, and delivered, little in the way of free-flowing football on a pitch similar to Glanford Park in terms of its poor appearance.
Scunthorpe came out of the interval with more purpose, Collins again testing Steele in the opening moments, his inswinging free-kick from the right resulting in the keeper tipping it over the top.
But it was Harewood who would break the deadlock just past the hour mark.
Nathan Doyle created the chance, firing a long range effort toward the top corner, only for Iron keeper Josh Lillis to push it on to the post.
But the ball fell invitingly to Harewood, who reacted quickest to tap in the rebound.
And the striker would decide the destination of the points in the closing stages, taking advantage of indecisive United defending.
After Ben Gordon had failed to clear a long ball over the top, the on-loan Blackpool forward shrugged off the full-back before lobbing the ball over Lillis.
The Iron gave themselves a glimmer of hope heading into three minutes of added time with what turned out to be a consolation strike.
Substitute Mark Duffy made inroads down the left, breaking into the area before bringing a low save out of Steele.
The rebound fell to Collins at the back post, allowing the midfielder to fire into the roof of the net.
But it failed to change the outcome on a night when United's slip was capitalised on by those above them in the race for survival, most notably the fourth from bottom Eagles, who beat Cardiff City 1-0 to go four points clear of the Iron.
TEAMS
BARNSLEY: Steele, Trippier, McShane, Shackell (c), McEveley, Doyle, Arismendi, Mellis (Butterfield 84), O'Brien (Devaney 69), Harewood, Haynes (Gray 82); Preece, Lovre, O'Connor, Taylor.
SCUNTHORPE UNITED: Lillis, A Wright, Raynes, Nelson, Gordon, Collins, J Wright (Ibrahim 79), Togwell (c) (Duffy 62), Hughes, Miller (Dagnall 79), Garner; Slocombe, Mirfin, Grant, Nolan.
ATT: 10,250 (466 away)
19 Comments
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by Sherlock Holmes, 22B Baker Street
Thursday, March 10 2011, 8:08PM
“He' a hoax - IP logged now hopefully.
A lot of effort to make enforce his/her opinion that we are a 2,500 club and it's the supporters fault for not buying into the boards 'vision'....MAGIC!”
by Eddie Murphy, Beverley Hills
Thursday, March 10 2011, 9:56AM
“Robin - how do you know these latent supporters aren't interested in coming back if the club do NOTHING to encourage them to come back? As I said on a different story the other day, if the club could prove they have done everything within their power and still see no improvement in crowds, then fine. But as it stands they cannot possibly claim that, as Wharton's quote the other month proves only too clearly.
Seem to be problems posting, so if this appears twice, apologies. Although frankly it's good enough to be read twice!”
by Eddie Murphy, Beverley Hills
Thursday, March 10 2011, 9:55AM
“Robin - how do you know these latent supporters aren't interested in coming back if the club do NOTHING to encourage them to come back? As I said on a different story the other day, if the club could prove they have done everything within their power and still see no improvement in crowds, then fine. But as it stands they cannot possibly claim that, as Wharton's quote the other month proves only too clearly.”
by 1500club, Lincs
Wednesday, March 09 2011, 7:59PM
“It was cheaper for the JPT game and those that did go, perhaps couldnt afford a second London trip within seven weeks....or face another defeat?
The support IS there and until the club re-double their efforts/agenda/ideology we wont ever know if we can reach 7,000 regular home fans.
We were the only club to sell out the away end at Eastlands, prior to West Ham - if you want to argue the toss over that then carry on alone.
Up the Iron!”
by Robin Jackson, N Lincs
Wednesday, March 09 2011, 7:45PM
“13,000 went to the JPT yet 4,000 less turned out for the bigger game, were they intimidated by the Millwall fans? Pathetic support by the townsfolk.
6,500 went to Man City which you as Scunthorpe Uniteds self proclaimed number one UBERFAN should know.
This shows there a latent support there but they're only interested in watching the big games and big opposition rather than Scunthorpe United.
How can you phone me when you don't know my number? Who or what am I an imposter of? At least I've got the guts to use my real name on here.”
by 1500club, Lincs
Wednesday, March 09 2011, 6:27PM
“Of course you can - 9,000 aint bad, in fact 8,000 away to Man City was their record away gate unti West Ham beat it in the Cup semi final the following season.
If we have 9,000 supporters (tops) who will jump on a bandwagon - what exactly have SUFC ever done to entice them back? It takes more than a waving Bunny and a naff image to createa true fanbase....£100 season tickets aggressivley marketed for our first year in the seond teir would be a start but even free tickets wouldnt keep those supporters if all the club can offer is removing any atmosphere from the seats to be replaced by away fans (GWS) and the fire sale of every decent player we have without replacement. With United it's not about bringing in new support (to do that we would have to interact with the townsfolk and print flyers in Polish-Heaven forbid, summer time is for United to put their feet up)..IT IS ABOUT KEEPING WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND PROVING TO THE PART TIME FANS THAT FOLLOWING UNITED IS WORTHWHILE AND SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.
Five years on - we are now stood at on the platform but the train has left.
Up the Iron!
PS Ive just phoned you 'Mr Jackson', clearly there's either more than one or your just another imposter..?”
by Robin Jackson, N Lincs
Wednesday, March 09 2011, 6:11PM
“9,000 to the league 1 play off final shows the folks of this town aren't interested. A Wembley final sells itself and shows how little the townspeople think of the club. You can moan about the board as much as you like but you can't blame them for that pathetic turn out.”
by Bulldozer, Barton
Wednesday, March 09 2011, 6:05PM
“That aint me - IMPOSTER ALERT.
IP logged.
Cheers.”
by 1500club, Pimlico
Wednesday, March 09 2011, 5:59PM
“Barnsley have no history of great support - they averaged 5-6,000 throughout the 80's...same with Cardiff and Swansea. Hull didnt attract 15,000 extra supporters via success on the pitch, it was due to showing some direction that the fans could believe in.
Possibly the ONE reason that SUFC are, where we are (support wise) is because of a succession of boards that believe it is the fans right to build the club...'they dont want football in this town' - Jack Empson 1970-something or other.
Up the Iron!”
by Arthur Daly, The Winchester
Wednesday, March 09 2011, 5:53PM
“Chesterfield fans must have been 'sat behind their PCs moaning' too - until their club progressed in a decent new ground and suddenly, following investment, their gates have doubled....funny that!”