Philip Billing header sees promotion-pushing Bournemouth beat Barnsley
Barnsley 0-1 Bournemouth: Philip Billing’s header sees promotion-pushing Cherries return to winning ways against a sorry Barnsley side who suffer a fourth successive defeat
- Bournemouth beat Championship bottom club Barnsley 1-0 away from home
- Philip Billing headed in the only goal of the game in the 12th minute at Oakwell
- Scott Parker’s Cherries remain third in the table, one point behind the top two
- Barnsley have suffered four straight defeats and are eight points adrift of safety
Angry Barnsley fans voiced their opposition to owner Paul Conway as the Championship’s bottom club slumped to an 11th game without a win despite former England defender Gary Cahill being sent off late on for Bournemouth.
An early header by Philip Billing was enough to keep Bournemouth in touch of the top two automatic promotion spots against a sour mood at Oakwell with stewards keeping around 200 supporters from approaching the directors’ seats and there were brief scuffles as the protests continued after the final whistle.
Neither side arrived for the fixture in good form. Barnsley hadn’t won since early and assistant Ferran Saliba had to lead the team with manager Markus Schopp absent with Covid.
Danish midfielder Philip Billing scored the only goal of the game in the 12th minute at Oakwell
Promotion-chasing Bournemouth were also experiencing a lull after two consecutive defeats.
The visitors started strongly with Billing heading onto the roof of the net after Barnsley goalkeeper Bradley Collins had failed to get enough distance on his punch.
Encouraged by using the aerial route, Bournemouth then took the lead after 12 minutes.
Dominic Solanke hoisted an up-and-under into the box and as it held up in the wind as Billing found himself unchallenged from a few yards to nod in for his ninth goal of the season.
Disgruntled Barnsley fans responded by chanting against American Conway and his Pacific Media investment group to ‘get out of our club’.
Barnsley fans voiced their opposition to owner Paul Conway during their defeat
The two teams have been going in opposite directions since both reaching the play-offs last season and Bournemouth dominated for large parts with 70% possession.
Barnsley only woke up towards the end of the first half with Cherries goalkeeper making good saves from Aaron Leya Iseka, Callum Styles and Devante Cole.
In the visitor’s technical area, Scott Parker was disappointed to see Billing blaze over from close range and Collins get a hand to a header from Jefferson Lerma after it bounced up off the turf.
The protests returned in the second half with fans voicing their opposition to ‘greedy’ Conway. Bournemouth fans joined in out of solidarity and were applauded for it. The Barnsley fans then moved from one end of the south Stand to another so the Tykes directors could hear them better.
Bournemouth remain third in the Championship table, a point behind the top two
On the pitch, Cole’s pace forced veteran Gary Cahill to grab his shirt and pick up a yellow card but Barnsley couldn’t capitalise on the free-kick.
Barnsley threw on 18-year-old Aiden Marsh for his debut to try and rescue a point. They received further encouragement when Cahill was caught out by Cole and received his marching his orders for a lunge.
It led to a nervy final few minutes but the remaining 10 men of Bournemouth still had too much knowhow to let them equalise.
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