Barnsley overcame the dismissal of Bobby Hassell to beat Bristol City and record their second win of the season.

The visitors had scored eight in three games before this match but fell behind to a close-range header from Jacob Mellis five minutes after half-time.

Hassell was shown a straight red card soon after following an off-the-ball incident with Robins striker Jon Stead.

Barnsley had only 12 senior players available but they held on for the three points.

The home side fielded a weakened starting XI because David Perkins, Luke Steele, Matty Done, Jim McNulty and Jim O'Brien were all unavailable.

Fresh from an impressive 4-2 win against Cardiff, Bristol City - fourth before kick-off - were hoping to consolidate their strong start.

They began well with Sam Baldock clearing the crossbar after connecting with Mark Wilson's corner and Stead trying his luck from 25 yards, only to be denied by goalkeeper Ben Alnwick.

After Craig Davies wasted an opening for Barnsley, Mellis drove straight at Tom Heaton from just inside the area.

Mellis wasted two more opportunities but, after a period of dominance from the hosts, he was not to be denied, powering a header home from Martin Cranie's right-wing cross.

Hassell's dismissal gave the visitors fresh impetus and after Baldock brought a comfortable stop from Alnwick, Cole Skuse's effort was blocked by Scott Wiseman.

Substitute Steven Davies came close to equalising for City with his first touch, but his header went inches wide from six yards after good work from Greg Cunningham.

Davies then struck the bar with a 25-yard free-kick late on, but Barnsley survived.

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)

Barnsley

  • 12 Alnwick
  • 02 Hassell Dismissed
  • 03 Golbourne
  • 06 Foster
  • 14 Wiseman
  • 25 Cranie
  • 07 Dawson
  • 19 Cywka
  • 21 Mellis (Stones - 61' )
  • 09 Davies (Harewood - 62' )
  • 13 Dagnall Booked

Substitutes

  • 30 Lidakevicius
  • 05 Collins
  • 34 Stones
  • 16 Harewood
  • 23 Etuhu
  • 24 Noble-Lazarus
  • 32 Rose

Bristol City

  • 01 Heaton
  • 03 Wilson
  • 04 Fontaine Booked
  • 06 Carey
  • 17 Cunningham
  • 11 Woolford
  • 14 Skuse
  • 15 Pearson (Davies - 72' )
  • 27 Adomah (Elliott - 46' )
  • 07 Baldock (Taylor - 68' )
  • 09 Stead

Substitutes

  • 32 Carey
  • 05 Nyatanga
  • 20 Morris
  • 21 Anderson
  • 25 Elliott
  • 16 Davies
  • 18 Taylor
Ref: Rushton
Att: 8,088

Match Stats

Shots

14 12

On target

7 5

Corners

7 5

Fouls

7 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:23 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +4:51

Marlon Harewood takes a shot. Save by Tom Heaton.

90:00 +2:46

John Stones fouled by Ryan Taylor, the ref awards a free kick. Ben Alnwick restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +2:03

Greg Cunningham sends in a cross, Ben Alnwick makes a comfortable save.

87:56

Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott Golbourne on Marvin Elliott. Strike on goal comes in from Steven Davies from the free kick,

87:11

Marlon Harewood takes a shot. Clearance made by Liam Fontaine.

86:25

Shot from outside the box by Chris Dagnall misses to the left of the target.

85:44

John Stones takes the free kick.

85:44 Booking

Booking Liam Fontaine goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

85:27

Liam Fontaine concedes a free kick for a foul on Stephen Dawson.

84:58

Steven Davies takes a shot. Martin Cranie gets a block in.

80:48

Greg Cunningham delivers the ball, Headed effort from inside the area by Steven Davies misses to the left of the target.

79:38

The offside flag is raised against Greg Cunningham. Free kick taken by Ben Alnwick.

77:14

Chris Dagnall fouled by Liam Fontaine, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Ben Alnwick.

76:30

Shot from just outside the box by Martyn Woolford goes over the bar.

75:34

Tomasz Cywka has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses left.

72:33

The ball is delivered by Greg Cunningham, Steven Davies has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the goal.

71:27 Substitution

Substitution (Bristol City) makes a substitution, with Steven Davies coming on for Stephen Pearson.

69:32

Greg Cunningham decides to take a short corner.

67:18 Substitution

Substitution Sam Baldock leaves the field to be replaced by Ryan Taylor.

67:18

Free kick awarded for a foul by Martyn Woolford on Stephen Dawson. Ben Alnwick takes the free kick.

65:56

The official flags Jon Stead offside. Ben Alnwick takes the direct free kick.

65:16

Martyn Woolford takes a shot. Blocked by John Stones.

64:52

Stephen Foster concedes a free kick for a foul on Louis Carey. Tom Heaton takes the free kick.

63:35

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Mark Wilson, clearance made by Stephen Foster. Corner taken by Mark Wilson from the right by-line, Effort on goal by Martyn Woolford from inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

62:26

The assistant referee signals for offside against Sam Baldock. Ben Alnwick restarts play with the free kick.

61:12 Substitution

Substitution Craig Davies leaves the field to be replaced by Marlon Harewood.

60:23 Substitution

Substitution John Stones joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jacob Mellis.

60:23

The referee blows for offside. Direct free kick taken by Ben Alnwick.

59:39

Outswinging corner taken by Mark Wilson, clearance by Stephen Foster.

58:01

Free kick awarded for a foul by Louis Carey on Craig Davies. Jacob Mellis restarts play with the free kick.

57:41

Cole Skuse takes a shot. Scott Wiseman gets a block in.

56:48

Sam Baldock takes a shot. Save made by Ben Alnwick.

56:25

The ball is sent over by Greg Cunningham, save by Ben Alnwick.

52:00

Free kick crossed right-footed by Mark Wilson, Martin Cranie manages to make a clearance.

52:00 Dismissal

Dismissal The referee shows Bobby Hassell a red card.

51:38

Foul by Bobby Hassell on Jon Stead, free kick awarded.

49:40

The assist for the goal came from Martin Cranie.

49:40 Goal scored

Goal - Jacob Mellis - Barnsley 1 - 0 Bristol C Jacob Mellis finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Barnsley 1-0 Bristol City.

48:31

Inswinging corner taken by Jacob Mellis from the left by-line, Greg Cunningham manages to make a clearance.

47:32

Inswinging corner taken by Scott Golbourne, clearance by Cole Skuse.

46:25 Booking

Booking Chris Dagnall is booked.

46:04

Chris Dagnall gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Greg Cunningham. Free kick taken by Liam Fontaine.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Albert Adomah goes off and Marvin Elliott comes on.

45:00 +3:01 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +2:15

Foul by Sam Baldock on Stephen Foster, free kick awarded. Ben Alnwick takes the direct free kick.

45:00 +2:03

Chris Dagnall concedes a free kick for a foul on Louis Carey. Tom Heaton restarts play with the free kick.

45:00 +1:28

Effort from outside the penalty box by Mark Wilson goes wide left of the target.

45:00 +0:12

The ball is swung over by Greg Cunningham, save made by Ben Alnwick.

42:54

Louis Carey concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Dagnall. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Bobby Hassell from right channel, Foul by Stephen Foster on Jon Stead, free kick awarded. Tom Heaton takes the direct free kick.

41:23

Martin Cranie delivers the ball, clearance by Cole Skuse.

39:09

Shot from 25 yards from Stephen Dawson. Tom Heaton makes a save.

34:14

Corner from left by-line taken by Jacob Mellis.

32:24

Scott Golbourne is caught offside. Direct free kick taken by Tom Heaton.

29:35

Jacob Mellis has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses right.

27:23

Chris Dagnall crosses the ball, Effort on goal by Tomasz Cywka from just inside the area clears the bar.

25:43

Tomasz Cywka crosses the ball, Craig Davies takes a shot. Tom Heaton makes a comfortable save.

23:06

Greg Cunningham gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Martin Cranie. Direct free kick taken by Bobby Hassell.

22:46

Craig Davies takes a shot. Save made by Tom Heaton.

21:38

Corner taken left-footed by Scott Golbourne, Liam Fontaine manages to make a clearance.

19:52

Sam Baldock is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Ben Alnwick takes the free kick.

19:26

Jacob Mellis takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.

18:44

Chris Dagnall takes a shot. Tom Heaton makes a comfortable save. Corner taken left-footed by Scott Golbourne from the right by-line, clearance by Liam Fontaine.

17:49

Unfair challenge on Craig Davies by Albert Adomah results in a free kick. Jacob Mellis crosses the ball in from the free kick, Liam Fontaine manages to make a clearance.

16:20

The offside flag is raised against Jon Stead. Free kick taken by Stephen Foster.

9:40

Craig Davies takes a shot. Jacob Mellis takes a shot. Tom Heaton makes a comfortable save. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Scott Golbourne. Scott Golbourne takes a inswinging corner.

8:06

The referee blows for offside against Chris Dagnall. Liam Fontaine takes the direct free kick.

6:37

Jon Stead takes a shot. Save made by Ben Alnwick.

3:00

Outswinging corner taken by Mark Wilson from the right by-line played to the near post, Sam Baldock produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the right-hand post.

1:10

Unfair challenge on Louis Carey by Chris Dagnall results in a free kick. Tom Heaton takes the free kick.

0:00

The match gets underway.

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