Match ends, Barnsley 1, Reading 1.
BarnsleyBarnsley1ReadingReading1
Barnsley hit back to draw with fellow Championship play-off challengers Reading in a hard-fought match at Oakwell.
Reading forward Ovie Ejaria latched on to Andy Rinomhota's ball over the top to open the scoring with a low right-footed shot 11 minutes before the break.
The Tykes equalised from the penalty spot through Alex Mowatt just after the hour mark after Andy Yiadom hauled down Callum Styles in the box.
Lucas Joao missed a glorious chance to restore the visitors' lead, but skewed wide with the goal gaping after Yakou Meite beat Barnsley goalkeeper Brad Collins to a backpass.
Mads Anderson diverted the ball onto the Reading post after Rafael Cabral fumbled a free-kick, and the hosts also had a late goal ruled out for a foul on the Brazilian keeper.
Barnsley remain two points ahead of the Berkshire side, in fifth, with the Royals a point above seventh-placed Bournemouth, who beat Middlesbrough 3-1 earlier on Friday.
Although it was the hosts applying the late pressure, the visitors will likely feel they were the side which dropped two points after Joao's miss with 16 minutes to go.
Callum Styles passed the ball back to Collins not realising Meite was behind the Tykes keeper after a previous Royals attack had broken down.
The Ivory Coast international got to the ball first and set it back for Joao to finish into an empty net, but the Portuguese, who has 21 goals this season, somehow skewed his shot across goal and just wide.
Reading host Derby on Monday, while Valerien Ismael's side visit Luton on the same day.
Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"We accept the point and we continue to move forward.
"It's the second game in a row where we have had a goal ruled out like that but we don't want to complain.
"We are proud of our efforts and we deserve to be where we are in the table.
"There are seven games left and you have to be clinical because all of the teams have the desire to win. The big difference will be the details now."
Reading manager Veljko Paunovic told BBC Berkshire:
"It wasn't tight, we were the better team and we absolutely deserved to win.
"You can't ask for more than then chances we had with Yakou at the start of the game and Lucas in the second half. I'm not happy with one point but we move on.
"It's not the first time Lucas has missed a good chance. You have to support him because the team needs him and there is no time for lamentations.
"I have a good rapport with him and it's important to see how he is feeling so that this kind of thing doesn't happen in the future."
Line-ups
Barnsley
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 40Collins
- 26Sollbauer
- 30Helik
- 6Andersen
- 7Brittain
- 21PalmerBooked at 25minsSubstituted forHalmeat 57'minutesBooked at 68mins
- 27Mowatt
- 4Styles
- 28Frieser
- 29AdeboyejoSubstituted forMorrisat 45'minutes
- 9WoodrowBooked at 18minsSubstituted forDikeat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Walton
- 2Williams
- 10Dike
- 11Chaplin
- 14Morris
- 20Sibbick
- 22Oduor
- 24Halme
- 34Moon
Reading
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 33Cabral Barbosa
- 17Yiadom
- 4MorrisonSubstituted forHolmesat 42'minutes
- 6Moore
- 15Gibson
- 8Rinomhota
- 28Laurent
- 11Meite
- 7OliseSubstituted forSemedoat 84'minutes
- 14Ejaria
- 18Lucas João
Substitutes
- 2Pontes Esteves
- 3Richards
- 9Baldock
- 22Southwood
- 24Aluko
- 29Holmes
- 30Semedo
- 34Tetek
- 47Puscas
- Referee:
- Geoff Eltringham
Match Stats
Home TeamBarnsleyAway TeamReading
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away1
- Corners
- Home7
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home19
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Barnsley 1, Reading 1.
Post update
Foul by Mads Andersen (Barnsley).
Post update
Yakou Meite (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Alex Mowatt (Barnsley) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Daryl Dike.
Post update
Attempt missed. Daryl Dike (Barnsley) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Post update
Foul by Daryl Dike (Barnsley).
Post update
Rafael Cabral (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Barnsley. Conceded by Liam Moore.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alfa Semedo (Reading) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Yakou Meite.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Alfa Semedo replaces Michael Olise.
Post update
Attempt missed. Aapo Halme (Barnsley) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Alex Mowatt with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Barnsley. Conceded by Lewis Gibson.
Post update
Attempt saved. Carlton Morris (Barnsley) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Aapo Halme.
Post update
Mads Andersen (Barnsley) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the centre of the box following a set piece situation.
Post update
Offside, Reading. Josh Laurent tries a through ball, but Lucas João is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Alex Mowatt (Barnsley) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Daryl Dike.
Post update
Attempt missed. Callum Styles (Barnsley) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Daryl Dike with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Post update
Offside, Reading. Liam Moore tries a through ball, but Lucas João is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lucas João (Reading) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Yakou Meite.
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