Barnsley 3 Shrewsbury Town 0 - Report
Tonight's defeat at Oakwell was an evening where nothing went Shrewsbury Town's way.
On the back of a terrific win against Derby, they fell to a disappointing 3-0 defeat against Barnsley in Yorkshire.
Shrews had taken seven points from their last nine available before this game, but their improved form came to an abrupt halt after some poor officiating decisions by referee Simon Mather.
In the space of five first-half minutes, Shrews were given a mountain to climb. Firstly, when Carl Winchester was harshly penalised when the ball struck him from close range.
The penalty was awarded and then scored by Herbie Kane, moments later Shrews felt they should have had a penalty of their own only for the referee to say no and Barnsley went straight up the other end and added a second.
With the hosts having a good start to the season it is a difficult place to go to in any case, but it felt as if the referee gave them a helping hand on the night.
Town kept the ball nicely at times looking tidy in possession but ultimately the same problems they have had all season came back to haunt them - they did not look like scoring.
It looked as if the hosts had settled for 2-0 with them sitting back after the break but they then added a third from nowhere.
It was always going to bed a difficult challenge it is just frustrating when the opponents are given a helping hand, and the 3-0 scoreline was perhaps a little harsh.
ANALYSIS
Considering Barnsley were 3rd in the table before kick-off their home form was intriguing, only winning twice in League One.
Matt Taylor was without Brandon Fleming, who picked up an injury on Saturday - Kieran Phillips was also not in the matchday 18.
Taylor wanted his side to back up their best performance of the season against Derby - a game where you saw their identity for the first time.
Jason Sraha, who has made such an impression of late, returned to his former club Barnsley - he spent two years with the Tykes.
Shrews settled nicely into the game, looking comfortable in possession, while neither side created anything in what was a quiet opening 15 minutes.
The game changed though when Carl Winchester was adjudged to have handled Barry Cotter's shot from the edge of the box.
The wing-back was five yards from Cotter and his effort was struck firmly with Winchester not even looking at the ball when it hit him.
But Simon Mather pointed to the spot and Herbie Kane calmly dispatched the penalty beyond Marko Marosi.
Shrews clearly felt aggrieved by what looked to be a harsh call. They were left even more frustrated five minutes later.
Mal Benning was pulled back in the box, but he did not go down and despite Town's appeals, Mather waved play on.
From that exact moment, Barnsley went down the other end and doubled their lead.
Devante Cole got the better of Dunkley on the right, and with the defender on a yellow card, he could not afford to bring him down.
He got to the byline and pulled it back for Callum Styles who was there to sweep it into an empty net.
Again Town were left questioning the officials and Taylor was booked for his protests.
Barnsley's home form had been questionable so far this season and being gifted a headstart in the game did enough to lift them.
The officials were booed off by the travelling Town fans at half-time.
To try and get his team going the Salop head coach introduced Tunmise Sobowale at half-time in place of Nohan Kenneh.
Just after the hour mark Salop had a huge chance to get one back and it came from a corner.
Dunkley got up highest and his header was blocked by the only man on the line, it led to chaos inside the Barnsley box which ended with Sraha seeing an effort blocked behind for another corner.
The home side looked content with their 2-0 lead and even though Shrews looked comfortable in possession they rarely looked like scoring.
And just like that, out of the blue, they added a third. Cole latching onto a loose ball over the top and calmly slotting beyond Marosi.
TEAMS
Shrews: Marosi, Flanagan, Dunkley, Sraha, Benning (Anderson 80), Winchester, Kenneh (Sobowale 45), Perry (Bennett 80), Bayliss, Udoh, Mata (Bowman 62).
Subs: Burgoyne, Anderson, Bennett, Bowman, Sobowale, Pierre, Watts.
Barnsley: Killip, Williams, Durand de Gevigney, Mccart, Cotter (O'Keefe 62), Kane, Cadden (Dodgson 62), Russell, McAtee (Watters 62), Styles (Phillips 45), Cole (Benson 75).
Subs: Flavell, Benson, O'Keefe, Dodgson, Phillips, Watters, Shepherd.
