Peterborough 2 Barnsley 1: Wilson is full of praise for Tykes despite defeat

Conor Washington and Marcus Maddison were on target for the home side after Devante Cole had opened the scoring for the Tykes, who had James Bailey sent off.

It brought an end to Barnsley’s mini-revival of two straight league wins, but manager Danny Wilson was delighted with aspects of his side’s performance.

“It is about results but the performance was terrific at times,” said Wilson.

“As commitment goes, the players gave everything for the club and team.

“To come here at this stage of the season against a club who have invested very well and got a team together that will be challenging at the end of the season – we’ve put in a terrific performance.”

“Two moments have undone us – we’ve given the ball away and they’ve punished us straight away and then there’s been a worldie of a free-kick.

“In between that I thought we more than matched them.

“Both teams played good football.

“When we got our noses in front – from what was a fantastic goal – it gave us belief that if we are going to come to these places and challenge then we have to play well, and we’ve done it.

“I don’t think we can ask for any more from the players because they’ve given everything.

“If we’d have come here and defended and tried to catch them on the break then still lost 2-1, we’d have been kicking ourselves.”

Cole’s opener was a delightful volley, although the hosts deservedly levelled on the stroke of half-time through Washington, who fired home an unstoppable shot from 20 yards.

After the break, Conor Hourihane and Ryan Williams both went close for the visitors but the Tykes were undone by a free-kick in the 69th minute, Maddison curling a superb strike past Ross Turnbull’s despairing dive.

Midfielder Bailey was sent off minutes later, after picking up two yellow cards in quick succession

Peterborough United: Alnwick, Baldwin, Bostwick, Burgess (Santos 39), Smith, Payne, Maddison, J Anderson (Ferdinand 90), Newell, Taylor (McEvoy 78), Washington. Unused substitutes: James, Oztumer, Mendez-Laing, Grant.

Barnsley: Turnbull, Bree, Cranie, Ramage, Nyatanga, Berry (Lita 89), Hourihane, Bailey, Williams (Hemmings 75), Winnall (Digby 80), Cole. Unused substitutes: Brown, Dudgeon, Treacy, Davies.

Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey).

Man of the match: Devante Cole.