Peterborough United 2 Barnsley 1: Managerless Barnsley fall to Rowe’s late goal

The hosts took a 28th-minute lead when Michael Bostwick’s low free-kick found the back of the net, but Marlon Harewood deservedly equalised for the visitors with 11 minutes left, albeit in controversial circumstances.

The assistant referee had his flag up after Harewood netted, but referee Darren Drysdale awarded the goal following a discussion with his linesman.

The controversy was forgotten by the home side as Rowe stepped up to score a late winner.

Barnsley caretaker manager David Flitcroft made four changes for his first game in charge following Keith Hill’s dismissal four days ago. John Stones, Martin Cranie, Tom Kennedy and Chris Dagnall were all handed starts by Flitcroft, who was coy on his own future after the game.

Flitcroft said: “I would have been disappointed with a 1-1 draw so I’m absolutely gutted to end up with nothing.

“The lads fought tooth and nail just as they had been doing for Keith but we just lacked that killer touch in front of goal.

“It’s a very strange feeling not working beside my best pal as I have been doing for the last six-and-a-half years, but Keith asked me to stay and fight on which is exactly what myself and the players did.

“I’ll continue to give everything either as No 1 or No 2 for this football club.”

Peterborough: Olejnik, Bostwick, Zakuani, Brisley (Knight-Percival 90), Little, Boyd, Ferdinand, Newell (Swanson 75), Rowe, Tomlin (Kearns 89), Gayle. Unused substitutes: Day, Alcock, McCann, Gordon-Hutton.

Barnsley: Steele, Stones, McNulty, Cranie, Kennedy, O’Brien (Noble-Lazarus 85), Perkins, Dawson, Golbourne, Davies (Harewood 67), Dagnall. Unused substitutes: Alnwick, Foster, Done, Cywka, Greening.

Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire).