Johnson wins on Barnsley return

TRIUMPHANT: Lee Johnson's return to SportsDirect.com Park was a successful one.

Follow this link to view the updated match report with more images

http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/10/oldham-athletic-news/90778/johnson-has-the-last-laugh

ATHLETIC 1 BARNSLEY 3

BARNSLEY made it six straight wins as hard-working Athletic were made to pay for awful set-piece defending, gifting Lee Johnson victory on his controversial return to SportsDirect.com Park.

Lewin Nyatanga netted twice, in both halves, and Conor Hourihane the other as Mike Jones' strike to pull one back before the interval proved fruitless.

And to add to a miserable afternoon for Dean Holden's side, Adam Lockwood was sent off in added time after picking up a second booking.

The result leaves injury-ravaged Athletic with a sinking feeling, having won only once in the last six outings.

Johnson and his assistant Tommy Wright were roundly jeered as they took their places in the opposition technical area but while it was fiery in the stands, the game took a long time to get going.

Martin Crainie rose to head over from a corner 13 minutes in, but Athletic – ravaged by injuries and featuring two debutants in loan men Mat Sadler and Like Woodland – were holding their own in midfield in a frantic but poor-quality game.

Barnsley's opener came from very little. Conor Hourihane swung in a free-kick from deep and as it missed a host of players, Athletic goalkeeper Jake Kean hurriedly pawed the ball out and it fell kindly for Nyatanga to slot home after 33 minutes.

Seven minutes later, the lead was doubled. There appeared little danger as Carl Winchester lined up his clearance as a corner kick dropped to him, but Hourihane applied a block on the ball and it slipped beyond Kean.

Jones halved the deficit with hard-working Athletic's first shot on target. Exchanging passes with Conor Wilkinson, the midfield man found space in the box to angle his shot across Adam Davies and into the far corner.

There was still time in the opening half for Hourihane to go within a whisker of a third, as his 30p-yard drive skimmed the crossbar on its way over the top.

Athletic started the second half on the front foot and had plenty of ball in Barnsley territory.

Carl Winchester and Jones were grafting but were unable to quite provide that final, telling delivery.

Holden's side went closest to levelling in the 66th minute, when Wilkinson span in the area and couldn't quite get his strike away cleanly under pressure.

Johnson's side withstood the pressure and netted a third from yet another set piece. Hourihane delivered from the right touchline way beyond the far post, Kean committed himself but got nowhere near it and as the ball was nodded back into the danger zone, Nyatanga got the final touch to bundle it home for a third.

Substitute Rhys Murphy lost his balance when well placed to direct a shot at goal after 84 minutes, Forte spun to shoot and extend Davies at his near post and the 'keeper also flicked a Rhys Murphy header from a corner onto his crossbar and over.

Lockwood was harshly dismissed in added time for a second yellow card offence. Barnsley saw time out to boost their play-off hopes.