It wasn’t a classic, in fact a review of the first half will tell you how poor Swansea were throughout the forty five. Gone was the pace of recent weeks and the crisp passing we have seen of late. A barrage of missed passes and ponderous play was the main theme in a half that can be quickly forgotten.

Swans boss Russell Martin agreed post match. “I think the performance lacked the energy and intensity of the last three games,” he said. It's a really poor goal we concede, but when you go 1-0 down and get yourself back in it and make sure you don't lose, the mentality was good there. I think we'll learn a lot from today, especially ahead of next season. It was a different pressure on the guys. I don't like using that word, but there was an expectancy from us with the form we've been in to beat a team near the bottom of the table, but it never happens like that”

That being said Barnsley could have won this game, but then at the death so could have the swans. The clearer cut chances are hard to divide with Barnsley and then Swansea going close in the second half. A first half Matt Grimes shot was well saved by stand in keeper Jack Walton and Michael Obafemi fluffed his lines scuffing an opportunity wide. The Swans survived a real scare just six minutes before the break as Liam Kitching headed wide from inside the six-yard box. It wasn’t brilliant, the amount of misplaced passes were a hallmark of the swans possession. They looked lazy and tired, not least Grimes who on his two hundredth Swansea appearance was relentlessly fouled by the visitors.

The second half was brighter but Swansea still failed to find their rhythm as Barnsley looked the more dangerous side. Fighting for their championship existence the tykes seemed to have more desire than their hosts. Understandably so as any slip up would almost resign them to league one football next season. Barnsley scored first, a defensive lapse saw Gomes sprint in on goal and fire home the opening goal. Andy Fisher in the swans goal deflected the shot but not enough as it nestled into the swans net.

That seemed to fire up the swans but with Barnsley sensing three points away for only the second time this season a deflected shot off Joel Latibeudiere hit the home sides post. Lucky then but not immediately after when substitute Olivier Ntcham fired home a superb curling shot to level matters.
The swans could and maybe should have gone on to win the game but a flurry of chances were not taken by Christie, Piroe, Paterson and Obafemi. It wasn’t totally inspiring but any swans fan expecting top notch performances week in and week out after forty games under new stewardship is far wide of the mark.

Post match Martin said "We have five games left to make a real impact on our position in the table. I think the whole season has been about learning. I think the players have learnt a hell of a lot. I've learnt a lot throughout the season, all of us have as a coaching staff. All of it prepares us really well and puts us in a much better position for next season, especially the way the players have learnt and grown together."

Barnsley boss Payo Asbaghi looked demoralised but was pleased with his sides performance. "Overall, over the full 90 minutes, to come here to Swansea and be the better team, it's a good performance even though we didn't get the result. We are in a situation where we have to depend on other results. What we need to do with five games left is show the same spirit that we showed in this game. "This was not a team which showed any signs of giving up anything. We get a good counter-attack to score the goal which put us 1-0 ahead. After that we even hit the post to make it 2-0, but instead Swansea equalise to make it 1-1. It was a really decisive moment in the game. I don't think any team can come here, in any game almost, and win the possession, but it's about creating the most chances, and I believe if we look at this game overall, we are the ones who created the best chances."

A bit one sided there but he hasn't seen his side play that well away from home for many weeks. So maybe he can be forgiven for his assessment.

We did see a more lax and causal Swansea approach to this game, as expected maybe ? With Reading winning away and Barnsley earning just a point it could well be the swans are seriously tested come their Bank Holiday Monday visit to the Select Car Stadium in Berkshire. A win for Reading would almost certainly guarantee their championship status for next season. It was almost as if the swans didn’t need this test against Barnsley, and if that the case they won’t enjoy Bank Holiday Monday at Reading at all.

The draw leaves Russell Martin's side 14th, seven points off the top six with five games to play.

Swansea City: Fisher; Cabango, Naughton, Latibeaudiere (Manning 65); Christie, Fulton (Ntcham 56), Grimes (C), Wolf; Piroe, Paterson (Congreve 90); Obafemi.

Subs not used: Hamer, Ogbeta, Smith, Joseph.

Goal: Ntcham 64 ⚽️

Yellow card: 🟨 Grimes 90+1

Barnsley: Walton; Brittain, Andersen (C), Kitching, Vita; Gomes, Palmer (Styles 68), Wolfe (Woodrow 73); Bassi, Morris, Quina.

Subs not used: Jinadu, Leya Iseka, Moon, Hondermarck, Adeboyejo.

Goal: Gomes 54 ⚽️

Yellow cards: 🟨 Wolfe 16, Palmer 29, Morris 77

Attendance: 17,923

Referee: Andy Woolmer 6/10 Surprisingly fair.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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