Barnsley 3 Bradford City 1

CITY do not usually fail their screen tests but they fluffed their lines terribly at Oakwell yesterday.

Phil Parkinson’s side were unbeaten in their previous five telly outings dating back to the play-off semi-final first leg against Burton – and that still ended up fine in the end.

But that love-in with the small screen came to a sudden end after a stumbling performance against Barnsley.

City even had the fillip of going ahead inside the first minute. But that was as good as it got in their bid to go fourth.

Instead they delivered a flat and insipid display as the unbeaten away run fizzled to a feeble end.

It was tough on keeper Jordan Pickford, who had been excellent in the first half, but the rest - the dogged Rory McArdle apart - deserved what they got.

James Hanson was missing once again but that should not be an excuse. City had proved they could cope without him after banking eight points from the previous four league outings.

The only change from the Crewe win was in midfield where Billy Knott replaced Filipe Morais as City reverted back to the diamond. But his afternoon was as under-par as anyone.

And yet City had needed only 44 seconds to strike. Mark Yeates played a one-two through the middle with Billy Clarke, making his way to the edge of the Barnsley D before squaring for Jason Kennedy to place a shot past Ross Turnbull.

The keeper will feel he should have done better as he got a hand on it but that didn’t bother Kennedy, who could celebrate this one after keeping his reaction muted when he scored last time against former club Rochdale.

But he didn’t have too long to dwell on it, cracking heads painfully with home defender Lewin Nyatanga as they contended for a ball on the halfway line.

It would have been understandable if Barnsley, who had already lost three of their four home games so far, were seeing stars after such a wretched start.

But City were indebted to Pickford for denying the Tykes a quick response. The young keeper pulled off three big saves as Barnsley pressed for an equaliser.

The first came from Luke Berry’s curler which Pickford managed to claw away from the top corner of his net.

Then it was Conor Hourihane’s turn to curse the keeper’s agility as the faintest of touches diverted his 25-yard blast wide of the post.

And Sam Winnall suffered the same fate with another thump from distance that Pickford beat away.

But after a flurry of home corners, City nearly caught Barnsley napping from their first as McArdle flicked on Alan Sheehan’s kick and Clarke’s touch took it just past the near post.

Gary Liddle picked up a costly booking for a foul on Ryan Williams. It was the midfielder’s fifth and rules him out of next week’s home clash with Sheffield United.

But once again Pickford looked safe as houses from the free-kick, getting his body behind Hourihane’s effort after it flew through the wall.

City were seeing plenty of the ball themselves and could have done better from a couple of decent crossing opportunities. Aaron Mclean was getting very little to feed on.

A moment of sloppiness at the back almost cost them as Andrew Davies tried to pass the ball out of danger. His clearance was blocked by Berry and Winnall latched on to possession with a fierce effort that clipped the top of the bar as it flew into the away end.

Alan Sheehan followed Liddle into referee Andy Madley’s book for stopping a quick throw-in but Barnsley continued their shoot-on-sight policy, Hourihane hammering one over again as half-time approached.

And there was still time for Pickford to come to City’s rescue once more. Hourihane’s cross picked out Winnall but the keeper was alive to his flick header to prevent it creeping inside the post.

But Pickford was finally beaten in the opening minutes of the second half.

Nyatanga had been booked almost straight from the resumption for standing on Liddle. But that was swiftly forgotten when he played a part in Barnsley’s equaliser three minutes in.

Clarke conceded a needless free-kick which Hourihane curled into the goal-mouth. Nyatanga tangled with McArdle for it and the City defender got the decisive header past Pickford – although it looked like the Barnsley player was climbing all over him.

The goal predictably brought the home crowd to life and Winnall threatened more with a fizzing effort across goal from 30 yards.

City had struggled to do anything since the break and Parkinson tried to shake things up just after the hour by replacing the ineffective Knott with Morais.

But it remained all Barnsley and within minutes they had a second goal. Nyatanga was the supplier this time as he exploited too much space with a low cross from the left and Winnall beat Pickford with a sniffer’s finish at the near post.

City could have no complaints – they had not turned up for the second half. Barnsley simply looked quicker and hungrier for every 50-50 ball.

The visitors had still not mustered a shot on target since the goal. There was a flicker of hope when Yeates led a break towards the Barnsley box but Kennedy opted to square the ball instead of shooting.

Barnsley threatened once more as Devante Cole held off Davies but Stephen Darby beat Winnall to his cut-back right in front of goal.

There was no real suggestion of any fightback from the Bantams and Barnsley made sure of their points with virtually the last kick of added time.

With most white shirts committed upfield, Kennedy was caught out by a counter-attack on the halfway line.

Hourihane drove towards the box and although McArdle managed to block his attempt to cut inside, the ball fell kindly for substitute Kane Hemmings to drill home.

That sparked heated scenes at the other end as the City fans took exception to Turnbull taunting them as he celebrated.

There was more unpleasantness after the final whistle on a day that had turned into a huge let-down.

Barnsley v City picture gallery