Action between Posh and Barnsley

The year of 2024 has been a rollercoaster ride with play-off heartache, Bristol Street Motors Trophy triumph and a challenging end as Barnsley condemned Posh to defeat.

Football is often about the breaks and it is fair to say that Peterborough United didn't get many in their final fixture of 2024 as a red-card issued to Harley Mills broke any momentum that Darren Ferguson's men had built up following the conversion of a penalty kick by Malik Mothersille. 

Of course, the blame is never just at one person's door and the way that Posh began the second half - conceding following a bit of a scramble and then leaving a man free at a set-piece, was always going to provide a mountain to climb and in the end, the Tykes were too strong. 

The first half was combative as Posh changed shape, accommodating three central midfield players in a diamond shape with Chris Conn-Clarke at the tip of that diamond, and both teams created one clear-cut opportunity - Nick Bilokapic denying Keillor-Dunn and Mothersille thwarted by Barnsley stopper Killip. 

But the game turned on two goals inside the opening 15 minutes of the second half with PINES firing home after Posh were undone following a throw-in and KEILLOR-DUNN sweeping home after a well-worked corner routine. 

MOTHERSILLE converted from 12-yards after Emmanuel Fernandez was felled in the box and momentum was beginning to swing in the home side's favour until Mills was shown a straight red card following a tackle on O'Keefe. 

Barnsley extended their lead through Jon RUSSELL and had further chances to score as Posh were exposed at the back with the numerical disadvantage. 

Posh will be hoping the New Year brings new luck with Ferguson's men on the road to the Pirelli Stadium, home of Burton Albion.

Posh: Bilokapic, Collins, Wallin, Mothersille, De Havilland (sub Hayes 57min), Conn-Clarke (sub Odoh 84min), Jones, Sparkes (sub Mills 57min), Kyprianou, Katongo (sub Curtis 57min), Fernandez. Unused subs: Blackmore, O'Brien-Brady, Ihionvien.

Barnsley: Killip, Cotter (sub Nwakali 73min), Russell, Pines, De Givigney, O’Keefe, Phillips (sub Gent 73min), McCarthy, Watters (sub Cosgrove 60min), Keillor-Dunn (sub Marsh 89min), Connell. Unused subs: Smith, Lofthouse, Yognathan.

Half-time: Peterborough United 0-0 Barnsley
Full-time: Peterborough United 1-3 Barnsley
Attendance: 9,404 (1,381 Barnsley fans)
Referee: A. Chilowicz