[BFC SITE] REDS PROGRESS TO ROUND THREE

Fixtures

• Barnsley Vs. Rotherham United - Tue, Aug 26 2025, 19:45

The Reds progressed to the third round of the Carabao Cup in successive years with victory over Rotherham United at Oakwell.


Adam Phillips' second-half finish secured safe passage to the next stage of the competition following Jon Russell's equaliser shortly after the restart.

The visitors were the first to threaten on goal. Just after the ten-minute mark, Shaun McWilliams broke down the right and faced Murphy Cooper one-on-one in the area, the Reds stopper coming out on top and dispossessing the advancing attacker. The rebound fell to the feet of Kion Etete inside the area, who struck a low effort goalwards and saw his effort cleared on the line by Connor Barratt.

Moments later, Jack Shepherd made an important intervention at the back post, sliding in on the Rotherham man to prevent an early opener for the Millers.

On twenty minutes, the visitors' pressure paid, striking the first blow in the tie. Ar'jany Martha picked up the ball on the left-hand side, cut inside and drilled the ball into the bottom corner.

Following the goal, the Reds controlled proceedings without troubling Cameron Dawson in the Millers' goal.

Jon Russell came close three minutes before the break, receiving a curling ball into the box from Cleary, but the Jamaican couldn't nod between the posts, his header going just wide of the mark.

Half-time: Reds 0-1 Rotherham United

The Reds emerged for the second half with a renewed impetus, finding more joy on the flanks with Farrugia and Vickers.

It was via this outlet that the Reds got back level in the tie, Russell popping up with the all-important equaliser in the area following a cross into the area from Nathanael Ogbeta on the left just after the hour mark.

Hourihane's side found momentum in the affair, with Bland coming close just three minutes after the goal. The youngster played a one-two with Vickers in a central area, advanced from midfield and attempted to place one into the bottom corner with his left, narrowly missing out due to the upright.

The pressure paid in the 69th minute, as a rebound from Dawson's save fell to Farrugia, who sharply drove to the byline and crossed for Phillips, who stabbed home from close range to give the Reds the ascendancy in the tie.

Phillips picked the pocket of a Millers defender high up the pitch with fifteen to go and played in Leo Farrell. He drove down the right but dragged his effort wide of the mark.

Despite five minutes of added time, the visitors couldn't find an equaliser to take the tie to penalties, which meant the Reds progressed to round three.

Full-time: Reds 2-1 Rotherham United

Reds: Cooper (GK), Russell, Shepherd (Earl 72'), de Gevigney, Vickers (Kelly 81'), Cleary (Phillips 45'), Farrugia, Barratt, Bland, Keillor-Dunn (Farrell 72'), Yoganathan (Ogbeta 45').

Unused subs: Flavell (GK), Graham.

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