By Tim Hodges
Barnsley 0 Brighton & Hove Albion 0
The Albion were held to an almost predictable goalless draw with Barnsley at Oakwell.
Gus Poyet gave another chance for goalkeeper David Gonzalez to impress and the Colombian kept a clean sheet.
The match also saw the last game of Vicente Rodriguez’s current contract. The former Valencia and Spanish international playmaker has been a sensation since finally regaining full fitness in late winter.
Lewis Dunk, deputising for the injured Gordon Greer, made a superb saving tackle to deny Barnsley’s Stephen Dawson a clear sight on goal midway through the first half.
Albion’s best chances were of course being created by Vicente. The playmaker crossed into the box but Ashley Barnes couldn’t convert Will Buckley’s nod back.
Buckley then worked well with Vicente and he crossed into the area where Dicker smashed a volley towards goal, but Tykes keeper David Button made a good save.
The second half was reminiscent of two teams thinking about beach balls rather than footballs. In fairness both sets of players had little to play for, except perhaps avoiding unnecessary injury.
However, towards the end Vicente had a little bit of magic left. Beating two defenders, he effortlessly he fired in a shot which narrowly went over the bar.
Barnsley themselves had a great chance in the last few minutes, but John Stones headed wide in front of an open goal.
A season that at times promised much sees the Albion finish in a respectable 10th place.
Seagulls fans should note as they look forward to another season of Championship football that, almost 15 years to the day that they played that incredible match at Edgar Street, Hereford United again need to win next Saturday to maintain their Football League status.
Albion: Gonzalez; Calderon, Dunk, El-Abd, Mattock; Bridcutt, Dicker; Vicente; Buckley, Barnes, Mackail-Smith. Subs: Ankergren, Sparrow, Assulin, Sparrow, Vokes.
Barnsley: Button; Wiseman, Foster, McNulty, Golbourne; O’Brien, Dawson, Perkins, Clark; Davies, Rose. Subs: Gray, Stone, Hassell, Done, Cotterill.
Referee: Colin Webster (Gateshead)
