Neil Warnock claimed Cardiff City’s 0-0 draw away to Barnsley contained “massive pluses” even though it stretched his team’s current dip in form to just one win in seven games.
After four victories in five games, the Bluebirds’ latest draw on Tuesday night means they have picked up only seven points in as many matches.
Despite that, Warnock has anxious to look on the bright side and picked out defender Joe Bennett for praise.
Warnock said: “It would have been harsh if we had got beaten. We knew they were going to be sprightly and play one-touch football.
“It was really pleasing to keep a clean sheet. I know (Brian) Murphy made a couple of saves, but overall there were some massive pluses for me.
“That was Joe Bennett’s best game for me at the club by an absolute mile. There’s a player under that shirt somewhere and tonight he was unbelievable.”
Barnsley’s winless run stretched to eight games as they were held in a feisty contest at Oakwell.
Buoyed by their last-gasp point against local rivals Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend, Barnsley looked lively and created the better opportunities, but the visitors held firm at the back to earn a deserved share of the spoils.
Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom said: “We didn’t score so we were not going to get three points. But we controlled their threats and the game for long periods.
“There were lots of pleasing things we did out there, but it’s the end product that is letting us down and we missed our chances again.
“We are changing the shape and personnel, we are doing everything we can and we are really pleased with the application, but we are not getting the rewards. I didn’t believe anyone was really going to be aggressive and stick their head on it.”
Great work from Saidy Janko down the right flank inside the first minute saw him create a chance for Adam Hammill inside the Cardiff box, with the winger’s shot deflected narrowly over. A mad scramble ensued from the corner, but the visitors managed to hack the ball clear.
The game became a scrappy affair as both sides cancelled each other out, with chances at a premium.
The Bluebirds finally managed a sight of goal midway through the half when Kenneth Zohore chanced his arm from 25 yards, with the ball whistling just a yard over Adam Davies’ goal.
A tenacious Hammill then managed to give Josh Scowen a shooting opportunity, with his fellow midfielder’s effort from the edge of the box deflected just wide.
Cardiff’s Greg Halford was fortunate not to put the ball in his own net as he got back to block Marley Watkins’ cross, as he sought out the unmarked Alex Mowatt when Barnsley broke at pace.
Cardiff made a change at half-time, with keeper Allan McGregor replaced by Brian Murphy, and the substitute stopper made a fantastic double save inside five minutes of the second half.
Janko had a shot blocked, but somehow managed to fire the rebound goalwards, with Murphy palming his shot out, and there was Hammill to fire in the loose ball but the City custodian reacted quickly to save the follow-up.
Murphy then got well behind a low driven effort from Scowen, before racing off his line to deny the same player in a frantic few minutes of Reds pressure.
Hammill’s curler was then easily held by Murphy, before Sol Bamba escaped a second yellow card and a sending off for chopping down Tom Bradshaw, with referee Scott Duncan taking no action as the Cardiff skipper was stretchered off after injuring himself when committing the foul.
In a rare Bluebirds attack, Davies did well to race off his line and thwart the onrushing Zohore.
Cardiff pressed again and after sub Kadeem Harris was upended on the edge of the Barnsley box, Aron Gunnarsson laid a free-kick off to Anthony Pilkington, who drilled an effort over the bar.
Gethin Jones got up to support a Barnsley attack and crashed a left-footed shot just wide, before Watkins’ low effort was smothered by Murphy.
Craig Noone tested Davies, who then held Zohore’s effort in injury-time as Cardiff attempted to pinch the win at the death.
