Daryl Murphy’s fourth goal of his second loan spell with the Blues was enough to see Town to a 1-0 victory over Barnsley at Portman Road. The Irishman struck soon after half-time with the on-loan Celtic man and Lee Martin subsequently having good chances to add to the Blues’ lead, while Jay Emmanuel-Thomas struck the bar.
Arran Lee-Barrett and Andy Drury returned to the Blues line-up with Alex McCarthy having been recalled to Reading earlier in the week, while Lee Bowyer dropped to the bench.
Prior to kick-off the South Stand was renamed the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand by six members of the 1961/62 Division One championship side - Andy Nelson, Larry Carberry, John Compton, Doug Moran, Ray Crawford and Ted Phillips - with doves released into the stadium. Moments before the start of the game, the current side turned towards the directors’ box and applauded their predecessors.
Emmanuel-Thomas hit a powerful third minute freekick from 30 yards which Tykes keeper David Button was unable to hold on to. Fortunately for the visitors, defender Jim McNulty was first to the loose ball and put it behind. Damien Delaney headed the resultant corner wide.
The Blues continued to have the better of the opening minutes and on six Murphy did well to dispossess right-back Scott Wiseman and feed Michael Chopra inside the area but the one-time Barnsley loanee lost his footing, leading to penalty calls, but only from the stands.
Emmanuel-Thomas shot into the sidenetting, then Chopra was flagged offside when away on goal with Town the only side to threaten at this stage.
However, there was a scare for the Blues on 12 when Craig Davies’s cross from the right deflected into the air off skipper Carlos Edwards and goalwards but close enough to Lee-Barrett for the keeper to claim.
Drury shot just over in the 21st minute with the Blues — who by now had Murphy partnering Chopra up front with Martin moving wide - continuing to have the better of it but without significantly threatening Button further.
Emmanuel-Thomas flicked on a Drury header in the 27th minute, the ball striking a number of defenders but not quite falling for Chopra. Within a minute, the former Arsenal youngster sent a dangerous ball across the Barnsley six-yard box with the Blues still pushing for the opening goal.
Murphy was next to go close, Edwards crossing from the right, Drury heading it back before the Irishman’s overhead kick flew over. At the other end, a rare Tykes attack ended with winger David Cotterill shooting harmlessly wide.
Emmanuel-Thomas had another go in the 35th minute, cutting in from the left past McNulty before hitting a shot which was blocked, although on its way wide of the target. The 21-year-old required treatment afterwards but was fit enough to carry on.
Barnsley made their first change in the 27th minute, on-loan winger Kallum Higginbotham, reportedly a Town target in January before joining Huddersfield, replacing Matt Done.
There was a worrying moment for Blues keeper Lee-Barrett on 40 when a harmless-looking Korey Smith effort from 35 yards squirmed under him. Fortunately, he was able to grab the ball at the second attempt before it rolled over the line.
Lee-Barrett went some way to making amends in first half injury time when he dived to block at Davies’s feet after the former Chesterfield striker had been played through on goal by sub Higginbotham.
The whistle went soon after to end a drab half which had been largely Town’s, albeit without Paul Jewell’s men having been particularly impressive.
The Blues had created chances but all too often failed to test Button. The Tykes, who kept plenty of men behind the ball and only threatened on the break, had actually had the more significant of the half’s opportunities.
Town went ahead within four minutes of the restart. Chopra played the ball into Murphy’s path as he broke into the area and the Irishman held off McNulty before beating Button with a low left-foot shot which hit the net off the inside of the post.
Craig Davies tried to get the visitors back on terms immediately, but his low shot bobbled wide. At the other end, after good work from Chopra and Emmanuel-Thomas, Martin’s strike inside the area was blocked.
Emmanuel-Thomas came close to making it 2-0 twice within seconds in the 54th minute. First he hammered a left-foot strike off the bar from the edge of the area, the ball cannoning back to him so he could hit a right-foot shot just over.
A minute later Murphy ought to have had his second of the game when a superb Drury pass sent him away on goal. With keeper Button advancing, the on-loan Celtic man tried a lob but sent the ball wide when he ought to have scored.
Scott Golbourne shot wide for the Tykes in the 58th minute with the second half much more open than the first with the visitors committing more men forward having gone behind. On 62 Martin picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Norwich loanee Korey Smith.
Murphy might have had another opportunity in the 65th minute but the ball failed to fall for him from a corner. Barnsley switched Andy Gray for Frank Nouble, before Delaney was booked for a foul, then on 71 Jason Scotland replaced Chopra for Town.
Within seconds of coming on, the Trinidadian had created a golden opportunity for Martin, playing the ex-Manchester United man in on goal on the left of the area. Martin had only Button to beat but somehow scraped the ball past the post and wide.
Lee-Barrett made two important saves soon after one another in the 77th minute, first coming off his line to block from Davies after the striker had been played in on goal on the Barnsley left as the Tykes broke after a long spell of Town possession. The Blues failed to clear and Nouble hit a powerful shot which the keeper stopped to his right.
Emmanuel-Thomas, who had been Town’s greatest threat throughout, was replaced by Ryan Stevenson for the final seven minutes.
Barnsley became more of a threat as the end of normal time approached with the Blues failing to clear their lines on a number of occasions.
But Town were not to be denied their sixth home win in seven, a result which probably should have been more comfortable with Murphy and Martin both missing decent opportunities and Emmanuel-Thomas having hit the woodwork. However, Barnsley had opportunities late on and but for Lee-Barrett might have grabbed a point.
The Blues were more convincing for most of the second half, however, helped by the Tykes’ more adventurous approach after going behind. Manager Paul Jewell will be pleased that his side have continued their good run of home form and particularly with the clean sheet.
Town: Lee-Barrett, Edwards, Smith, Delaney, Cresswell, Leadbitter, Drury, Emmanuel-Thomas (Stevenson 83), Martin, Murphy, Chopra (Scotland 71). Unused: Wright, Sonko, Bowyer.
Barnsley: Button, Foster, Dawson, Davies, Done (Higginbotham 37), Wiseman, McNulty, Smith (O'Brien 78), Cotterill, Golbourne, Gray (Nouble 67). Unused: Lidakevicius, Collins. Referee: Phil Gibbs (West Midlands). Att: 20,053 (Barnsley: 198).
Photo: Action Images