Barnsley qualified for the play-offs and, after thrashing Birmingham City 5–2 on aggregate (with a 2–1 defeat at Oakwell insufficient for Birmingham to best Barnsley over two legs after the Tykes' 4–0 win at St Andrew's), reached the final at Wembley to face Ipswich Town. Barnsley took the lead through an own goal by Ipswich goalkeeper Richard Wright, but goals from Tony Mowbray, Richard Naylor and Marcus Stewart put Ipswich 3–1 up. A Craig Hignett penalty with twelve minutes left gave Barnsley hope, until Martijn Reuser's goal on the stroke of injury time. The 4–2 defeat condemned Barnsley to a second consecutive season in the First Division.
Barnsley, who were the Football League's top scorers with 88 goals, could have achieved automatic promotion, but for their poor defence that conceded 67 goals – the worst of any in the top twelve of the First Division, and joint fourth-worst in the division.
[2]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
^Dyer was born in Redbridge, England, and represented them at U-21 level, but played a friendly game
for Montserrat against Ashford Town in September 2007.
