IPSWICH Town conceded a late goal for the second game running to be beaten by Barnsley in their Coca-Cola Championship fixture at a blustery Oakwell this afternoon.

Elvin King

By ELVIN KING

Barnsley 2 Ipswich Town 1

IPSWICH Town conceded a late goal for the second game running to be beaten by Barnsley in their Coca-Cola Championship fixture at a blustery Oakwell this afternoon.

Iain Hume, who out for much of last season with a head injury after a collision with Sheffield United's Chris Morgan, fired the Tykes into an eighth minute lead with Liam Rosenior equalising with his first Town goal in the 45th minute.

Hume shot against the bar from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute for an offence that only the referee saw although there was a suspicion of handball by a grounded Smith amid some dreadful defending.

Just when it looked all over - in the 96th minute - Jon Macken netted to leave Town's players on the knees in dismay.

It was not the greatest game between two lowly sides, but looked like being a slight step in the right direction for Ipswich with character being shown to fight back after going a goal behind early on.

Town were left heartbroken and now have a fortnight break to re-group for the fight ahead to move up the table.

Ipswich were unchanged from the side that drew 3-3 at Sheffield United on Tuesday when they were winning 3-1 with 12 minutes left but let two precious points slip away.

Manager Keane also announced an unchanged set of substitutes confirming his belief that these 18 players are the best he has available at the moment.

Barnsley, who had wins against Burnley and West Brom in their previous two home games, had Bialkowski in goal on loan from Southampton. The Pole was on loan at Portman Road at the end of last season.

Macken, who also had a lone spell at Ipswich, was up front for a Barnsley side that has a Carling Cup game against Manchester united at Oakwell coming up.

Town players had two pre-match huddles - one as they left the pitch after their warm-up and one just prior to kick-off with the Blues attacking the goal which their fans were sitting behind.

McAuley had a shot half-fumbled by Bialkowski after two minutes with Ipswich taking time to settle against opposition who began the game just outside the bottom three.

Hopes that Ipswich would take the initiative were quickly dispelled when Hume drove the home side into the lead in the eighth minute. The number seven went beyond Trotter on the edge of the penalty area to net with a left foot low shot that beat Wright's dive to his right side.

Town players looked at their keeper with a certain amount of despair as he appeared to be beaten all-too-easily from 18-yards.

While Barnsley fans followed the trend and sang towards Keane 'You'll be sacked in the morning' visiting supporters were signing their manager's praises.

Peters shot a foot over in the 14th minute as Town looked to hit back after their seemingly customary early blow.

Wright was tested by Shotton, but held a swirling ball well, before a good Town move down the right ended with a nervous-looking Bialkowski relieved to see the ball deflected for a corner.

In the 27th minute with Town looking unconvincing at the back, Foster leapt to meet a corner and sent his seven-yard header against the top of the bar and out for a goal kick.

In the 35th minute, Rosenior put Priskin away down the right. Foster let the low cross run, and Quinn was denied by a desperate block by Shoitton as he arrived late in front of goal.

Three minutes later Walters ran down the left and from his cross Priskin had a free header that carried little power and the home keeper was able to gather - at the second attempt.

Macken sent a screamer a foot over with the teams evenly matched, and in the 43rd minute Priskin was booked for making contact with Bialkowski as he went for a lose ball, and Moore for charging into Priskin with intent after the incident.

A red should surely have been shown to Moore who received a long lecture from the referee.

As the game entered stoppage time, Ipswich equalised. Leadbitter, so often the provider of Town goals, drove in a 30-yard free-kick that a struggling keeper could only push away. Rosenior arrived on cue to send a diving header from the rebound high into the net. It was no more than the Blues deserved.

The wind was so strong that substitute Counago had to hold a swaying corner flag so that Leadbitter could take a corner as Town began the second period in the ascendancy.

A Hume corner in the 59th minute went over Wright's head with Quinn heading clear on the line at the far post. With wind advantage Town were lucky to escape a long thrown from near the half-way line, and second later - in the 61st minute - Edwards screwed his effort wide when well placed.

In the 64th minute, Leadbitter and Walters brilliantly set up Trotter for a free shot from 12-yards, the youngster side-footing a foot over as his team mates sank to their knees in disappointment.

Hume side-footed against the bar in the 72nd minute from the penalty spot after Smith looked to have penalised for handball, Leadbitter being booked for having the most to say in the many protests.

McAuley had a shot cleared off the line in the first minute of stoppage time and then Wright dropped a free-kick, but was able to grab the ball after a mis-kick in front of goal.

In the 96th minute - after five minutes of stoppage time was shown - Town failed to clear a free-kick and Macken tried his luck from 18-yards with the ball entering the corner of the net to Wright's left. The final whistle blew seconds after the re-start.Barnsley: Bialkowski, Shotton, Foster, Moore, Dickinson; Campbell-Ryce (sub Butterfield 66 mins), Doyle (Gray 85), Colace (Hallfredsson 66), Hammill; Macken, Hume. Subs: Steele, Bogdanovic, Kozluk, Thompson.

Ipswich Town: R Wright; Rosenior, McAuley, Smith, Peters; Edwards (Stead 75), Leadbitter, Quinn (Martin 84), Trotter, Walters; Priskin (Counago 61). Substitutes: Lee-Barrett, Balkestein, D Wright, Colback.

Referee: Mr P Gibbs (West Midlands)

Attendance: 12,224.