Academy Match Report: Barnsley 5-2 Manchester United u21s | OneFootball

Manchester United u21s took on Barnsley in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night.

Boasting a 100% record in the league, Travis Binnion’s u21s have had a great start to the season but opened the EFL Trophy with a loss to Lincoln City.

United met Barnsley in the competition last season which saw United win 2-3 thanks to a brace off the bench from Jack Fletcher, who Binnion selected to start this time out.

Jason Wilcox and United’s new Academy Director Stephen Torpey were in attendance for the fixture.

First half

The Barnsley side featured 37-year-old David McGoldrick and the former Ireland international almost made an immediate impact with a delightful through ball to Adam Phillips, who was denied by Will Murdock.

But it was the youngsters of United who made the first breakthrough in the match.

Chido Obi pressed to win the ball high before being pulled down in the box, but Jack Fletcher was following in to strike and it was deflected past the keeper.

It was an even encounter throughout the first half but United edged it in terms of goal threat.

A last ditch tackle denied Obi before Shea Lacey’s effort was saved by the keeper.

Barnsley hit the post in the 27th minute when a deep cross found the head of Phillips before smacking off the right post.

In the final minutes of the half, Murdock overplayed at the back and put Dan Armer in trouble. The centre-back lunged in to make a recovery but conceded a penalty in the process.

McGoldrick slotted down the middle to draw it level at 1-1 going into the break.

Second half

Barnsley manager Conor Hourihane fired up the home side during the interval as they came hot out of the gates upon the restart.

McGoldrick peeled off the shoulder of Tyler Fredricson and Armer before being fed through and finishing low past Murdock.

United replied instantly, levelling it back up at 2-2 less than a minute later. Lacey hit on the break, charging down the middle before laying off to Obi on the right side of the box to finish low and hard.

There were some afters during the celebrations as Jack Fletcher was dragged down off the ball in the build up to the goal with the midfielder confronting the offender.

In the 62nd minute, McGoldrick’s expertise got the better of United again as he ran in behind unopposed and chipped over Murdock with a sublime finish.

Jack Fletcher was involved in off the ball controversary again following the goal. He was shown a red card following a conversation with the referee before the restart. The reason is believed to be for dissent.

Going down to ten men took United out of the match. Neil Farrugia and Jon Russell ran up the scoring to give Barnsley a 5-2 victory.

United take on Notts County in their final group stage match, but first return to Premier League 2 action on Saturday when they will host Tottenham Hotspur.

Match facts

United: Murdock; Helafu (McAllister 57), Armer, Fredricson, Leon (Scanlon 63); Devaney, T.Fletcher; Lacey (Fitzgerald 80), J.Fletcher, Mantato; Obi (Biancheri 80)

Unused subs: Heath, Thwaites, Musa

Scorers: J.Fletcher 7, Obi 53 | McGoldrick 43 (pen), 52, 62, Farrugia 74, Russell 79.

Sent off: J.Fletcher 63

Featured image Linnea Rheborg via Getty Images

online polls

The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social