Anyone who witnessed the opening 40 mins of the game would not have guessed at the drama the next 50 minutes would bring.
The only bit of decent football of the first half resulted in Bellamy stroking the ball home after 42 mins. Whittingham and Bothroyd involved in the build up to allow the skipper to finish with grace. City went in at the break 1 up.
The second half produced a catalogue of talking points.
Firstly City won a corner, Gypes got his head on it and his goalbond effort was touched in by Bothroyd but the linesman deemed him offside. It must have been so close. Then a playground battle in the City box. Neither side could get a decent touch until Jason Shackell got a decisive boot through the ball to make it 1 - 1.
I took that moment to visit the restrooms and in the few moments I was away City had won a penalty. Handball against Foster. Peter Whittingham stepped up, one week after seeing his penalty against Millwall saved, and again was thwarted by the keeper. Luke Steele this time with a lucky boot to deflect the ball over the bar. Whittingham opted for power down the middle but the keeper, who dived to his left, got lucky with his trailing foot getting the deflection.
City heads didn't drop and from the resulting pressure of the corner took the lead. Whittingham's ball into the box was turned in at close range by Seyi Olofinjana. His unorthodox celebration was funny but importantly City were back in front.
Olofinjana almost sealed the game with a header soon after but it came back off the post. City then went down to 10 men. Darcy Blake received two tellow cards in the space of a few minutes and City had see to see out 8 mins + 4 mins added time a man short.
Barnsley as expected went for it, thankfully City were able to deal with the pressure. The one big scare came from a Hammill shot that was aiming for the back of the net before an acrobatic diving save from Tom Heaton.
The final whistle was such a relief and the 800 or so City fans were bouncing in the away end.
Bellamy, more involved out wide in the 2nd half came through 90 mins and the presence of Olofinjana in midfield helped City to have a good degree of control on the game.
There's a two week break now before we face Bristol City at the CCS. City stay 2nd in the Championsip.
The only bit of decent football of the first half resulted in Bellamy stroking the ball home after 42 mins. Whittingham and Bothroyd involved in the build up to allow the skipper to finish with grace. City went in at the break 1 up.
The second half produced a catalogue of talking points.
Firstly City won a corner, Gypes got his head on it and his goalbond effort was touched in by Bothroyd but the linesman deemed him offside. It must have been so close. Then a playground battle in the City box. Neither side could get a decent touch until Jason Shackell got a decisive boot through the ball to make it 1 - 1.
I took that moment to visit the restrooms and in the few moments I was away City had won a penalty. Handball against Foster. Peter Whittingham stepped up, one week after seeing his penalty against Millwall saved, and again was thwarted by the keeper. Luke Steele this time with a lucky boot to deflect the ball over the bar. Whittingham opted for power down the middle but the keeper, who dived to his left, got lucky with his trailing foot getting the deflection.
City heads didn't drop and from the resulting pressure of the corner took the lead. Whittingham's ball into the box was turned in at close range by Seyi Olofinjana. His unorthodox celebration was funny but importantly City were back in front.
Olofinjana almost sealed the game with a header soon after but it came back off the post. City then went down to 10 men. Darcy Blake received two tellow cards in the space of a few minutes and City had see to see out 8 mins + 4 mins added time a man short.
Barnsley as expected went for it, thankfully City were able to deal with the pressure. The one big scare came from a Hammill shot that was aiming for the back of the net before an acrobatic diving save from Tom Heaton.
The final whistle was such a relief and the 800 or so City fans were bouncing in the away end.
Bellamy, more involved out wide in the 2nd half came through 90 mins and the presence of Olofinjana in midfield helped City to have a good degree of control on the game.
There's a two week break now before we face Bristol City at the CCS. City stay 2nd in the Championsip.