Barnsley 1-0 Cardiff

Barnsley snatched a deserved injury-time winner to end their Cardiff City hoodoo as loan star Carl Dickinson fired home a last-gasp free-kick.

Dickinson's left-footed 20-yard blast deflected off Michael Chopra to leave Cardiff keeper David Marshall wrong-footed and beaten.

Ross McCormack had gone closest for the uninspiring Bluebirds as the division's top-scorers failed to find the net.

Dickinson's winner inspired Barnsley's first win over Cardiff in 10 meetings.

The Stoke City defender - on loan at Oakwell - unleashed an unstoppable drive after Cardiff captain Mark Hudson had been penalised for a needless handball following a challenge with Barnsley's Brazilian striker Anderson De Silva.

Mark Robins admitted afterwards he did not want Dickinson to take the free-kick but luckily for the Tykes boss, the 22-year-old did not hear his manager's pleas as he crashed home his first goal of his career - with a little help from Barnsley old boy Chopra.

It was no more than Barnsley deserved as while they did not create many clear-cut openings, they enjoyed the better possession.

It was a bitter blow for Cardiff as Dave Jones' men were desperate to respond positively from their south Wales derby defeat to Swansea City.

Cardiff's wall awaits Carl Dickinson's last-minute free-kick at Oakwell

The visitors started well as McCormack went close with a 25-yard drive before the Scottish striker narrowly missed the target after diverting Chris Burke's cross dangerously close to Luke Steele's goal.

Cardiff also had a penalty appeal turned down when Hudson was bundled over in the box by Rob Kozluk at the back post after the Cardiff centre-back tried to get to Peter Whittingham's corner.

Referee Kevin Wright ignored the muted protests for a seemingly innocuous challenge

But Barnsley had probably the greatest opening of the first-half when Daniel Bogdanovic missed a relatively straight-forward tap-in his seventh goal of the season.

Dickinson's low inswinging left-wing cross isolated the Cardiff rearguard but Maltese international Bogdanovic could not convert - although the teasing cross was struck with a lot of pace.

Cardiff were already without pivotal striker Jay Bothroyd, midfielder Stephen McPhail and defenders Anthony Gerrard and Adam Matthews but Jones was dealt another injury blow in the 21st minute.

Full-back Kevin McNaughton, in his first start of the season after an ankle injury, hobbled off to be replaced by Paul Quinn.

The game descended into a war of attrition in wet and wild conditions at Oakwell as both sides battled to continue their form and the hosts went close when Ryan Shotton's header was well held by Marshall.

Barnsley have shown signs of improvement since Robins replaced Simon Davey two months ago and the Tykes looked more likely to end their Cardiff hoodoo.

606: DEBATE Dickinson looked very happy when he scored, has to be a good sign when he can show that much passion for the club Porksmith

The visitors were lacking the hold and link-up play of Bothroyd up-front as the front-running terriers McCormack and Michael Chopra, returning to his former club, were feeding off scraps.

Barnsley were not creating gilt-edge chances either but recalled Cardiff defender Gabor Gyepes had to block Roberto Colace's shot while Iain Hume fired a free-kick wide in a game that lacked any creative spark or cutting edge quality.

Collace then fired over before Dickinson's late, late show stole the points for Barnsley as Cardiff did not just suffer successive defeats but slipped to six points adrift of the Championship's top two clubs.

And while the win did not move Barnsley up a place in this early Championship table, a victory over one of the promotion contenders will boost morale as the Yorkshiremen continue their improvement.

Barnsley manager Mark Robins:

"I thought it was a thoroughly deserved win. I thought we were excellent and although the conditions were difficult, we coped with everything Cardiff threw at us.

"We kept a clean sheet and took three points against a side who are challenging in the top four at the moment so credit to my players who stuck at their task and were outstanding again today.

"We scored a good goal but, to be fair, I was trying to get Dickinson off the ball but he has hit it and with the aid of a deflection it has gone in the net - and we can't ask for any more than that.

"I just wanted someday else to take. It was his first career goal which is why I didn't want him to take it! But credit to him, he deserved it.

"Now we can't rest on our laurels. The players keep setting the standards, they are confident and are playing against opposition that were well fancied where as we were written off so the pundits may be thinking again."

Cardiff City manager Dave Jones:

"It is disappointing to lose any game and to lose it with virtually the last kick of the game is hard to swallow.

"It is cruel but we have things to learn and we must learn them quick as we should have been satisfied to take a point.

"We should have just shut up shop with 30 seconds remaining instead of having players charging forward as when they kicked it forward we were out of shape.

"The ball bounced up and hit Mark Hudson on the hand and while some referees will give it, some won't.

"Maybe the wall should have done better, maybe the chargers should have done better - but it was the only mistake in the game when defences were on top.

"The goal was a cruel deflection but we have to take it on the chin and bounce back."

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