Summary

  • Andre Ayew's goal gives Swansea City a first-leg lead over Barnsley

  • Second leg takes place at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea on Saturday

  • Bournemouth beat Brentford 1-0 in first leg of other play-off semi-final

  1. Postpublished at 44 mins

    Barnsley 0-1 Swansea

    Barnsley look to respond to that goal and they win a corner - but Swansea clear.

    The home side then launch a long throw into the Swans' box and, although Ben Cabango boots the ball away, it comes back again.

    Michal Helik heads the ball towards goal but it doesn't have enough power and Freddie Woodman saves comfortably.

  2. Top-flight qualitypublished at 42 mins

    Barnsley 0-1 Swansea

    Ian Woodcock
    BBC Sport at Oakwell

    If ever there was a goal out of keeping with the game.

    That was a Premier League quality strike from Andre Ayew and the gathered Swansea directors in front of me here were delighted with it.

    There'd been nothing in it up until that so let's see if that opens things up now.

  3. It's that man again!published at 40 mins

    Barnsley 0-1 Swansea

    Ian Walsh
    Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

    Naughton flicks a delightful ball forward and Andre Ayew does what he does best.

    He shifts it onto his left foot and it bends into the far corner. Wonderful technique from Andre Ayew.

  4. goal

    GOAL - Barnsley 0-1 Swanseapublished at 39 mins

    Andre Ayew

    Swansea have barely threatened in this half but they lead thanks to a wonderful goal by their top scorer Andre Ayew.

    Kyle Naughton plays a fine pass down the Swans' right, into Ayew's feet.

    The Ghana forward then turns on to his left foot just inside the penalty area and curls a brilliant shot into the far corner.

    Superb strike.

    Ayew goalImage source, Getty Images
  5. Postpublished at 38 mins

    Barnsley 0-0 Swansea

    Ambitious! Liam Cullen picks up possession on Swansea's left, only around 15 yards inside the Barnsley half and he tries his luck with a shot.

    But it barely gets off the ground and is easily held by Bradley Collins.

  6. Postpublished at 37 mins

    Barnsley 0-0 Swansea

    Swansea haven't had much of the ball in Barnsley's half but Liam Cullen does well to wriggle into the penalty area and hang a cross towards the back post.

    Andre Ayew goes down and appeals for a penalty but there seemed to be only minimal contact from Barnsley's defenders. Play on.

  7. Postpublished at 35 mins

    Barnsley 0-0 Swansea

    Speaking of Barnsley's high-octane style, I'm reminded of an insightful interview Millwall's Jed Wallace gave to the Not The Top 20 podcast. It was a while back earlier this season but worth a listen if you get the chance.

    One of the topics Wallace covered was playing against Barnsley, and how interesting he found their "crazy" approach to the game.

    You can see what he means when you watch them go full throttle at Swansea tonight.

  8. Who'd be a referee?published at 32 mins

    Barnsley 0-0 Swansea

    Ian Woodcock
    BBC Sport at Oakwell

    Referee Geoff Eltringham has just given the international gesture for calm down after a particularly contentious throw in.

    He's letting a fair amount go so far in what has been a pretty physical contest.

    That being said he's just been given a massive ironic cheer for giving the home team a free-kick.

    You have to wonder how much refs have missed the fans!

  9. Postpublished at 31 mins

    Barnsley 0-0 Swansea

    Dominik Frieser plays a low cross from Barnsley's left towards Daryl Dike but the striker is just a little too slow off the mark and Freddie Woodman gathers the ball.

  10. Breathless opening half hourpublished at 20:44 British Summer Time 17 May 2021

    Barnsley 0-0 Swansea

    Ian Walsh
    Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

    It’s so frantic, the pace of the game, you haven’t got a second on the ball to decide what to do with it.

    That’s because of the emotion of the night and what’s at stake.

  11. Postpublished at 28 mins

    Barnsley 0-0 Swansea

    Good fun, this game. Chaotic, messy, noisy... lovely stuff.

  12. Postpublished at 25 mins

    Barnsley 0-0 Swansea

    A free-kick anywhere within 70 yards of Swansea's goal seems to be an opportunity to launch an attack for Barnsley.

    Goalkeeper Bradley Collins slightly overhits his free-kick from the Barnsley half and it goes out for a Swansea goal kick.

    The away side's defenders are being kept busy tonight.

  13. A time for cool headspublished at 24 mins

    Barnsley 0-0 Swansea

    Ian Woodcock
    BBC Sport at Oakwell

    Tackle on CullenImage source, Getty Images

    Swansea boss Steve Cooper is desperate for someone in his team to get their foot on the ball and get something going.

    Conor Hourihane's little ball down the line for Liam Cullen was brought back for offside but Cooper and his staff shouted their approval from the sidelines.

    It's been a scrappy affair so far and that suits Barnsley far more than the Swans.

  14. Postpublished at 23 mins

    Barnsley 0-0 Swansea

    Daryl Dike v Ben Cabango round three!

    Just a 50-50 challenge this time, and it's Swansea defender Cabango who gets the decision.

    Only a free-kick against Dike, but tempers are starting to fray just a little, and the crowd are voicing their frustration too.

  15. Postpublished at 20 mins

    Barnsley 0-0 Swansea

    Barnsley have already launched several long balls into the Swansea penalty area, and you get the feeling there will be many more to come.

    The latest, from Alex Mowatt, is flicked on and caught by Freddie Woodman in the Swans' goal.

  16. Postpublished at 18 mins

    Barnsley 0-0 Swansea

    Daryl Dike and Ben Cabango clash again, this time it's the Barnsley striker tripping the Swansea centre-back.

    Cabango implores the referee to book Dike but Geoff Eltringham keeps his cards in his pocket.

  17. Fans making their presence feltpublished at 20:30 British Summer Time 17 May 2021

    Barnsley 0-0 Swansea

    Ian Woodcock
    BBC Sport at Oakwell

    Never mind the energy levels of the 22 players on the pitch after a long, hard season I'm wondering if the home support are going to be able to keep up this level of backing for 90 minutes.

    Every single throw-in, tackle, header or corner won is being cheered to the rafters and they're letting the referee know exactly what they think if anything isn't given their way.

    When Daryl Dike won a corner for the hosts a moment ago he gestured for even more noise from the fans behind that goal.

    It's been over 400 days since they were last here and they're doing their best to make up for lost time.

  18. Postpublished at 13 mins

    Barnsley 0-0 Swansea

    In the great pantheon of football cliches, Daryl Dike is a nailed-on "handful" of a striker.

    He gets into a little tussle with Swansea centre-back Ben Cabango as the ball runs out for a goal kick.

    That could be an individual battle to keep an eye on tonight.

  19. Postpublished at 10 mins

    Barnsley 0-0 Swansea

    Daryl Dike holds the ball up well on the Barnsley right and wins a corner.

    Alex Mowatt takes what looks like an attempt at a pre-planned move but he mishits his low cross and it goes out for a goal kick.

  20. 'No way the players can maintain this'published at 8 mins

    Barnsley 0-0 Swansea

    Ian Walsh
    Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

    I think it’ll have to settle down, there’s no way the players can maintain this intensity for 90 minutes