Barnsley finally ended their six-match winless run in League One with a spirited 2-1 victory over Exeter City at St James Park, thanks to a commanding display from Nigerian midfielder Kelechi Nwakali.

Making his full league debut, Nwakali not only opened his scoring account but also played an important role in Barnsley’s first win in 7 games, reigniting their push for promotion, footballrover reports.

A game-changing performance by Kelechi Nwakali

The match began on a shaky note for Barnsley, with Josh Magennis giving Exeter City the lead in the 13th minute after his deflected free-kick left the visitors trailing at halftime.

However, Kelechi Nwakali sparked a second-half resurgence, capitalising on a defensive error just four minutes after the restart to fire in the equaliser.

Nine minutes later, Stephen Humphrys delivered a perfect cross, allowing Davis Keillor-Dunn to tap in the winner.

Barnsley held on to secure a hard-fought victory, their first in seven attempts, lifting them to 7th place on the table with 30 points.

Man of the match and what’s next

Kelechi Nwakali’s influence in midfield proved to be the difference, and for helping his side halt their poor run of form, the 26-year-old Super Eagles star was named Man of the Match.

Barnsley will now aim to build on this momentum as they prepare to face Leyton Orient on Saturday.

With Kelechi Nwakali regaining his form, hopes are high for another strong performance.

This victory not only restores confidence in the squad but also gives Barnsley new determination to climb the League One standings.

Like this post?
We’d be delighted to hear from you. Please leave a comment in the box below!

Last Updated on December 14, 2024 7:01 pm by footballrover