sport

Howard's way for Tykes at Oakwell

Howard: Bagged a brace against Town

Howard hauled Barnsley level soon after Ipswich striker Pablo Counago had ended his three-month goal drought by firing the visitors into a 20th-minute lead.

Jon Macken headed Barnsley in front early in the second half and skipper Howard buried his 13th goal of the season from the penalty spot late on to dent Ipswich's play-off hopes and ease the Tykes' relegation worries.

David Wright nodded into his own goal in the 86th minute to compound the visitors' misery.

Simon Davey's side were desperate to build on last weekend's FA Cup win over Chelsea by clinching only their third win in 17 league matches and their first since a 2-1 success over West Brom on February 9.

Ipswich, looking to get back to winning ways themselves after a defeat and two successive draws, were twice denied by the crossbar in the second half but continue to struggle on their travels.

Lewin Nyatanga, Diego Leon and Macken all returned to Barnsley's starting line-up in place of Marciano Van Homoet (ankle), Martin Devaney (broken nose) and Istvan Ferenczi.

Ipswich also made three changes, with Alex Bruce, Owen Garvan and Alan Quinn coming in for Dan Harding, Danny Haynes and Jon Walters.

Howard tested Ipswich goalkeeper Stephen Bywater with an early long-range effort and Counago and FA Cup hero Kayode Odejayi then traded shots in the opening exchanges.

Howard was off target again with another 25-yard shot and Odejayi skied an angled shot from inside the penalty area before Ipswich swept into a 20th-minute lead.

Turkish midfielder Velice Sumulikoski cut in from the left channel and when his drive was parried by Barnsley goalkeeper Luke Steele, Counago followed up to slide the ball home for his first goal since mid-December.

Sumulikoski then pulled another shot wide when well placed, but the home side were quickly back on level terms when Howard took Bobby Hassell's pass in his stride on the edge of the area and drilled a shot inside the post.

Leon, Hassell and Jamal Campbell-Ryce all peppered the Ipswich goal with shots from outside the area, but the first half ended all square.

Counago spurned a gilt-edged chance shortly after the restart when he headed Garvan's free-kick wide and Ipswich were made to pay in the 50th minute.

Howard swung over an in-swinging corner and Macken rose highest on the six-yard line to power home his header high into the roof of the net.

Steele displayed the inspired form which has catapulted him into the spotlight in recent weeks with a fingertip save from Alan Lee's 25-yard rocket as Ipswich chased an immediate response.

Lee then hit the crossbar with a shot from inside the area and Steele turned away Counago's low drive for a corner.

Ipswich poured forward in search of an equaliser. Sumulikoski fired over the bar from 25 yards and Quinn's effort from similar distance was blocked by Tykes full-back Rob Kozluk.

The crossbar came to Barnsley's rescue again in the 65th minute when Counago's 12-yard shot rebounded off the woodwork before Garvan headed Quinn's cross wide.

Barnsley appeared to have ridden the storm and when they broke into Ipswich's penalty area through Campbell-Ryce, Sumulikoski hauled down the Tykes winger and Howard placed his spot kick into the bottom corner in the 83rd minute.

Campbell-Ryce flashed a shot from 30 yards wide and Lee drilled wide from outside the area before visiting defender Wright capped a miserable night for Ipswich by heading Howard's corner into his own net with four minutes remaining.