Neil Redfearn returned to haunt his former club Crystal Palace last night with the goal that gave Barnsley their first Premiership win in their 110-year history. Redfearn's superb 56th-minute drive gave Danny Wilson's side renewed confidence for the awesome challenge they face this season, much needed after Saturday's debut defeat at home to West Ham.
Redfearn took advantage when John Hendrie dispossessed a dozy Simon Rodger, taking up the ball and angling inside from the right. There still seemed little danger when he swung his left boot from 25 yards, but he caught new goalkeeper Kevin Miller by surprise, his shot dipping inside the top right-hand corner.
It was a shock for Palace and their new Italian star Attilio Lombardo, but though Bruce Dyer cracked a shot against the bar in the 78th minute, they could not recover.
Crystal Palace: Miller, Edworthy, Gordon, Roberts, Tuttle, Linighan, Lombardo, Warhurst (Shipperley 68), Dyer, Rodger (Fullarton 63), Muscat. Subs Not Used: Veart, Nash, Hreidarsson. Booked: Tuttle.
Barnsley: Watson, Eaden, Appleby, Sheridan, Moses, De Zeeuw, Hendrie, Redfearn, Wilkinson, Bullock, Barnard. Subs Not Used: Leese, Marcelle, Liddell, Bosancic, Hristov. Booked: Sheridan. Goals: Redfearn 56.
Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).
