JET-LAGGED Iain Hume missed a golden chance to give Barnsley their first away win in five months — and ease the pressure on under-fire boss Simon Davey.

Canada international Hume beat Southampton’s offside trap five minutes from time before rounding keeper Kelvin Davis.

But, when faced with an open goal, Hume screwed the ball into the side netting.

The £1million summer signing from Leicester was substituted in the midweek defeat to Cardiff after struggling to overcome a long flight back from his native Canada the day before.

Davey continues to lead the Championship sack race as Barnsley remain rooted to the bottom of the table and, on this evidence, they do not look to be heading any higher.

Saints were by far the more positive of two sides who no doubt will be contesting the relegation places come the end of the season.

Credit

Credit for that must go to Saints boss Jan Poortvliet, who has tuned his young side to play attractive football. But, ultimately, they lack a cutting edge.

Bradley Wright-Phillips was denied by recalled Tykes keeper Heinz Muller on 10 minutes, while David McGoldrick should have done better from Jack Cork’s cross in front of goal — but his touch proved too heavy.

Fulham target Adam Lallana seemed Saints’ best source of goals with his purposeful running, but he could not do it all alone.

Then Andrew Surman was sent clear on 70 minutes for the home side’s best chance.

But the midfielder momentarily lost control of the ball when bearing down on the Barnsley goal, allowing defender Rob Kozluk to make a last-ditch challenge.

As both sides searched in vain for the decisive goal, Hume fluffed his lines before Muller denied substitute Stern John and on-loan striker Tomas Pekhart.
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Ian Wilkinson

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