For the first time in almost two months, Harambee Stars international Clarke Oduor featured in an English Championship game as his Barnsley side lost their joint highest thirteenth league match of the season as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat away to Preston in a match played at the Deepdale Stadium on Saturday evening.Normally a feature on the substitutes bench, Oduor, who had not got any game time since 20th October, was named in the starting eleven of the matchday squad and featured for 76 minutes before being taken off the game.First roll of the dice from Poya. pic.twitter.com/tLKiN9Dp0b— Barnsley FC (@BarnsleyFC) December 11, 2021 Despite his presence, the Kenyan did not have the lucky charm to inspire his side back to winning ways as Preston found a way past them with twelve minutes left on the clock just after Oduor had been subbed off the game. First, though, the home side had taken the lead in the 57th minute after enduring what looked like a Barnsley siege in the first half.Playing from the back, Preston perfectly went through the lines as Jamaican international Daniel Johnson made a sweet turn in taking out two of the Barnsley markers who tried to tackle him in midfield before he squared a pass to the unmarked Alan Browne who had made his run into the box, the 26-year-old easily converting with no pressure to put his side ahead.⏱ FULL-TIME: #pnefc 2-1 BarnsleyGET IN! Three points for North End in Ryan Lowe’s first game in charge! 💪 pic.twitter.com/zNujeYBLiN— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) December 11, 2021 Eight minutes after going behind, Cauley Woodraw would restore a momentary parity for Barnsley as he sneaked in with a very late attempt to head in Callum Brittain’s otherwise feeble attempt on goal.Twelve minutes to time, Johnson would turn from provider to goalscorer as he slotted in a perfectly worked free kick in the area to score his team’s second goal that turned out to be the match-winner after the full-time whistle was sounded.Following the defeat, Oduor’s Barnsley find themselves deep in the relegation battle as they sit second bottom on the log on 13 points, eight away from the safety places.
