BARNSLEY 1, WOLVES 1

RIOT police were called in as thousands of fans staged a mass pitch invasion after Mick McCarthy's Wolves clinched the title.

And mounted officers were needed to stop a potential battle when Barnsley followers tried to confront their celebrating rivals.

Supporters remained on the pitch for half an hour after the match and Barnsley's Bobby Hassell revealed he was slapped in the face.

Some of Wolves' 6,000 backers had already invaded the pitch after the 84th-minute equaliser which clinched top spot.

Furious boss McCarthy ran on to wave angrily at the mob to get back behind the goal. Objects were also thrown at the end but the police intervention prevented any major escalation.

Barnsley-born McCarthy confessed the finale took some of the joy out of the day. He declared: "It was unfortunate it marred it. We had a lot here and you can understand why they want to party. But it took a bit of gloss off.

"I wasn't happy because someone jumped on me at the end. I didn't know whether he wanted to give me a good hiding or celebrate. In fact, it was a Barnsley fan congratulating me.

"There was no real danger and we would have loved to go up and applaud them. Instead we had to scarper up the tunnel. I just hope it doesn't take the focus off the fact we're top."

Wolves' equaliser was scored by sub Kyel Reid, who played 12 games on loan for Barnsley two seasons ago. It was the West Ham loan star's first goal for the Midlanders.

McCarthy had vowed there would be no favours for his struggling home-town team and that is how it turned out. Barnsley now face a last-day cliffhanger for survival.

Yet McCarthy, who played more than 300 games for the Tykes and won two promotions at Oakwell, admitted he was desperate for them to hang on.

Sombre

He added: "It's a bit sombre. I just hope they stay up. There's a bit of sadness. But I think people like me and respect me here for what happened when I played here."

Wolves, minus 41-goal top-scorers Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Chris Iwelumo, were second-best for most of the game and their equaliser was a shattering blow for the home side.

Barnsley chief Simon Davey said: "Somebody up there is putting us through the mill. It's written in the stars. We don't do it easy but, easy or hard, I'm confident we will be OK."

Barnsley visit Plymouth next week, with Norwich at home to Reading tomorrow and then at Charlton.

Jon Macken put Barnsley in front with his ninth of the season in the 58th minute and it looked enough to win the game until Reid struck. The Tykes have now gone eight matches without a win.

Davey added: "We've lost a lead late in four of the last six games but have only ourselves to blame. We're three points in front of Norwich and, if they win, it goes to the last day."

Wolves looked as if they were still in dreamland after clinching promotion last week and this was something of a hangover show.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce was a problem to them from the start and Barnsley stayed strong at the back when they had to. Wolves desperately defended four corners in the first seven minutes.

Campbell-Ryce almost broke through in the 11th minute, taking on Macken's pass to test Wayne Hennessey. The keeper spilled the ball and had to make a double save at the winger's feet before Christophe Berra cleared almost off the line.

Hennessey then dropped an Adam Hamill free-kick, with Stephen Ward the rescuer this time. Macken drove in the opener from close range after Hennessey had blocked his initial effort. That put the Tykes in the driving-seat, though Luke Steele had to save bravely point-blank from Reid.

The Barnsley keeper was faultless when it mattered, yet could do nothing about Wolves' title sealer.

It was created by a brilliant piece of skill from Matt Jarvis, who went past two defenders before seeing his cut-back driven in by Reid.

REMAINING GAME - BARNSLEY: May 3 v Plymouth (a). WOLVES: May 3 v Doncaster (h).

• NOT KEANE ON ANYONE

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