Sorry for the lack of updated news this week, I have been on holiday.
And typical of Barnsley, as soon as I go away the club has a fairly busy week.
Firstly a new player has arrived at the club this week. Left-sided midfielder Martin Devaney has joined on a free transfer from Championship side Watford.
Devaney joined the Hornets only LAST MONTH from Cheltenham but failed to get near the first team.
He was quite prolific at Whaddon Road though scoring 43 times in 226 appearances.
Devaney is 25 and joins Andy Ritchie's young side on a two-year deal as cover and competition for Robbie Williams and the injured Brian Howard and will wear the number 25 shirt
Meanwhile the Reds totally upset the odds by knocking Championship promotion hopefuls Preston North End out of the Carling Cup in the First Round at Deepdale on Tuesday.
The Reds held out at 0-0 until the 77th minute when Danny Dichio fired the Lilywhites ahead. Yet just FOUR minutes later Barnsley squared the tie again through substitute Jacob Burns. It wasn’t a trademark 30-yard thunderbolt from the Aussie but nobody in red cared a bit.
The tie then reached extra time where most people expected the Reds to run out of steam against players with superior ability.
Under Paul Hart this may have been the case, but if there's one evident change under Ritchie it's the fact that this squad look alot fitter and surprised Preston when Burns hit his second after 108 minutes. Pity though that one thing hasn't changed.
Last season the Reds didn't win a SINGLE game after falling behind, and with just ONE MINUTE of extra time remaining, Tony Vaughan handled in the area to give away Barnsley's third penalty of the new season (although we have been awarded two ourselves)
Alexander made no mistake firing past Nick Colgan who had replaced the injured Scott Flinders after 100 minutes.
So to the unpredictable and murky waters of a penalty shootout.
Every taker converted until Brian O'Neil saw his penalty superbly saved by our penalty king Nick Colgan.
This finally meant that the task of firing Barnsley to a surprise place in the Second Round fell on the shoulders of Stephen McPhail. He made no mistake (and most probably thinks his season's work is done) and Barnsley secured a place in the Carling Cup Second Round against all odds.
The Reds reached the Second Round last season where Manchester City resoundly thumped us 7-1 for our troubles. But after beating a team who were 90 minutes away from a place in the 2005/2006 Premiership on their own patch anything can happen.
Now just before I sign off this article I have just one more intriguing point to make.
Tomorrow's opponents- table topping Brentford lost a massive 5-0 at Cheltenham (Devaney’s former team) on Tuesday.
Wouldn't it be great if he could lead his new team to the same result?!?!