From the sublime to the silly. From Brazil to Barnet. Not for the first time this season or indeed first time against Southampton this season Barnsley blew a 2-0 lead and were left to think of what might have been.
In horrendous conditions Barnsley, for an hour had the beating of a very poor Southampton side who were so inept that they didn't seem to know where Heinz Muller's 18 yard line was, never mind the back of his net, but one mistake from the previously magnificent, and without doubt my Man of the Match up to that point, Lewin Nyatanga allowed Southampton super sub Bradley Wright-Phillips to undeservedly pull the deficit back. From that point the game suddenly became Southampton's to win!
For probably the first time this season a lot of the blame has to land at the feet of manager Simon Davey. The usual panic at conceding a goal had allowed Southampton to gain the upper hand but it took until the EIGHTY FIRST MINUTE for Davey to make a substitution. And even then it was just the one- the fragile Miguel Mostto coming on for a totally destroyed Kayode Odejayi
It took just 16 seconds for the game to liven up as Sam Togwell of all people scored the quickest Championship goal of the season. His only previous Barnsley strike came in the dying seconds of a home defeat to Derby last season but straight from kick-off the returning Bobby Hassell played a great ball down the right flack which Odejayi flicked on for Jamal Campbell-Ryce to scamper away onto. A great cross from Campbell-Ryce was just too high for Brian Howard who managed to nod it back to Togwell to strike a sweet volley into the top corner.
With howling rain and wind simply lashing around the stadium any sort of attractive, passing football was impossible but The Reds penned Southampton back in their own half. They would have been out of sight if it wasn't for the horrendous wastefulness from striker Odejayi.
He twice prodded wide before the second goal finally came from in-form Campbell-Ryce.
If Togwell has his hands on the "Quickest Goal" title then Campbell-Ryce could certainly have a chance at "Goal of the Season"
On 34 minutes the tricky winger, back in the side after suspension, broke clean on the right before unleashing an absolute screamer over Southampton keeper Kelvin Davis into the far top corner. There should now have been no way back for the visitors.
There certainly should not have been four minutes later when Odejayi beat the offside trap to race clear. One on one with Davis, it mirrored his stunning strike against Scunthorpe earlier in the season. But the Nigerian looks a shadow of that player and as Davis advanced Odejayi somehow poked the ball wide.
Just before half-time came the first shoots of a revival when Andrew Surman- who scored a hat-trick in Southampton's 5-2 win over The Reds last season- forced Muller into his first save of the game.
With dry kits on for the second half it was Barnsley who again set the pace. Campbell-Ryce only denied another stunner by a wonderful save from Davis whilst Howard saw his header from a Hassell corner cleared off the line.
Istvan Ferenczi was inches away from a tap-in on 58 minutes and then it happened.
On 60 minutes Southampton boss George Burley pulled a master-stroke Davey could only imagine.
He sent on Bradley Wright-Phillips and within a minute the game had changed.
Nyatanga hesitated and Wright-Phillips didn't need an invitation to race clear before sliding the ball past Muller.
As often happens when The Reds are hauled back they begin to defend deeper and deeper. Hopeless long balls replaced measured passing and it became a case of not if but when Southampton would equalise.
The answer was 70 minutes.
A long ball into the Reds area saw
Grzegorz Rasiak get above Marciano Van Homoet to head the ball down to a totally unmarked Wright-Phillips who buried his effort into the net.From being in total control Barnsley were in real danger of their first home defeat since the opening day of the season.
Rasiak managed to send a free header wide before the fans turned on Odejayi after another poor effort on 79 minutes.
He again got clear of the Southampton defence but after controlling the ball he lashed it horribly into the Ponty End. A minute later Davey put him out of misery. Boos rang around the ground. A terrible decision in my opinion. The boy is shot to pieces as it is booing certainly isn't going to help.
Right at the death Muller further enhanced his billing as a top keeper to earn a point when he made a magnificent save to deny Wright-Phillips a hat-trick.
The day also marked the first time The Reds had conceded from open play since October but the costly draw meant they finish 2007 in the bottom half. Still we would all have taken 13th place back in August.
It is clear Davey needs a new striker in the transfer window (Diego Leon was introduced to the crowd before the game) Odejayi has lost all his confidence and the fans booing him will have hit him even more. A trip to Scunthorpe who are on a real slide awaits us on the first day of 2008. Failure to collect at least a point at Glanford Park could signal a worrying slide towards the relegation trapdoor!
Player Ratings:
Heinz Muller: Had nothing to do for an hour and then beaten by two clinical strikes. Earned a point right at the death though with a great save from Wright-Phillips. 7
Marciano Van Homoet: A lot better than against Stoke. Looks like a real attacking defender. Produced a string of outstanding last ditch tackles. 8
Dennis Souza: Had the Southampton strikers sorted until Wright-Phillips entered the fray. Still dominated in the area. 7
Lewin Nyatanga: Was having the best game of his Oakwell tenure until that split second of hesitation allowed Southampton to get back into a game they were resigned to losing. Let's hope Scunthorpe is not the last time we see him in a Barnsley shirt. 8
Bobby Hassell: Great to see the blonde haired Number 2 back in the side. Looked like he had never been away with his no nonsense defending. 8
Martin Devaney: Again produced the fancy stuff when it's not needed. But desperately unlucky to lose possession in the build up to Southampton's equaliser. Won three or four consecutive challenges before the ball bounced away from him. 7
Brian Howard: Another miserable game for the captain. The conditions stopped his passing game. Will the scouts still flock? 5
Sam Togwell: A wonderful effort after just 16 seconds and in the first half looked assured in the midfield. Totally different second half however, constantly losing possession. 6
Jamal Campbell-Ryce: Back with a bang. Superb strike and tortured Southampton in the first half. They double marked in in the second half and the threat was nullified. 7
Istvan Ferenczi: A poor game from Stan. His contribution was practically nil. Doesn't seem to work with Odejayi. 5
Kayode Odejayi: Confidence has been totally destroyed. Could have had a hat-trick but let down by atrocious finishing. The crowd got on his back, can he ever recover? 2
Substitutes:
Miguel Mostto (for Odejayi 81) Brought on far too late. You cant bring a striker on with nine minutes to go and expect results. 6
Unused Substitutes:
Rob Kozluk, Grant McCann, Rohan Ricketts, Michael Coulson.
Southampton: Davis ,Wright ,Powell (Ifil ,46 ) ,Thomas ,Bennett ,Surman ,Safri ,Hammill (Lallana ,60 ) ,Rasiak ,Euell ,John (Wright-Phillips ,60)
Subs not used Bialkowski,Viafara,
Sponsor's Man of the Match: Jamal Campbell-Ryce
BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: JCR was at the forefront of everything in the first half but saw his threat nullified after the break. Nyatanga, apart from that one moment, was outstanding.
Impressed by Southampton's: Bradley Wright-Phillips: Who else but? Totally turned the game on his arrival and could have had a hat-trick. Not as famous as his brother Shaun but he was deadly this weekend.
Ref Watch: Andy Hall: A refreshing change after Mr Kettle. Controlled the game well. 7
Other Reports:
FootyMadOfficial Report
BBC
Coca-Cola Championship Results: Saturday 29th December 2007
BARNSLEY 2-2 Southampton
Burnley 0-1 Bristol City
Colchester 0-2 Blackpool
Coventry 2-1 Ipswich
Leicester 1-1 Charlton
Norwich 1-1 Wolves
Plymouth 2-2 Stoke
Preston 1-2 Cardiff
Sheffield United 0-1 Crystal Palace
Watford 2-4 QPR
West Brom 5-0 Scunthorpe
Sunday 30th December 2007
Hull 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Barnsley lie in 13th place in the Coca Cola Championship with 33 points from 25 games.
We are 5 points off the Play-Offs, 11 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 14 points off First Place and 8 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to and including 30/12/07
Next Up:
On The Road:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Twenty Six: Scunthorpe United v Barnsley Tuesday 1st January 2008 Kick-Off 3pm
Tickets:
Adults: £19
Senior Citizens (Over 65): £12
Juveniles (U21) £12
Official Coaches will be travelling to Glanford Park
Price: £10
Departure Time: 12:30pm on the day of the game
Please note that this game is ALL TICKET for Barnsley supporters. The Reds have been allocated just 1,700 tickets for the big game and these will go on sale to Season Ticket Holders Only at 9.00am on Monday December 17, 2007. Season Ticket Holders will be able to buy TWO TICKETS ONLY must produce Special Match Voucher F when purchasing tickets
At Oakwell:
FA Cup Third Round: Barnsley v Blackpool Saturday 5th January 2008 Kick-Off 3pm.
It's 'kid for a quid' at Oakwell when the Seasiders come to town on Saturday January 5, 2008, KO 3.00pm, although youngsters must be accompanied by a full paying adult or senior citizen and have to purchase their tickets from the Oakwell Box Office prior to 1.30pm on the day of the game. Admission through the turnstiles for juveniles aged U16 will be £5.00.
A full paying adult can get one 'kid for a quid' ticket. Additional juvenile tickets are available at just £5.00 each.
The Reds have also cut the cost of admission for adults to just £15.00 while concessions for 16 and 17 year olds and senior citizens have been reduced to £10.00.
Full Ticket Prices for the big game are:
Adult - £15.00
Concessions (Juveniles aged 16 and 17; Senior Citizens) - £10.00
Juveniles (Under 16 purchased in advance of the game and accompanied by a full paying adult) - £1.00
Juveniles (U16 purchased on the turnstiles and accompanied by a full paying adult) - £5.00
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Twenty Seven: Barnsley v Norwich City Saturday 12th January 2008 Kick-Off 3pm.
Tickets for the big game are priced at:
East Stand and West Stand Upper Tiers
Adults £22.00
OAP/Juvenile £13.00
Juveniles (U11) £7.00
Barnsley Chronicle Family Area
Adults £22.00
OAP £13.00
Juvenile £13.00
Juveniles (U11) £7.00
East Stand Lower and West Stand Lower
Adults £21.00
OAP/Juveniles £12.00
Juveniles (U11) £6.00
Enterprise PLC Stand (Pontefract Road End)
Adults £20.00
OAP/Juveniles £12.00
Juveniles (U11) £6.00
All Disabled Areas £20.00
Helpers FREE OF CHARGE
To book tickets for forthcoming matches simply phone the Oakwell Box Office on 0871 2266777. Alternatively call at the Box Office in person; contact the Box Office by fax on 01226 211444 or e-mail boxoffice@barnsleyfc.co.uk. Please note that Juvenile U11 tickets must be purchased in advance from the Oakwell Box Office and this price will not be on sale on the turnstiles under any circumstances.
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