I always like to think I echo the views of the majority of Barnsley supporters in my match reports, and hope I'm getting the views of most supporters online. But for this one I have a feeling I'm sadly in the minority.
This is because I am going to praise the performance from last night. I'm going to praise a performance of a side who were playing their second game in 48 hours against a side that hadn't played for nearly a week.
There is all this talk that professional footballers should be able to cope with the demands of games in quick succession but NOBODY else has been made to play two games in two days TWICE in the last THREE weeks to accommodate SKY.
The last time The Reds were forced to do it, at the end of October, they picked up just 1 point, were hammered on SKY and lost a seven match unbeaten run. This time, whilst again not looking impressive for the live audience have picked up a maximum six points.
And yet still people moan. "We should be playing better at home"; "We should be able to hammer sides like Blackpool" Well to those let me put this fact out.
Last season we lost 26 league games, more than ANY other team in the Football League or Conference, bar one- St Albans City who finished bottom of the Conference with 26 defeats as well.
Put in perspective we were the easiest team in England to beat. Now, just 5 months on we are even winning when we play badly!
Right rant over and last night's game was not for the neutrals and SKY must have been kicking themselves for picking it.
With tough games coming up against Wolves and Watford in the coming weeks this was simply a game The Reds had to win and win at any cost.
Guess what.. they did!
There weren't as many chances or the late drama that occurred during the 1-0 triumph over Preston 2 days previous but there was plenty of passion and effort and as the players left the pitch last night they could safely say they had left every last bit of effort out there on the grass.
The defensive foursome of Stephen Foster, Dennis Souza, Lewin Nyatanga and Rob Kozluk again excelled in front of the weekend's hero Heinz Muller who produced two terrific stops to keep the points safe.
Brian Howard and Sam Togwell covered every blade of grass- and they had too, whilst Istvan Ferenczi and Jon Macken caused plenty of problems when the ball reached them.
This will probably be forgotten though as the game really hinged on four penalty decisions which referee Paul Taylor got completely wrong on all four accounts.
Firstly after 18 minutes Jamal Campbell-Ryce smashed a shot from inside the area which was heading for the top corner before the out-stretched arms of Danny Coid beat it away, a goalkeeper's save but amazingly stood just yards away ref Taylor waved away the appeals.
It was all change just two minutes later as he went from missing something that everybody saw, to seeing something that nobody else did.
Togwell raced forward with the ball before laying it off to Martin Devaney on the wing. After releasing the ball, Togwell collided with Blackpool's Shaun Barker. It was debatable about whether it was a foul but it certainly happened outside the area. Mr Taylor though, pointed straight to the spot. And Captain Howard struck a superb effort low into the corner past Blackpool keeper Paul Rachubka (the man between the posts for Huddersfield in those epic Play-Off Semi-Finals in 2006)
The Reds then, clearing still feeling the effects of Saturday, toiled. It has to be said Devaney and Campbell-Ryce were bitterly disappointing on the wings as they failed to beat a man or deliver a decent cross all game.
The best chance of a Blackpool equaliser fell to Kasper Gorkss on 29 minutes as he met David Fox's free kick completely unmarked but somehow sent his header wide.
The game exploded within 6 minutes of the restart when Blackpool were reduced to 10 men.
Booked in the first half for a foul on Howard, Pool captain Michael Jackson went in very late on Ferenczi and was promptly shown a second yellow.
The numerical advantage didn't help The Reds however as Blackpool remained the fresher more adventurous side but it was Barnsley who should have been given the chance to extend their advantage on 56 minutes as Howard was clearly hauled to the floor in the area by Gorkss but Taylor was again unmoved.
Muller produced a wonderful stop from Keigan Parker before it was Blackpool's turn to berate the referee.
On 67 minutes, Wes Hoolahan strode into the area and was clipped by the legs of Muller, but the referee AND linesman gave a corner when TV replays clearly showed Muller had made no contact with the ball.
The let off sparked Barnsley into life and the crucial second goal arrived just three minutes later.
It was almost a carbon copy of the goal against Preston as Howard whipped in a delicious left-footed free kick and Ferenczi rose to power the header into the roof of net via a deflection off a Blackpool defender.
The breathing space lasted barely two minutes.
Muller flapped at a corner, after appearing to receive a nudge from Nyatanga as he went to grab and Keith Southern blasted the rebound home.
The pressure was all Blackpool now and Muller made a flying catch from Scott Vernon right at the death.
A poor game admittedly, but happy? VERY!!!
Player Ratings:
Heinz Muller: May have been at fault for the goal but two wonderful stops confirmed the excellent form he's in. 8
Rob Kozluk: Solid as usual. The name Paul Heckingbottom can be forgotten forever! 8
Dennis Souza: The nightmare at Hull seems to be firmly behind him now. Stills leads with his elbow now and again but he is such a fearsome opponent! 8
Lewin Nyatanga: Alongside Souza he was again a rock. A blossoming partnership. Will be sorely missed if he goes back to Derby in January. 8
Stephen Foster: Very confident game. Has a tendency to still hit aimless balls but cannot be faulted defensively. 8
Jamal Campbell-Ryce: Inconsistent start to his Barnsley career and couldn't get in the game last night. Subbed. 5
Brian Howard: Better than on Saturday if still not back to his best. Fantastic penalty and free kick for the second goal. With Werling out of the side its crucial the skipper keeps performing with the dead ball. 7
Sam Togwell: The effort was there and he was still snapping into tackles. 2 good games will not totally convince me but he's going along the right lines. 7
Martin Devaney: Like his fellow winger he had no impact on the game. The sooner he's back warming the bench the better!. Subbed. 5
Istvan Ferenczi: Among the goals again and the confidence is certainly back! Playing with a smile on his face and a kiss to the badge! 8
Jon Macken: Worked his socks off again although two games in two days after nothing while at Derby certainly took its toll on him. Subbed. 7
Substitutes:
Grant McCann (for Campbell-Ryce 65) The original thought was that McCann would go on the left, but Togwell did and this rendered McCann's contribution meaningless. 6
Rohan Ricketts (for Devaney 73) One fantastic run that took him past two opponents but his final ball was poor. Still more than Campbell-Ryce and Devaney did between them. 7
Kayode Odejayi (for Macken 89) Had a great chance to break through at the death but blew it. Needs a confidence boost fast! 5
Unused Substitutes:
Paul Reid, Miguel Mostto
Blackpool:
Rachubka, Coid, Southern, Jackson (Sent Off 52), Parker, Hoolahan, Taylor-Fletcher (Vernon 81), Fox (Jorgensen 69), Gorkss, Barker, Morrell (Hills 55).
Subs: Welsh, Flynn.
Sponsor's Man of the Match: Rob Kozluk
BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Good game from Kozzie, nobody did much better than him so Ill give it to him too.
Impressed by Blackpool's: Keigan Parker looked a class act in League One and has followed it up in the Championship whilst Wes Hoolahan also looks accomplished.
Ref Watch: Paul Taylor: Dreadful. Had 4 crucial decisions and got them all wrong. 2
Other Reports:
FootyMad
Official Website
Barnsley lie in 4th place in the Coca Cola Championship with 23 points from 15 games. We are 1 point inside the Play-Offs, 4 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 9 points off First Place and 10 points above the Relegation Zone.
Next Up:
On The Road:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Sixteen: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Barnsley Saturday 10th November 2007 Kick-Off: 3pm
Tickets:
Adults: £27
Senior Citizens: £14
Students (With Valid NUS): £14
Juveniles (U17) £12
Juveniles (U12) £10
Official Coaches will be travelling to Molineux.
Price: £12
Departure Time: 11:30m on the day of the game.
At Oakwell:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Seventeen: Barnsley v Watford Saturday 24th November 2007 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
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