Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Seven: Derby County 2-3 Barnsley

Funny old game football. Probably the oldest but yet most relevant cliché in football.

For the first 20 minutes of last night's game at Pride Park, I went on record to say that this was the worst Barnsley team I had ever seen and that relegation was a certainty. By full time, those same players had put in one of the best 45 minute showings ever away from home to bag their first victory of the season.

The first 20 minutes were THAT bad. No movement, no quality, no nothing! Derby were cutting through at will and it was only the bad final touches on their part which had stopped them putting the game out of sight long before Adam Hammill's beauty levelled the scores.

Probably the greatest turnaround in performance has to go to Rob Kozluk. Quite simply he has been woeful this season and in the first half, Lee Croft- who tore Barnsley apart for Norwich in the 4-0 drubbing at Carrow Road last season- was giving the full-back a torrid time, beating him EVERY time whilst on some occasions, Croft was giving the freedom of the Reds left hand side with Kozluk nowhere to be seen.

Second half? Different story! Kozluk never gave Croft a sniff, put in some terrific tackles and was arguably the Reds best defender after the break! I'm all for giving second chances- Rob, after last night this is yours!

The feeling going into this game was of trepidation. The Reds had won just four times in 17 trips to Derby and even the wave of optimism and early good results that accompanies the arrival of a new manager had failed to work, with Mark Robins tenure getting off to a 1-0 defeat at Watford- a place where Barnsley rarely lose!

Those fears were enhanced in those opening 20 minutes.

Stephen Foster did well to block an effort from the very lively Kris Commons and Dean Moxey curled an effort just wide before Derby grabbed the lead after 25 minutes.

Croft nipped past Kozluk like he wasn't there and whipped in a delicious cross that Rob Hulse powered past David Preece.

Usually it takes conceding a goal to make Barnsley heads dropped, this time they had dropped before it and ten minutes later Derby SHOULD have got the second which may well have killed off any hope of a contest.

It was a move identical to the first goal with Croft again racing down Kozluk's side to whip a great ball in for Hulse. All the ex Blade had to do was nod it in. Even now I cannot fathom how he managed to direct the ball wide! It looked a certain goal from the moment Croft crossed the ball in.

It may have been a moment that defined the match because five minutes later, Barnsley were level with their first effort on target- and what an effort.

Adam Hammill- a big disappointment since his permanent return to the club, picked the ball up on the left wing, cut inside and from fully 25 yards curled a beauty into the far corner. Rams keeper Stephen Bywater got a hand to the effort but could only help it in. A goal totally out of nothing and totally against the run of play.

It was a goal that could maybe change the season- it certainly changed this match.

After the break Barnsley were a different animal. Emil Hallfredsson was simply immense- and his absence for three weeks with the medial ligament injury he suffered towards the end of the game is a big blow- whilst Andy Gray gave a performance as close to a "Neil Shipperley" one as I've seen since "Shipps" left in 2001.

It was though thanks to a touch of luck, and a couple of dodgy refereeing decisions that The Reds took the lead on 57 minutes.

Colace seemed to nudge Commons over but referee Nigel Miller waved away the penalty appeals. The Reds broke through Hallfredsson and the Icelandic international slipped the ball through to Gray in the penalty area who was stood all alone. The entire Derby backline put their hands up for offside, the flag stayed down, and after what seemed like an age, Gray flicked the ball past the stranded Bywater into the far corner.

After the trials and tribulations already suffered in a season, still only seven games old, it was littler wonder 784 travelling supporters went berserk!

Derby still had plenty of the ball but the Reds backline, for once, was holding firm with Kozluk the best of the lot. In the middle Hallfredsson and the recalled Jacob Butterfield were pulling the strings, and it has to be said that for the first time this season, Barnsley looked dangerous every time they went forward.

They should have been further in front on 77 minutes thanks to some baffling play from Bywater. The goal-keeper had already sent a few risky kicks up the field before, throwing the ball straight to the feet of Gray! Gray, probably through shock couldn't finish, and when Butterfield sent the ball back over, Hugo Colace skied his effort from the edge of the area.

Hallfredsson departed with seven minutes remaining after a poor challenge from Commons and this led to the fourth official's board showing EIGHT minutes of injury time. Certainly enough to send panic into the away end, but it was The Reds who hit again first.

With a minute of the allotted time gone, Gray and Anderson broke clear with the striker feeding the Brazilian and he galloped clear. Now everybody knows Anderson's finishing is not the best, he probably realised too as instead of trying to dink the ball over Bywater, he attempted to go around him. He managed it… sort of but seemed to stumble with the goal gaping, a defender seemed to get back, but Anderson skinned him too before nudging the ball over the line.

That should have been it, but just to show that everything isn't rosy in the Oakwell garden again just yet, Shaun Barker was given a free header which he planted past Preece in the 95^th minute to ensure the final skirmishes would be tense.

The Reds though did hold on, and are, for now off the bottom of the Championship. It remains to be seen whether this is the start of a revival or just a mere highlight in another gloomy season. In Robins We Trust

Player Ratings:

David Preece: Shaky start but adapted well, including making some brave blocks in the second half. 7

Bobby Hassell: Quiet game for Bobby. Didn't really stand out but still stood up to be counted like the rest in the second half. 6

Stephen Foster: His interventions stopped Derby scoring more goals in the first half and he was again a rock after the break. 7.5

Darren Moore: Maybe a little lucky not to concede a penalty but nothing else seemed to bother him. Excellent in the air and produced some thundering tackles. 7.5

Rob Kozluk: Was as bad as he has ever been in the first half. Truly awful. The best defender after the break though! Derby continued to try to play through Croft but every tackle was well-timed and he seemed to run with this stance, where he was focused on the ball. Something I haven't seen him do before but certainly worked so keep doing it! First half: 1 Second half: 8

Adam Hammill: Even in those torrid 20 minutes he was The Reds best hope of creating anything and boy did he ever. Cracking goal and was a constant threat thereafter. 7

Hugo Colace: Was horribly poor in the first half and failed to find a red shirt. Different second half though. Provided a great screen for Hallfredsson and Butterfield. Makes you wonder why he couldn't have done it for 90minutes. Booked. 7

Emil Hallfredsson: An absolute revelation especially after the break. Showed great control, skill and energy. Dominated that midfield and then got crunched… Just our luck! Subbed. 8

Jacob Butterfield: Good to see him back in the side and was his usual calm, composed self. 7

Iain Hume: Was a hive of energy all game and went close with a free-kick. The goal touch does seem to have deserted him though. Subbed. 6

Andy Gray: Far too early to mention him in the same breath as Neil Shipperley but certainly put in a performance the big man would be prove of. Was a fantastic target man and even though maybe offside, produced a lovely finish for the goal. 8

Substitutes:

Jon Macken (for Hume 63) His close control and excellent first touch were vital in the second half. Got things moving against his former club. 7

Anderson De Silva (for Hallfredsson 83) May have put hearts in mouths with the way he scored his goal but any goal for Anderson is a joy to see! 7

Unused Substitutes:

Tom Rusling, Martin Devaney, O'Neil Thompson, Simon Heslop, Michael Coulson.

BarnsleyBoy's Men of the Match: Emil Hallfredsson & Andy Gray: Two excellent performances turned the game Barnsley's way.

DERBY COUNTY: Bywater, Connolly, Addison, Croft (Pearson 83), Savage, Hulse (Dickov 67), Commons, Teale, Barker, Moxey, Livermore.

Subs: Deeney, McEverley, Leacock, Pringle, Hendrie.

Most Impressed by Derby's: Lee Croft & Kris Commons: Both were a constant menace in the first half but both were subdued after the break.

Ref Watch: Nigel Miller: For once it seemed we had a ref on our side! Derby supporters can certainly feel aggrieved about his performance. But for us its an 8!

Coca Cola Championship Results Tuesday 15^th September 2009:

Coventry 3-2 Sheffield United

Derby 2-3 BARNSLEY

Ipswich 1-1 Nottingham Forest

Leicester 1-1 Peterborough

Plymouth 0-1 Watford

Scunthorpe 3-1 Preston

Sheffield Wednesday 1-3 Middlesbrough

Swansea 0-0 Bristol City

West Brom 3-1 Doncaster

Barnsley lie in 22nd place in the Coca-Cola Championship with 4 points from 7 games.

We are 8 points off the Play-Offs, 12 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 13 points off First place and inside the Relegation Zone on Goal Difference.

Up to 15/9/09

Next Up:

At Oakwell:

Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Eight: Barnsley v Swansea City Saturday 19^th September 2009 Kick-Off 3pm.

Tickets:

East Stand and West Stand Upper Tiers

Adults £21.00

OAP/Juvenile £12.00

Juveniles (U11) £6.00

Barnsley Chronicle Family Area

Adults £21.00

OAP £12.00

Juvenile £12.00

Juveniles (U11) £6.00

East Stand Lower and West Stand Lower

Adults £20.00

OAP/Juveniles £11.00

Juveniles (U11) £5.00

CK Beckett Stand (Pontefract Road End)

Adults £19.00

OAP/Juveniles £11.00

Juveniles (U11) £5.00

All Disabled Areas £19.00

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.

Carling Cup Third Round: Barnsley v Burnley Tuesday 22^nd September 2009 Kick-Off 7:45pm

Tickets:

Adults - £15.00
Senior Citizens - £10.00
Juveniles (U18) - £10.00
Juveniles (U12) - £5.00

Current season ticket holders will have until close of business on Saturday September 12 to claim their seats for the game. All seats will go on general sale on Monday September 14, 2009.

On The Road:

Coca Cola Championship Matchday Nine: Queens Park Rangers v Barnsley Saturday 26^th September 2009 Kick-Off 3pm

Tickets:

ADULTS - £30.00
SENIOR CITIZENS (OVER 60) - £20.00
YOUNG ADULT - (16 - 21) - £20.00
JUVENILES (UNDER 16) - £20.00

Official Reds on the Road coaches will be making the trip to Loftus Road. Coaches will depart Oakwell at 9.30am on the day of the game and the fare is £23.00.

Men of the Match: Andy Gray & Emil Hallfredsson