A season so full of promise could be set to fall apart unless Barnsley F.C- that’s players and management alike- pull their finger out for the remaining seven games of the season. The Reds currently sit in 15th place in the Championship- 10 points off the relegation zone and if they consolidate this position it will be their highest league finish in 11 years… the worry is, judging by the last three results, they may not remain in this place and unforgivably could fall into a relegation battle for a fourth successive season.
Yesterday, in the heat of a South Yorkshire derby, too many players were not “up for it” and it is not the first time that has been the case when a local side has come to Oakwell this year. Too many of the side yesterday looked like their minds if not their bodies were already on the beach, but a lot of the blame, certainly at the start, has to be aimed at manager Mark Robins.
Robins has rescued this club from certain relegation to take it to the calm waters of mid table but the game was lost the moment he put the team out and dropped our top scorer who had bagged seven goals in his last nine games, including three in the last three, and played just one upfront, and that man being Andy Gray, who, granted also netted on Tuesday night but had just one goal in his last seven appearances. The tactics and team smacked of “let’s contain them” rather than “let’s go and win the game” and that at home against a local rival is unforgivable. An injury to Filipe Teixeira after half an hour saw Bogdanovic introduced and a change to 4-4-2, but by then Rovers had already enjoyed the lions share of possession and netted the only goal five minutes later. Despite two glorious chances for Hugo Colace, they never looked in danger of losing that lead, and if Billy Sharp had brought his scoring prowess with him, he would have headed in, instead of wide from just two yards out in the second half.
It has to be said this isn’t Robins’ team and the main feeling by his team selections towards the end of the season is that not many will still be here come August. Anderson De Silva flits in and out of games and only looks bothered a quarter of the time- such a shame when he is a very talented player- and as he trudged off with just over 15 minutes to go, you felt that could be the last time he starts a game in front of the Oakwell faithful whilst wearing the red of Barnsley. Iain Hume once again failed to get off the bench, despite the team losing and rumours- albeit unfounded- were swirling around internet message boards last night that the £1.2m striker had handed in a transfer request after the game. Whilst this is probably untrue, the fact he started 18 of the 20 games he was available for under Simon Davey but has started just 11 out of 34 under Robins, suggests the Canadian’s days may be numbered. Those two aren’t the only ones, with a host of players out of contract this summer and two of yesterday’s starters only on loan at the club, we could see a totally different side next season, and on yesterday’s showing, refreshingly so.
Doncaster didn’t have to work hard for their first victory in four against Barnsley and sealed the game after just 35 minutes. A short corner wasn’t dealt with, Coppinger played the ball to Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, THREE Barnsley players went to it, leaving Coppinger completely unmarked to receive the ball back and he swept his effort past Luke Steele into the far corner. The closest The Reds came in the first half came from the head of Anderson as he sent Hammill’s corner against the crossbar but Barnsley went into the break at home without scoring for the 14th time in 20 outings.
As usual there was more impetus after the break but Rovers were forcing the best chances. Sharp dragged an effort just wide and then somehow headed wide from two yards out when he was left completely unmarked from a Coppinger cross. The Reds, as usual, looked better when Jacob Butterfield was introduced, and despite all Robins’ good deeds this season it has been absolutely criminal to start Hugo Colace 36 times in his reign and Butterfield just five.
It has probably been Colace’s knack of popping up with crucial goals, rather than his overall performances that have kept him in the team but only he and Rovers goal-keeper Neil Sullivan will know how the Argentine isn’t sitting on nine goals for the season this morning. The true extent of the performance can be summed up by the fact The Reds didn’t threat Sullivan until the 81st minute.
Bogdanovic flicked on a lofted ball into the path of the Argentine Colace, unmarked six yards out, but his well hit half volley was superbly turned away off the line by the 40 year old veteran keeper and then with four minutes remaining, Luke Potter skipped away from Gareth Roberts to deliver an excellent low cross but Colace’s diving header flashed wide when it looked destined for goal.
Something promising fading away summed up those misses and Barnsley’s performances; let’s hope that over the final seven games, it cannot be used to sum up the season.
Player Ratings
Luke Steele – Like most home games recently, had little to do but still had to pick the ball out of the net. Had no chance with Coppinger’s strike. 7
Ryan Shotton – This was like having the old Shotton back. Has been appalling in recent games but never put a foot wrong yesterday. Made some of those unbelievable tackles and last gasp blocks that he became famous for before Christmas. Booked. 8
Stephen Foster – Was one of the three players guilty of leaving Coppinger unmarked to score but generally played well. Nullified Sharp for the majority of the game. 7
Darren Moore – Always seem to play well against the side he became a cult hero whilst making 76 appearances for in the late nineties and did very well again here. Won everything in the air and also was strong on the ground. Not bad for a 35 year old making his first start in a month. 7.5
Luke Potter – Battled manfully with Emmanuel-Thomas and generally coped. Looked good going forward after the break and delivered a great cross at the end that Colace should have converted. 7
Filipe Teixeira – Hadn’t got into the game by the time he was forced off injured after half an hour. Subbed. 5
Nathan Doyle – Was incredibly panicky on the ball and never looked for a red shirt whenever he got rid of it. Not surprising he made way for Butterfield who was evidently more composed. Subbed. 5
Hugo Colace – Never relishes the blood and thunder derby clashes but he could have made amends with the two gilt-edged chances he had at the end. Cannot really be blamed for the first as Sullivan made a stunning save but only himself to blame for missing the second. Booked. 6
Adam Hammill – Must be the biggest disappointment of the season, considering the excitement when he returned on a permanent basis. Once again tried to take on the world, taking every corner and free-kick without success and then shooting from absurd positions. 5
Anderson De Silva - Did look quite lively in the first half but as soon as Doncaster closed ranks after the break he didn’t seem to have the appetite to battle his way through. Could be off in the summer. Subbed. 6.5
Andy Gray – Totally baffling to start him on his own ahead of the in-form Bogdanovic. Struggled as a lone striker but was marginally better when Boggy came on alongside him. Never looked like adding to his six goals however. If he fails to score again this season it will be his worst goals return in four seasons. 6
Substitutions:
Daniel Bogdanovic (for Teixeira 29) - Gave The Reds more of an attacking threat upfront but in all honesty didn’t look like getting that 15th goal of the season which would make him the first Barnsley player to get that amount since Michael Chopra in 2004-2005. 6
Jacob Butterfield (for Doyle 55) – Brings so much composure and creativity to the centre of midfield its an absolute travesty he has only played 20 times this season- 11 as a sub. The midfield settled down when he came on and was thoughtfully passing the ball, rather than having it hoofed anywhere as Doyle was doing. 7.5
Emil Hallfredsson (for Anderson 73) – Didn’t really have much time to make an impact and it was a quiet 15 minutes from the Icelander. 5
Unused: David Preece, O’Neil Thompson, Iain Hume, Jon Macken.
Sponsor's Man of the Match: Adam Hammill
BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Ryan Shotton: Not quite sure how the sponsors could claim Hammill as being MOTM unless they were just going by who hogged the ball the most. Shotton gave arguably his finest performance since returning in January.
DONCASTER ROVERS: Sullivan, O'Connor, Roberts, Sharp (Lockwood 84), Chambers, Hayter, Wilson, Oster, Coppinger, Martis, Emmanuel-Thomas (Woods 90).
Subs: Smith, McDaid, Sheils, Mutch, Hird.
Most Impressed by Doncaster’s: James Coppinger: Has been a great servant for Rovers since joining in 2004 and it was no surprise he grabbed his 25th goal for the club on his 215th start as he completely ran the show from midfield.
Ref Watch: Darren Deadman: Seemed the ideal man for a South Yorkshire derby. Kept on top of the game and got key decisions right for both teams, such as booking Sharp for persistent fouling and waving away Bogdanovic’s appeals for a penalty after a blatant dive. 8
Coca Cola Championship Results Saturday 27th March 2010:
BARNSLEY 0-1 Doncaster
Coventry 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Crystal Palace 1-2 Cardiff
Derby 1-0 Leicester
Peterborough 0-1 Bristol City
Plymouth 0-2 Blackpool
Preston 2-2 QPR
Reading 1-1 West Brom
Swansea 0-0 Ipswich
Watford 1-1 Middlesbrough
Sunday 28th March 2010
Sheffield United 0-1 Scunthorpe
Barnsley lie in 15th place in the Coca-Cola Championship with 49 points from 39 games.
We are 12 points off the Play-Offs, 30 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 31 Points off First place and 10 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to 28/3/10
Next Up:
On The Road:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Forty: Plymouth Argyle v Barnsley Tuesday 30th March 2010 Kick-Off 7:45pm.
Tickets:
BARNSLEY supporters who attended last November's wash-out at Home Park will be able to watch the rematch between the Reds and Plymouth Argyle free of charge.
Reds fans who made the 300-plus mile trip to Home Park back in November must re-present their ticket stub from the original game in order to gain admission to the rearranged match on Tuesday March 30, 2010, KO 7.45pm.
ADMISSION to our re-arranged game at Plymouth Argyle will be payable on the turnstiles at Home Park only.
The Reds travel back to Home Park on Tuesday March 30, 2010, KO 7.45pm.
Admission to the game is priced at:
ADULTS - £24.00
SENIOR CITIZENS (OVER 65) - £16.00
YOUNG ADULT (UNDER 23) - £16.00
JUVENILES (UNDER 18) - £7.00
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Forty One: Sheffield United v Barnsley Saturday 3rd April 2010 Kick-Off 3pm
Tickets:
ADULTS - £26.00
SENIOR CITIZENS (OVER 60) - £16.00
STUDENTS (FULL TIME AND NUS*) - £16.00 JUVENILES (16-18 - £16.00 JUVENILES (UNDER 16) - £8.00
* Please note that a valid NUS card must be shown at the turnstiles.
At Oakwell:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Forty Two: Barnsley v Peterborough United Monday 5th April 2010 Kick-Off 3pm
East Stand and West Stand Upper Tiers
Adults £22.00
OAP/Juvenile £12.00
Juveniles (U12) £6.00
Family Area
Adults £22.00
OAP £13.00
Juvenile £13.00
Juveniles (U12) £7.00
East Stand Lower and West Stand Lower
Adults £21.00
OAP/Juveniles £12.00
Juveniles (U12) £6.00
CK Beckett Stand (Pontefract Road End)
Adults £20.00
OAP/Juveniles £12.00
Juveniles (U12) £6.00
All Disabled Areas £20.00
Helpers FREE OF CHARGE
Please note that Juvenile U12 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.
