Well it was inevitable wasn't it? After a super show to end 26 years of Hillsborough hurt, it was almost certain that, just four days, The Reds would come a cropper at home to the bottom of the league, with the worst away record.
Today looked like the players had been celebrating Tuesday's night win for the rest of the week, as most of the players looked half asleep, lacklustre and totally uninterested.
A few people have mentioned recently that Simon Davey has changed a working 4-4-2 formation for a diamond one to give Jamal Campbell-Ryce a free role. Well if that's a diamond, it's an extremely rough one that's had all its edges shaved down. The midfield worked at Hillsborough, because Wednesday played a long ball game that didn't threaten. Charlton on the other hand, certainly belied their league position and played attractive football. They are nowhere near the worst side we've played this season.
Anderson De Silva had a complete nightmare, and was caught in possession countless times. He seemed to just stand with the ball and wait for somebody to nip in and take it off him. Andranik wasn't much better, but I'm prepared to let him off due to a good debut on Tuesday and the fact he's clearly not match fit yet. The only players who can really come out of the game with any credit are Stephen Foster, Bobby Hassell, who once again didn't put a foot wrong, Michael Mifsud, who worked his socks off, but had to contend with his team-mates hoofing long balls his way. It might have worked if Mifsud wasn't 5ft5 and his marker Darren Ward, 5ft11, and Heinz Muller, who although his distribution was again poor, pulled off a magnificent save to stop the Addicks recording only their second away win of the season.
The first half was a complete non-event from both sides. The Reds had a real opportunity as Charlton goal-keeper Rob Elliott was looking right into the glare of the sun. He needn't have worried though, as The Reds failed to test him ONCE in the opening 45 minutes and managed it only once in the second half- I'm sorry FootyMad but where have you got 10 attempts and five on target from? We didn't venture into Charlton's half 10 times!.
The only time The Reds even hinted at threatening in the first half, was in the 43rd minute when a loose ball dropped to Hugo Colace to hit on the volley, but his decent effort flew just over.
Mifsud was doing all the running in the first half and twice sent over glorious right wing crosses, which nobody attacked. But then again crosses will never work when the rest of your team-mates are still dawdling around the halfway line. Daniel Bogdanovic had a good debut against Ipswich but has looked completely anonymous since.
Charlton sniffed an opportunity and duly came out in the second half much the better side, and they somehow failed to score on 57 minutes. Chris Dickson got away from Stephen Foster, and flashed a shot across Muller that was heading for the far corner. Moore was stood on the line but produced a wild, sliced clearance that somehow went over the bar, rather than into the back of the net.
On 63 minutes Muller had to be at his best to turn away a stinging Therry Racon effort, and the feeling around Oakwell was that it was only a matter of time before Charlton grabbed a goal.
The Reds though did have a half chance three minutes later when Campbell-Ryce's corner dropped to an unmarked Moore in the six yard box, but we all know that for how good Moore is in the air, he's pretty woeful on the ground and he even failed to make a proper connection with the ball as it trickled wide.
Davey threw on Jon Macken and Adam Hammill, and whilst Macken sent a free, tame header up into Elliott's arms, the on loan Liverpool youngster Hammill had The Reds one genuine chance on 81 minutes. Bursting down the left wing, Hammill cut inside Graeme Murty and fizzed in a low effort that Elliott beat away, straight to the feet of Andranik, but the Israeli international hit the rebound across goal and inches wide.
That, was as good as it got all afternoon After ending 26 years of hurt, it was back to the same old routine.
Player Ratings:
Heinz Muller: His distribution was very poor, and seemed to take an age to get on with the game. Produced a very good stop from Racon though. 6
Marciano Van Homoet: Better than at Hillsborough, and seemed to be the only player on the wing! 7
Darren Moore: Again unbeatable in the air, but his kicking left a lot to be desired at both ends of the pitch. 7
Stephen Foster: Got turned once by Dickson in the first half, but apart from that, had a faultless game. 8
Bobby Hassell: Another very good game. Solid defensively and tried desperately to get The Reds moving forward. 8
Jamal Campbell-Ryce: Is really being played wrong. His best position is on the wing- a place he did most damage on Tuesday. Cutting into the middle doesn't help him and still needs to stop this habit on taking on the same man about eight times. 6
Anderson De Silva: Had a shocker, purely and simply. From the first minute he was totally off the pace. Constantly caught in possession and failed to put in anything more than half-heartened challenges. This is not the player who lit up Oakwell in late 2007. Subbed. 2
Hugo Colace: Once again did his job with the minimum of fuss, but the fact he is accompanied by two other defensive midfielders is nonsensical. If we play a diamond, he needs to be at the base and the rest of the midfield needs to go forward. 7
Andranik Teymourian: Didn't waste a ball on Tuesday, but picked the wrong option too many times today. Hopefully we'll see the best of him when he's match fit. The 90 minutes today will have helped him. 5
Daniel Bogdanovic: Spent too much time on the right, where whenever he got the ball, he headed straight to the corner flag in the hope somebody would knock it out for a corner. Needs to be in the thick of the action winning the high balls. Subbed. 5
Michael Mifsud: The best attacking player by a mile. His pace and control troubled the Charlton defence, but the service to him was woeful. 7
Substitutes:
Jon Macken (for Bogdanovic 66): Should have done better with a headed chance, and spent too much time complaining about decisions. 6
Adam Hammill (for Anderson 66) Went very close to grabbing the opening goal. Lively but couldn't get involved enough. 7
Unused Substitutes:
Luke Steele, Dennis Souza, Martin Devaney.
Sponsor's Man of the Match: Stephen Foster.
BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Bobby Hassell: Foster and Mifsud gave everything but Hassell was again on top form.
Charlton: Elliot, Murty, Hudson, Ward, Youga, Racon, Bailey, Spring, Soares, Dickson, Kandol.
Subs Not Used:
Randolph, Shelvey, Holland, Todorov, Sam.
Most Impressed by Charlton's: Darren Ward: Won everything in the air. Barnsley played into his hands, just like Wednesday played into Moore's on Tuesday.
Ref Watch: Michael Oliver: Kept his cards in his pocket which always helps. Kept control of the game. 8
Coca-Cola Championship Results: Saturday 21st February 2009
BARNSLEY 0-0 Charlton
Blackpool 0-2 Watford
Coventry 1-0 Birmingham
Norwich 1-1 Burnley (goal for Jamie Cureton)
Nottingham Forest 1-3 Derby (goal for Lewin Nyatanga)
Plymouth 2-2 Sheffield United
QPR 1-3 Ipswich
Reading 0-2 Bristol City
Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Crystal Palace
Southampton 3-1 Preston
Swansea 3-1 Doncaster
Barnsley lie in 19th place in the Coca-Cola Championship with 35 points from 32 games.
We are 16 points off the Play-Offs, 24 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 27 points off First place and 3 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to and including 21/2/09
Next Up:
At Oakwell:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Thirty Three: Barnsley v Queens Park Rangers Saturday 28th February 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. 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.
On The Road:
Coca-Cola Championship Thirty Four: Cardiff City v Barnsley Tuesday 3rd March 2009 Kick Off 7:45pm
Tickets:
Seating:
Adult - £24.00
Senior Citizens (Over 60) - £15.00
Juvenile (Under 16) - £15.00
Standing:
Adult - £22.00
Senior Citizens (Over 60) - £15.00
Juvenile (Under 16) - £15.00
Official Reds on the Road coaches will be making the trip to Ninian Park. Price: £25. Coach departs Oakwell at 2:30pm on the day of the game.
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