Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Thirty-Nine: Barnsley 0-1 Sheffield United

Last updated : 26 March 2008 By Rob Miles (barnsley Boy)

There is probably only one thing that could make up for the two Sheffield sides taking 10 out of a possible 12 points off Barnsley this season- and that's going on to lift the FA Cup at Wembley in May.

However even that would not make up for relegation to League One. A scenario that is looking ever more likely by the week. United's first win at Oakwell in 19 years left The Reds a mere two points off the other side in the Steel City, Sheffield Wednesday, who occupy the final relegation place. We can almost safely assume Scunthorpe and Colchester are goners, so that leaves one spot to avoid in the final seven games of the season.

Many fans believed our home form would keep us up- Saturday brought about the third home defeat of the season and it is now just three wins in the last 10 league games at Oakwell.

Simon Davey was quoted in the Sunday newspapers as saying he would buy anybody a pint who could pick one player that did not give 100% on that bitterly cold Easter Saturday. He's probably right, everybody gave their all, but Simon, any of the 15,798 who sat through the game could run out and give 100% but it doesn't mean they would be any good.

Granted referee Lee Probert had a terrible game, denying The Reds at least three clear-cut penalties, one a rugby tackle on Stephen Foster by Gary Speed as he was about to head home a Brian Howard cross was the biggest stone-waller in history!

But despite showing promise in the first half, and Blades keeper Paddy Kenny producing a world-class stop to turn Diego Leon's 30 yarder out of the top-corner, the lack of a goal-scorer is proving terminal.

Kayode Odejayi looks like his only moment of glory in a Red shirt will be his goal against Chelsea.

On 12 minutes, Martin Devaney delivered a great ball to the back post where Odejayi simply had to put his head on it to score. Inexplicably he lost his footing at the last minute and tumbled to the floor as the ball sailed across goal. He did though give Morgan a torrid afternoon, if only his finishing was better he would be a half-decent striker!

The second half descended into farce. Heavy snowfall made the game hard to even see. It was a blessing in disguise.

Morgan had to hack off the line from Odejayi but then Davey produced a "tactical masterclass" to practically hand United the game. On 72 minutes, Davey took off Odejayi and threw on Danny Nardiello. I could have sworn I saw Morgan chuckling. That was it, Morgan never let Nardiello in and United turned the game. Just three minutes after the substitution, veteran Gary Speed went through the Barnsley defence onto a pass from Michael Tonge, but his effort hit the inside of Luke Steele's near post and flew across goal. There was to be no let off three minutes after that.

This time a pass from Speed sent Sharp in the clear and the man with 90 odd goals in the last two years, confidently slipped the ball past Steele to send the travelling 5,000 fans into raptures.

It could have been even worse on 81 minutes when Sharp again got clear and squared the ball to substitute James Beattie but from six yards Steele flung himself across to make a great block.

Davey threw on Istvan Ferenczi and went three up front, but by then his tactics were ruined. With three away games in a row next, Wembley might not be the only downward trip that Barnsley make this season…..

Player Ratings:

Luke Steele: Kept the score down in the second half. One stop from Beattie was top drawer. 8

Rob Kozluk: Back against his old club and wasn't disgraced. 7

Stephen Foster: Again the Reds best defender. Denied a clear penalty in the first half. 7

Dennis Souza: Had a sickening class with Rob Hulse that almost knocked him unconscious in the first half. Forced off and we missed him. 6

Lewin Nyatanga: Switched to centre half after Souza's withdrawal and it suited him better, although let Speed go for the effort that hit the post though. 6

Martin Devaney: Delivered some great crosses in the game, just nobody willing to get on the end of them. 7

Brian Howard: Probably one of the players Davey was most on about giving 100%. He tried but lost the midfield to Speed. 6

Bobby Hassell: Finally proved he's not a midfielder. Constantly lost possession and Tonge and Speed had him all over in the second half. 5

Diego Leon: One great effort that Paddy Kenny somehow saved but he doesn't graft enough. Too many flicks without substance. 6

Jon Macken: Poor game by his standards. Never looked like scoring. 5

Kayode Odejayi: Bossed Morgan about the whole game, but his composure infront of goal is so poor. 6

Substitutes:

Marciano Van Homoet (for Souza 36) Slotted in at full back and had a decent game. 6

Daniel Nardiello (for Odejayi 72) When once his appearance would galvanise The Reds, on Saturday it was perfect for the opponents. Morgan had had a busy 72 minutes but Nardiello was never going to beat him. 5

Istvan Ferenczi (for Leon 82) Brought on in a 4-3-3 but it didn't work. 5

Unused Substitutes:

Sam Togwell, Michael Coulson

SHEFFIELD UNITED: Kenny, Naysmith, Morgan, Hulse (Beattie 62), Cotterill, Carney (Gillespie 70), Speed, Kilgallon, Tonge, Sharp, Geary (Halls 36).

Subs: Stead, Ehiogu.

BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Martin Devaney and Luke Steele. Devaney was only player in a Red shirt with a creative bone in his body on Saturday whilst Steele was the hero again.

Impressed by Sheffield United's: Chris Morgan is still a clogger but it's certainly effective. Gary Speed may be a bit dirty at times but you can see why he's still playing at a high level at 38 years old.

Ref Watch: Lee Probert: Missed three clear penalties. And the FA want players to respect the refs?! 4

Other Reports:

Official Website

FootyMad

BBC

-Cola Championship Results: Saturday 22nd March 2008:

BARNSLEY 0-1 Sheffield United

Cardiff 2-1 Bristol City

Leicester 0-2 Hull

Norwich 5-1 Colchester

Plymouth 1-1 Watford

Preston 2-1 Burnley

Scunthorpe 1-2 Ipswich

Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 Crystal Palace

Southampton 0-0 Coventry

Stoke 1-1 Blackpool

Wolves 3-3 QPR

Friday 21st March 2008:

Charlton 1-1 West Brom

Barnsley lie in 18th place in the Coca-Cola Championship with 46 points from 39 games.

We are 13 points off the Play-Offs, 21 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 22 points off First place and 2 points above the Relegation Zone

Up to and including 22/3/08

Next Up:

On The Road:

Coca Cola Championship Matchday Thirty Forty: Burnley v Barnsley Saturday 29th March 2008 Kick-Off: 3pm

Adults - £19.00

Senior Citizens (Over 60) - £12.00

Juveniles (Under 16) - £9.00

Official Reds on the Road coaches will be making the trip to Turf Moor. Coaches will depart Oakwell at 12.15pm on the day of the game and the fare is £12.00.

AT WEMBLEY:

FA Cup Semi-Final: Barnsley v Cardiff City Sunday 6th April 2008 Kick-Off 4pm.

Tickets:

Click Here