That hurt. Not just a home defeat to fierce local rivals, who were without a win in 11 games, had only won once on the road and had scored just eight times on their travels, but the fact that Sheffield Wednesday were FAR more up for the game than Barnsley.
The Reds, despite going into the game unbeaten against the Owls in four meetings, haven’t got the best recent record against the men from S6, but at least the commitment, passion and effort has been evident. Despite manager Mark Robins trying to convince us it was yesterday, it clearly wasn’t.
After ending 2009, unbeaten in eight, it appears the honeymoon period is well and truly over on the back of three straight defeats. In Robins defence, the last time this happened he led the team on their eight match streak, and it can only be hoped justice is done at Plymouth next weekend to get The Reds back on track.
It will certainly take something along the lines of that 4-1 scoreline from the washed out trip to Home Park to make up for the horror show at Oakwell yesterday. Most of the players looked like they had never met, never mind played together before.
Goalkeeper Luke Steele had an absolute nightmare with balls flung into the box, one of which contributed to the opening goal within three minutes of the match starting. Ryan Shotton, such the dependable force on his first loan spell, looked increasingly edgy yesterday and was tormented by Michael Gray.
And as has happened on many occasions this season, the spotlight comes onto the midfield, or in yesterday’s case, lack of midfield. In my opinion, Nathan Doyle was a pointless player who contributed nothing whilst on loan, now he is bizarrely here permanently we could be in for a long second half of the season! Apart from one outstanding block to deny Wednesday a killer third goal late in the second half, he was dreadful, along with his “partner in crime” Hugo Colace. Neither player seemed ready for a South Yorkshire derby, and neither was brave enough to put in a strong challenge, whilst I cannot actually remember either player finding a red shirt all afternoon. Adam Hammill was his usual anonymous, “lets run into blind alleys” self, and the only player on the pitch who seemed to have a clue what he was doing- Emil Hallfredsson- was unforgivably withdrawn after 65 minutes and any chance of salvaging the game went with him.
Barnsley’s best two chances fell to their leading scorer- Daniel Bogdanovic, and were chances that in a derby match it is criminal to miss. On 12 minutes a great clearance from Carl Dickinson released Boggy with a clear sight of goal. The Maltese man took far too long to make a decision however and in the end prodded a tame effort at Wednesday keeper Lee Grant. Four minutes later he did it again. A terrible back header by Darren Purse was seized on by Bogdanovic but again after surging clear, he dithered and Grant came out to block both ball and player to concede a corner.
Prior to those two gilt-edged openings two goals had already been scored and The Reds hit their earliest goal so far this season… unfortunately it had been preceded by a real mess at the back to gift Wednesday their ninth away goal of the season after just three minutes.
Michael Gray swung in a corner, Steele collided with Dickinson in meeting it and could only deliver a meek punch to the feet of Tommy Spur, who standing just two yards out said “thank you very much” and knocked the rebound home.
The Reds were level within five minutes thanks to a real fluke from Hallfredsson. Picking the ball up on the left hand side of the pitch, he attempted to whip the ball into the area, but it looped over Grant and nestled in the far corner.
Optimism swept Oakwell that another come from behind victory could be on the cards, but after Bogdanovic’s misses, Wednesday found themselves back in front and from then on never looked like losing it.
On 20 minutes Steele made a fine save to deny James O’Connor but the Owls had their lead back the very next minute. Marcus Tudgay releasing the ball forward, Jermaine Johnson turning Darren Moore like he wasn’t there and smashing an absolute rocket past the advancing Steele and into the top corner.
Hallfredsson was denied the clearest penalty ever seen when brought down by Purse seven yards out and Stephen Foster saw his header cleared off the line by Mark Beevers before half-time but the second half was just a procession for Wednesday. Barnsley panicked and simply resorted to pumping long ball after long ball forward, which Purse dealt with easily. Robins brought off Bogdanovic, Jon Macken and Hallfredsson, replacing them with Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Andy Gray and Iain Hume, but it made little difference. Wednesday had the clearest opportunity to add to the scoreline when Doyle for once made an impact- thwarting Johnson.
Seven days ago The Reds were eyeing up a top half place, and whilst the gap between them and 12th is still only three points, they are hovering just eight points above the bottom three. At such a crucial point of the season, it seems quite apt that it is the rearranged game with Plymouth next up. Replicate that infamous day back in November and we can start to breathe easy again, fail and that all too familiar glance over the shoulder could be back on the agenda.
Player Ratings:
Luke Steele: Had a horrible time with dealing with balls into the box in the first half, contributing to the first goal, but after the great season he’s had so far he certainly didn’t deserve the mock cheers from fans when he did claim a high ball. 5
Carl Dickinson: Had the passion for the derby- and the only one that did! Proved what a great guy he is by being the only player to walk around all three home ends to applaud the fans at the full time whistle. 7
Darren Moore: Had real difficulty dealing with the pace and power of Johnson. Hasn’t looked the same since the game against Newcastle when he struggled with Andy Carroll. 5
Stephen Foster: Compensated for Moore by throwing his body into everything. Couldn’t fault his effort. 7
Ryan Shotton: His first real struggle. Couldn’t seem to deal with Gray. Improved after the break. Booked. 6
Adam Hammill: Just isn’t the same player who had us on the edge of our seats last season. Totally shackled. Amazing how he stayed on the pitch for 90 minutes. 4
Nathan Doyle: Welcome back Nathan…. Chased shadows all the game, left gaping holes in the centre of midfield and his passing was atrocious. 2
Hugo Colace: Floundered alongside Doyle. Seriously could be the worst midfield partnership in the division! 2
Emil Hallfredsson: The only player who looked like he knew what he was doing from an attacking sense. Looked comfortable on the ball and was probing, and even scored the goal even if it was a fluke. A VERY strange decision to bring him off. Subbed. 8
Jon Macken: I admire Macken, but brought absolutely nothing yesterday. Looked static, and had little if any impact on the game. Subbed. 4
Daniel Bogdanovic: Missed two gilt-edged chances that you simply cannot miss. Subbed. 4
Substitutes:
Jamal Campbell-Ryce (for Hallfredsson 65) Looked quite bright and apart from Hallfredsson, the only threat going forward. 7
Iain Hume (for Macken 65) Was bright, bubbly and chased everything. Corners were a danger too. 7
Andy Gray (for Bogdanovic 65) Was needed with the number of high balls coming forward and at least offered somewhere for the ball to stick. 6
Unused Substitutes:
David Preece, Rob Kozluk, Jacob Butterfield, Anderson De Silva.
Sponsor’s Man of the Match: Carl Dickinson
BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Emil Hallfredsson: The only controlling force we had over the midfield battle.
HEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: Grant, Spurr, Buxton, Purse, Tudgay, Potter, Beevers, O'Connor, Johnson (Sodje 87), Soares, Gray.
Subs: McAllister, Esajas, Lekaj, Simek, Boden, Jameson.
Most Impressed by Sheffield Wednesday’s: Jermaine Johnson: Pace, power and an eye for goal. Got his second goal against Barnsley this season after netting at Hillsborough on the opening day.
Ref Watch: Andy Penn: Turned down some very strong penalty appeals, including about four handball appeals, but controlled the game well. 6
Coca Cola Championship Results Monday 16th January 2010:
BARNSLEY 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday
Blackpool 2-2 QPR
Bristol City 4-2 Preston
Doncaster 2-1 Watford
Ipswich 3-2 Coventry
Nottingham Forest 2-1 Reading
Peterborough 0-3 Derby
Plymouth 0-1 Crystal Palace
Scunthorpe 1-1 Cardiff
Sheffield United 1-0 Middlesbrough
Swansea 1-0 Leicester
Barnsley lie in 16th place in the Coca-Cola Championship with 30 points from 24 games.
We are 8 points off the Play-Offs, 19 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 21
points First place and 8 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to 17/1/10
Next Up:
On The Road:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Twenty Five: Plymouth Argyle v Barnsley Saturday 23rd January 2010 Kick-Off 3pm
Tickets:
Plymouth Argyle Football Club have today confirmed that Reds fans who made the 300-plus mile trip to Home Park last weekend must re-present their ticket stub from the original game in order to gain admission to the rearranged match. Saturday's match was controversially abandoned just before the hour mark with the Reds leading 4-1.
Supporters who no longer have a ticket-stub but who bought a ticket for the game should contact the relevant club Box Office. As long as proof of purchase can be established, they will be able to attend the re-arranged fixture at no extra charge.
Argyle have today confirmed that refunds will not be available.
ADULTS - £24.00
SENIOR CITIZENS (OVER 65) - £16.00
YOUNG ADULT (UNDER 23) - £16.00
JUVENILES (UNDER 18) - £7.00
At Oakwell:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Twenty Six: Barnsley v Leicester City Tuesday 26th January 2010 Kick-Off: 7:45pm
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.