The pressure intensified on manager Simon Davey last night after a truly appalling first 45 minutes at Oakwell, paved the way for a fourth straight defeat.
Two goals in the first ten minutes, suicidally gifted to Jon Stead left Barnsley facing an uphill task, and despite debutant Daniel Bogdanovic pulling a goal back at the start of the second half, the possibility of Ipswich taking three points back to Suffolk was never really in doubt.
I could probably write a dissertation on the problems that occurred in one of the worst 45 minutes of football The Reds have "produced"- and I use that term lightly- in recent memory.
Usually at Oakwell, Barnsley come flying out of the traps at the start of a game before hanging on for dear life in the second half, last night they never got going.
The most baffling thing was Davey's team selection, or rather the formation he put them in. It really looked like Davey had picked his 11 players and then pulled positions for them out of a hat. Bobby Hassell, excellent at right back or the centre of defence and admirable as a defensive midfielder, was deployed at left back! Hassell has been at the club now for nearly five years, I cannot for the life of me remember him ever playing at left back! Marciano Van Homoet- a player who started at left-back when he arrived at the club last summer was for some reason preferred at right back.
I don't know who was supposed to be playing on the left wing because half of the time there was nobody there. Presumptions are that was Diego Leon's position but he was so woeful in the first half, he didn't reappear after the break. Due to Hassell having to practically man the left hand side of the pitch all on his own, it was no surprise both Ipswich goals stemmed from that side.
And talking of positions it brings me nicely onto Jamal Campbell-Ryce! Anybody know what position he was supposed to be in last night? Answers on a postcard please! He started on the right, then went to the left, and then into the centre- and that was just in defence! He spent some time looking like a defensive midfielder and I'm sure if Heinz Muller wasn't 6"7 he would have challenged him for a stint in goal! He wanted the ball from the moment Muller had it in his hands to the moment either Jon Macken or Bogdanovic had it at the opposite end of the field. Some might say that's not a bad thing, but it is when a desire to hog the limelight means he either got in the way of team-mates trying to pass or simply ran up and took the ball off them!
The game was up within 10 minutes. Both Davey and Darren Moore had said throughout the week that the defensive horror show witnessed at Norwich 10 days previously would not be repeated. Never mind 10 days, it was repeated twice in the first 10 minutes.
Firstly, former Barnsley target Kevin Lisbie got free down Barnsley's left thanks to the abundance of free space and he squared the ball across the area on eight minutes for Stead to gleefully slam past Muller. Two minutes later it was comedy hour again. Another break down the Ipswich right saw the ball come across where Dennis Souza was waiting to clear. Inexplicably, he slipped, Muller was slow to react and Stead nipped in again. The 400 or so travelling Ipswich fans couldn't believe their luck.
I'd like to say that this horrible start got The Reds into gear. Unfortunately it didn't. The best Barnsley offered in the half was an excellent right wing cross from Bogdanovic that deceived Ipswich keeper Richard Wright and was simply begging somebody to turn in. Sadly Macken seems to have gained a fear of opposition penalty boxes recently and was nowhere near.
If it wasn't for the safe hands of Muller Barnsley could have gone in at half-time with a score-line not seen since Chelsea hit six in 1997.
On 32 minutes Stead waltzed his way through the defence before pulling the ball back to David Norris who was denied by an outstanding stop from Muller. And the giant German followed this up with another excellent stop to deny Tommy Miller on 40 minutes.
Davey withdrew Leon for Jacob Butterfield at half time and within four minutes of the restart they threatened to punish Ipswich for their first half profligacy as Bogdanovic grabbed a debut goal as he expertly swept the ball past Wright from close range. That should have been the rallying cry to push on for an equaliser, but it is no coincidence that Bogdanovic's goal was the first for The Reds in 2009 and although he tried to do it all on his own, it was impossible without able back up.
Davey did his now familiar ploy of putting three upfront when chasing a game on 76 minutes as Maceo Rigters replaced the ineffective Martin Devaney, but it was again Bogdanovic who came closest to the leveller when he hit an incredible curling shot from the left byline that dipped over Wright but just clipped the top of the crossbar. Davey then once again showed his tactical acumen with eight minutes remaining as he withdrew our only goal threat, Bogdanovic and replaced him with Kayode Odejayi. His first action was to produce a great defensive header... but in the Ipswich area and as boos greeted the final whistle, everyone agreed changes are needed, and yes Cryne on AND off the pitch!
Player Ratings:
Heinz Muller: Produced two or three excellent stops in the first half to stop the game turning into a rout. Badly let down by his defence for the goals. 8
Marciano Van Homoet: Shocking! Failed to find a Red shirt all night and his crossing was abysmal. 2
Darren Moore: Never beaten in the air but he can never be classed as a good defender until he learns how to use the ball when it's at his feet. At 34 I doubt he'll ever learn. 5
Dennis Souza: Slip for the second goal proved costly and struggled with the pace of Lisbie. 4
Bobby Hassell: Wasn't his fault he was played at left-back and it's once again a credit to him that he was our best defender. Had to practically man the whole left hand side of the pitch on his own. 7
Diego Leon: I think he was supposed to be in the middle with Anderson, or on the left, but it's anybody's guess. He found his rightful position in the second half though- the dressing room. 0
Jamal Campbell-Ryce: Another player who didn't seem to know where he was playing. He popped up everywhere but it was to the detriment of the team because he simply got in the way. You cannot fault his work rate and effort but it needs to be channelled better than it was last night. 4
Anderson De Silva: Hasn't been the same since his long layoff with injury. Was totally over-run in midfield in the first half, but again he wasn't helped by the fact Leon and Campbell-Ryce kept wandering off. 5
Martin Devaney: Well 10 games off injured haven't improved his crossing. Too much fancy footwork and no end product as usual. 4
Daniel Bogdanovic: Offered a glimmer of hope for long suffering Reds fans. Scored a good goal and was unlucky not to have grabbed the equaliser. Could be the new Ferenczi! 8
Jon Macken: He needs to be dropped as he is currently offering nothing, but the fact there's only Rigters and Odejayi- who are arguably worse- in reserve means he keeps his place. We desperately need another striker before Saturday because Macken needs to be taken out of the firing line. For his efforts for the club since he arrived he deserves a rest. 3
Substitutes:
Jacob Butterfield (for Leon 45): Offered some support for Anderson and look composed on the ball. Could be one of the best to come through the Academy in recent years. 7
Maceo Rigters (for Devaney 77) He's offered little in six months, did anybody really think he would change the game last night?? 4
Kayode Odejayi (for Bogdanovic 82). Come on Hartlepool put us out of our misery!! Tactical genius to replace our best striker with him! He actually proved more beneficial to Ipswich! 2
Unused Substitutes:
Luke Steele, Mounir El Haimour.
Sponsor's Man of the Match: Daniel Bogdanovic
BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Heinz Muller: Bogdanovic was by far the best outfield player and sentimental value says he should get him but if it wasn't for Muller the score-line as well as the performance would have been embarrassing.
Ipswich: Richard Wright ,David Wright ,Balkestein ,Bruce ,McAuley ,Quinn ,Norris ,Miller ,Walters (Counago ,79 ) ,Lisbie ,Stead (Garvan ,84)
Subs not used Supple, Thatcher,
Most Impressed by Ipswich's: Kevin Lisbie & Jon Stead: They didn't have to try hard to impress but Lisbie and Stead caused problems all night.
Ref Watch: Carl Boyeson: Kept his cards in his pocket but still gave some strange decisions. 6
Coca-Cola Championship Results: Tuesday 27th January 2009
BARNSLEY 1-2 Ipswich
Birmingham 1-0 Derby
Blackpool 0-3 QPR
Charlton 1-0 Crystal Palace
Norwich 2-2 Southampton
Nottingham Forest 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Plymouth 0-2 Bristol City
Reading 1-0 Wolves
Sheffield United 0-1 Doncaster
Swansea 4-1 Preston
Watford 3-0 Burnley
Barnsley lie in 18th place in the Coca-Cola Championship with 32 points from 29 games.
We are 13 points off the Play-Offs, 25 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 27 points off First place and 3 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to and including 27/1/09
Next Up:
On The Road:
On The Road:
Coca-Cola Championship Thirty: Bristol City v Barnsley Saturday 31st January 2009 Kick Off 3pm
Tickets:
Adult - £25.00
Senior Citizens (65 and above) - £20.00
Students (With Valid NUS) - £15.00
Juvenile (Under 16) - £15.00
Official Reds on the Road coaches will be making the trip to Ashton Gate. Price: £23. Coach departs Oakwell at 9:30am on the day of the game.
Coca-Cola Championship Thirty One: Sheffield Wednesday v Barnsley Tuesday 3rd February 2009 Kick-Off 7:45pm
Tickets:
Adult - £18
Senior Citizens (Over 60) - £9
Juvenile (Under 16) - £9
Official Reds on the Road coaches will be making the trip to Hillsborough. Price: £9. Coach departs Oakwell at 5:30pm on the day of the game.
At Oakwell:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Twenty Nine: Barnsley v Ipswich Town Tuesday 27th January 2009 Kick-Off 7:45pm.
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