Simon Davey's new four year contract started with the first Oakwell stalemate for 18 months and the first Barnsley blank at home this season.
It wasn't for the want of trying though, but as Davey revealed he is "99% certain" to secure a signing in the January transfer window, every Reds fan will be pleading it is that of a goal-scoring striker.
Today's draw meant that the back five of Heinz Muller, Stephen Foster, Lewin Nyatanga, Dennis Souza and Dominik Werling have not been breached for 270 minutes, and only once in 360. But also at the other end of the pitch only Istvan Ferenczi has managed to poach a goal in that previously mentioned 270. Between them this season the four pronged strike force of Ferenczi, Jon Macken, Miguel Mostto and Kim Christensen have managed a miserly seven goals.
Therein lied the problem today. Solid and assured at the back, whilst probing in midfield a lack of a genuine threat in the area let The Reds down.
The win and glut of chances created against Wolves in midweek maybe masked this deficiency but in a game where a well organised Crystal Palace side were never going to crumble as easily as Wolves did, it required more imagination.
Jon Macken has everything you want from a striker- except for goals. Once again today he was excellent in his role of holding the ball up and spraying out the passes. I don't think he gave the ball away once but he never looked like sticking it in the back of the net. After starting each one of the eight games he has being at the club for, is it wrong to expect just a little more.
Indeed in a turgid first half the game had bore draw written all over it. The Reds seemingly had used all their chances up in the 1-0 victory over Mick McCarthy's men and Palace, in the mould of their new gaffer Neil Warnock were marginally the better side. Say what you like about Warnock but his CV is up there with the best. He takes over poor sides and turns them into good ones. The same too could be said about Davey and neither of these sides should be looking over their shoulders come March and April.
The one and only clear cut chance of the first half arrived on 21 minutes and fell to the visitors.
A couple of clever flicks and lucky bounces in the area allowed goal poacher Clinton Morrison to hit a rasping drive that Muller, once again, did fantastically well to turn over the bar.
Tempers nearly flared over on 33 minutes but between Barnsley players.
Dominik Werling and Brian Howard argued over the taking of a free kick. Howard won, Werling stomped off and nearly came to blows with Jamal Campbell-Ryce. In the end Howard's in swinger was headed over the top by Ferenczi.
At the end of the half Muller spilled an extremely wet and slippery ball after a free kick from Ben Watson but Souza was back to help out.
The Reds came out with more intensity and vigour in the second half but again worryingly failed to create anything of note. Anderson De Silva was again the most talented player on the park, winning the ball back with superb challenges, often at times without having to go to ground. Alongside him though captain Howard was a big disappointment. Usually renowned for his forward thinking and passing he failed to pick out a red shirt all match and that left Ferenczi and Macken feeding on scraps.
Worryingly Palace looked dangerous on the counter and Muller was again at his best on 74 minutes when he wonderfully turned over a header from Clint Hill.
The closest The Reds came to a goal arrived on 81 minutes when Anderson drove forward before hitting a real daisy cutter from 25 yards. Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni got a solid hand to it and from a tight angle substitute Miguel Mostto (who had come on for Ferenczi 12 minutes previous) sent the rebound into the side netting.
The final words though went to the Palace as Watson blazed over when totally unmarked from a Shaun Scannell pull-back and Muller added more noughts to his ever increasing price tag by denying the same player from a free kick.
Davey has before said he is not worried at chances being missed as long as they are being created. On Tuesday there were stacks, today there were none, the small matter of a trip to Bramall Lane is next up. A first away goal in six games would go nicely with the three points to pile even more pressure on Bryan Robson. Despite 11 straight defeats across the city at Hillsborough , The Reds are unbeaten in the last five trips to the Lane.
Player Ratings:
Heinz Muller: Earned The Reds a point with three cracking saves. This could well be his last month at the club. 8
Dominik Werling: Collected his fifth booking of the season which means he'll miss the derby next weekend. Had an ugly spat with Howard and Campbell-Ryce. Booked. 6
Dennis Souza: Unruffled by the threat of Morrison and when Muller did make a rare error he was there to help his keeper. 7
Lewin Nyatanga: One excellent last ditch challenge in the second half stopped Palace breaking away. Another comfortable game. 7
Stephen Foster: Again linked well with JCR. Didn't deliver enough crosses into the area though. Booked. 7
Jamal Campbell-Ryce: Nothing like his excellent display against Wolves but did try to get the team moving forward. Palace stuck two men on him though and that restricted him. 7
Brian Howard: One of his worst displays in a Red shirt. Petulant spat with Werling and failed to deliver a decent pass all game. 5
Anderson De Silva: Again the most talented player out of the 22 on the pitch. His tackling was impeccable, his passing at times though did let him down. 7.5
Martin Devaney: Quiet and frozen out of the game really. Wasn't used enough and his corners were not up to much either. 6
Istvan Ferenczi: Competed well for everything in the air but had no support really. The crosses weren't coming his way. Subbed. 6
Jon Macken: Another excellent game in terms of linking up the ball and holding onto the ball. His footballing brain is astonishing. His finishing isn't. Subbed. 7
Substitutes:
Miguel Mostto (for Ferenczi 69) Picked the wrong option in shooting into the side netting after Speroni spilled an Anderson shot. Could have won a late penalty but went to ground too easily. 6
Kim Christensen (for Macken 85) Must wonder what he has to do to get an earlier chance. I personally would have had him on with half an hour to go. The last player to score on the road for The Reds. 6
Unused Substitutes:
Marciano Van Homoet (first squad appearance of his Barnsley career), Sam Togwell, Grant McCann
C Palace: Speroni ,Butterfield ,Hudson ,Hill ,Lawrence ,Songo'o (Scannell ,54 ) ,Derry ,Watson ,Soares (Fletcher ,77 ) ,Scowcroft (Hills ,85 ) ,Morrison
Subs not used Freedman,Martin,
Sponsor's Man of the Match: Jamal Campbell-Ryce.
BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Whilst Campbell-Ryce was a worthy winner on Tuesday and tried his best today he was not the MOTM by any means. Anderson would have had a great game but for some poor passes. Muller was the man that earned the point today.
Impressed by Crystal Palace's: Ben Watson: Palace are a well organised side under Warnock and Watson seems to be at the hub of it. If he had been a bit more clinical then all three points would have been going back down to London.
Ref Watch: Anthony Bates: Good. Booked Frank Songo'o for a blatant dive in the box and kept a lid on things. 7
Other Reports:
FootyMadOfficial Report
BBC
Coca-Cola Championship Results: Saturday 8th December 2007
BARNSLEY 0-0 Crystal Palace
Cardiff 4-1 Colchester
Charlton 3-1 Ipswich
Leicester 1-2 West Brom
Norwich 1-0 Sheffield United
Plymouth 1-1 Bristol City
Preston 0-1 Blackpool
Scunthorpe 2-2 QPR
Sheffield Wednesday A-A Coventry (Abandoned after 27 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch)
Southampton 4-0 Hull
Wolves 2-3 Burnley
Barnsley lie in 9th place in the Coca Cola Championship with 31 points from 21 games.
We are 2 points off the Play-Offs, 7 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 8 points off First Place and 11 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to and including 8/12/07
Next Up:
On The Road:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Twenty Two: Sheffield United v Barnsley Saturday 15th December 2007 Kick-Off 3pm
Tickets:
Adults: £24
Senior Citizens: £14
Students (With Valid NUS): £14
Juveniles (U16) £14
Official Coaches will be travelling to Bramall Lane.
Price: £8
Departure Time: 1pm on the day of the game.
At Oakwell:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Twenty Four: Barnsley v Stoke City Wednesday 26th December 2007 Kick-Off: 3pm
Tickets for the big game are priced at:
East Stand and West Stand Upper Tiers
Adults £22.00
OAP/Juvenile £13.00
Juveniles (U11) £7.00
Barnsley Chronicle Family Area
Adults £22.00
OAP £13.00
Juvenile £13.00
Juveniles (U11) £7.00
East Stand Lower and West Stand Lower
Adults £21.00
OAP/Juveniles £12.00
Juveniles (U11) £6.00
Enterprise PLC Stand (Pontefract Road End)
Adults £20.00
OAP/Juveniles £12.00
Juveniles (U11) £6.00
All Disabled Areas £20.00
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.