Message for Mark Robins...we'll never win away if we only play one man up front!
But sadly, this was the case again last night at Glanford Park on a murky evening in North Lincolnshire.
Robins reverted back to the 4-4-1-1 formation that he used at the beginning of the season with the ineffective Andy Gray leading the line in the absence of Garry O'Connor.
I thought this was a rather peculiar decision as the Reds had the eager 18-year-old Chris Wood warming the bench. The Serbian midfielder Goran Lovre, who has also flattered to deceive this season was 'in the hole'.
Left-back Jay McEveley was also missing so the inexperienced Luke Potter deputised for the stricken Scot.
I don't know which match the official site reporter was watching but we far from bossed this game. Scunthorpe were quicker to every loose ball and won every 50/50 ball. In the first half especially.
Adam Hammill went relatively close for the Reds but Scunthorpe were by far the better side in the first period. Martyn Woolford had a long ranger saved well by Steele and the ex-York winger gave young Potter a nightmare of an evening.
The Iron very nearly took the lead through a set piece. The three men over the ball made it look as though they'd messed up their free-kick routine but the ball was knocked to Woolford who drilled through the wall and a wicked deflection seemed to have wrong-footed Steele but the much-maligned goalkeeper twisted his body and got a left hand on the ball before it crossed the line, a magnificent save.
The Reds did get a bit of a foothold in the game but Scunthorpe were within inches of taking the lead when ex-Blade Jonathan Forte stormed past Foster and fired across Steele but the ball cannoned back off the foot of the post.
After the break the Reds did look a bit brighter with Butterfield playing well in midfield and Hammill making several lung busting runs but the Reds were mainly resorted to long balls up to Gray, who was dominated by Iron defender Rob Jones all night.
Several strange refereeing decisions were also a large part of this game, especially when Reds' terrier-like winger Jim O'Brien hassled Jones into clipping his own heels and the man in the middle Rob Shoebridge gave the Iron a free-kick.
Lovre could have won the game for Barnsley midway through the second half when Butterfield did well at the byline and pulled the ball back to the Serb but he fired into the 1,300 strong travelling fans.
On 77 minutes, Wood finally replaced Gray and looked more likely to make something happen in the 13 minutes he was on the field compared to what Gray did in 77!
Woolford again tested Steele late on but he parried the wingers drive and Eddie Nolan went close with a 25-yarded. Sandwiched in between these two chances was a chance for Wood but he tamely shot at the vastly underworked Joe Murphy.
Player Ratings
Steele - Made two really good saves but still worrying whenever the ball is in the air. 7
Hassell - Looked solid and showed good skill on occasions. 7
Foster - Partnered Shackell well and was good in the air. 6
Shackell - Immense. Knows exactly where to head the ball instead of just putting it into no-mans land. 8
Potter - Very poor, backed off far too much and made some basic errors. 4
Hammill - Tries to do too much but did look dangerous at times when coming forward. 7
Butterfield - He has to retain his place! Very assured on the ball and intelligent for his age. 7
Arismendi - Anonymous. Didn't get into the game at all. 5
O'Brien - Ran his socks off and looked dangerous with the ball at his feet. Hassled and harried and had a really good game. 8
Lovre - Ineffective. Should maybe have scored in the second half too. 6
Gray - Not good really. Jones had him in his pocket and he won very little in the air. 5
Subs:
Doyle (for Hassell 72): Made one or two good passes but was troubled by Woolford. 6
Wood (for Gray 77): Brought on far far too late, looked lively in his 13 minutes on the field. 7
Reds MOTM: Jim O'Brien.
Scunthorpe MOTM: Martyn Woolford - Looked more likely to make something happen for Scunny.