Hume Stunner Gains Vital Win!!

Last updated : 31 August 2008 By Rob Miles (barnsley Boy)

They do say that football is a funny old game, and so it has proved for Barnsley in the early stages of the 2008-2009 season. In the first three games of the season The Reds have performed pretty well against QPR, Coventry and Birmingham, creating chances but ending up with no points and plonked at the bottom of the table!

Then a pretty lifeless, dull and boring encounter with Derby ends with a first win!

Let us not kid ourselves that Barnsley thoroughly deserved to stretch Derby's astonishing winless sequence to 36 league games, because quite frankly they didn't. Rams Paul Jewell has talked of being "gutted" by defeat and if I was in his shoes I would be too.

The first half was one of the most boring, dull and poor quality 45 minutes of football you are ever likely to witness at any level of the game.

Neither team looked like scoring, neither side created any thing like a goal-scoring chance and the most welcoming part of the half was when referee Graham Sailsbury blew to end it!

The second half was to be a different story. And Derby came out looking fully determined to snatch their first league win since September 17th 2007.

Rob Hulse somehow fired over the face of Luke Steele's goal when well placed before big Nigerian Kayode Odejayi was brought on and for the second game in a row his presence changed a game, but not before Steele produced an incredible double save to keep the scores level.

On 64 minutes Hulse hit a great low effort that Steele palmed away but the ball fell to Polish midfielder Przemyslaw Kazmierczak whose effort was then brilliantly repelled by the legs of Steele.

Seven minutes later Steele was at his best again to deny Emmanuel Villa and Derby were threatening to run away with the game…. That was until a minute later when Barnsley fans found out what you get for £1.2million these days.

Yet to have a single shot on target The Reds took the lead with a goal of the season contender.

Brian Howard swung in a free kick from the right which was headed away by a Derby player who appeared to be fouled by Odejayi. The ball fell to Iain Hume 30 yards out. And the striker who had done absolutely nothing in the game before then hit a stunning volley that flew past Derby keeper Roy Carroll and into the top corner!

Naturally when your on a run as bad as Derby's and you've dominated a game yet fallen behind, heads dropped in the Rams ranks and it was all Barnsley from then on.

On 82 minutes the first points of the season were sealed when a great corner from Hume was met totally unmarked by defender Stephen Foster and he planted a header into the back of the net.

It was so nearly three a minute from time when Howard's dipping volley was smartly tipped over the bar by Carroll.

This performance was nowhere near good enough but after three good performances produced nothing, a first win and move off the bottom certainly looks a lot better this morning.

Player Ratings:

Luke Steele: After his blunder at Birmingham this was a totally different performance. A string of impressive second half saves laid the platform for a first win of the season. The sight of Heinz Muller on the bench may just be the kick Steele needs. 8

Rob Kozluk: A quiet game for Kozluk. But once again unruffled and dealt well with threats on the wing. 7

Dennis Souza: Barnsley's best performer on the day. Won every challenge. 8

Darren Moore: Labelled by Davey this week as one of Barnsley's most consistent performers this season. Consistently bad he must have meant! Has the mobility of an elephant and one slip on the edge of his own area nearly proved costly in the first half. 5

Stephen Foster: Playing in the full back slot and was beaten too easily at time by the tricky Kazmierczak. Great header for the second goal though. Booked. 6

Mounir El Haimour: Apparently impressed in pre-season and at QPR but offered nothing yesterday. Subbed. 5

Brian Howard ©: Looked lost in the first half but a better performance after the break. Good free kick led to the opener and was very close to a goal of his own. Booked. 7

Diego Leon: After four great games this was a poor performance from the little Spaniard. Looks to have a difficult time when games are physical and nitty-gritty. Subbed. 5

Martin Devaney: Surely only in the side because of Jamal Campbell-Ryce's injury. His little stepovers and shimmies please nobody and failed to beat his man with runs or crosses all afternoon. 5

Jon Macken: Another game where he put himself about without ever looking like scoring. In a long ball dominated first half he failed to get into the game. Subbed. 5

Iain Hume: Very poor and quiet display for 89 minutes of the game before popping up with a moment of real quality! But these days that moment of quality can cost £1m! 5 (for performance) 9 (for the goal)

Substitutes:

Kayode Odejayi (for El Haimour 62) Again his presence changed the game and gave defenders something to think about. If we must resort to long balls surely KO must start. 7

Bobby Hassell (for Leon 67) Ridiculed for his midfield capabilities but had more impact on the game than Leon. Helped wrest back the midfield from Derby. 7

Miguel Mostto (for Macken 90) Does a minute cameo really deserve much mention? 5

Unused Substitutes:

Heinz Muller, Marciano Van Homoet

Sponsor's Man of the Match: Luke Steele.

BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Steele's saves were simply crucial and he along with Dennis Souza were the real heroes.

DERBY COUNTY: Carroll, Connolly, Green, Stewart, Kazmierczak, Commons (Davies 83), Villa (Ellington 76), Hulse (Barazite 83), Leacock, Addison, Albrechtsen.
Subs: Bywater, Davis.

Most Impressed by Derby's: Miles Addison. The bustling midfielder bossed the middle of the park. A few surging runs caused panic.

Ref Watch: Graham Sailsbury: Complete show-man. Made a point of putting his hands on his knees and laughing out loud at certain players arguments. Totally unprofessional. A mini Graham Poll! 3

Other Reports:

Footymad

Official Website

BBC

Coca-Cola Championship Results Saturday 30th August 2008:

BARNSLEY 2-0 Derby

Bristol City 1-1 QPR

Burnley 0-0 Plymouth

Doncaster 1-0 Coventry

Norwich 1-1 Birmingham

Preston 2-1 Charlton

Reading 4-2 Crystal Palace

Sheffield United 0-0 Cardiff

Southampton 0-1 Blackpool

Swansea 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday

Watford 2-1 Ipswich

Wolves 5-1 Nottingham Forest

Barnsley lie in 18th place in the Coca-Cola Championship with 3 points from 4 games.

We are 4 points off the Play-Offs, 7 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 7 points off First place and 1 point above the Relegation Zone.

Up to and including 31/8/08

Next Up:

On The Road:

Coca Cola Championship Matchday Five: Blackpool v Barnsley Saturday 13th September 2008 Kick-Off 3pm:

Tickets:

Adults - £26.00
Senior Citizens - £20.00
Juvenile (16 to 18) - £15.00
Juvenile (Under 16) - £15.00

The Reds have been allocated around 1,700 tickets for this game and, following discussions with the Supporters Trust, it has been decided that these will initially go on sale to:

Current Season Ticket Holders with a ticket stub from ONE away game this season.

And
Any other supporter with ticket stubs from TWO away games this season.

Tickets will go on sale to supporters in the above category at 9.00am on Tuesday August 26, 2008.

Any remaining tickets will go on General Sale at 9.00am on Tuesday September 2, 2008.

Official Reds on the Road coaches will be making the trip to Bloomfield Road. Price: £13. The coaches leave Oakwell at 11.30am on the day of the game.

At Oakwell:

Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Six: Barnsley v Cardiff City Tuesday 16th September 2008 Kick-Off 7:45pm.

Tickets:

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

CK Beckett 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.