This is Barnsley’s worst start for 27 years, since they also took just four points from the opening eight games of the 1986-87 campaign.
If your looking for a good omen, they did recover to finish 11th that season- something all Reds fans would be delighted with.
However those first eight matches of that season saw only 11 goals conceded. This current crop has shipped 22.
The Reds have now conceded more goals than ANYBODY in the entire Premier or Football League. Out of the top five divisions, only Hyde United, who are bottom of the Skrill Conference have conceded more (24)
Only Hyde have a worse goal difference than Barnsley’s –13 too with –16.
Barnsley have failed to keep a clean sheet so far this season, the longest run without a shutout from the start of a season for 23 years. Back in 1990-1991, it took until the ninth league outing to secure a clean sheet.
Their current run of eight is their worst at any time in a season since October/November of last season when they went 15 without a shut out.
Barnsley have now won just two of their last 17 matches in all competitions, one of the last 11 and have lost seven of the ten they have played in 2013-2014.
It is the first time they have lost three successive games under David Flitcroft.
Barnsley have now conceded five goals on three occasions already this season. It happened four times in 2012-2013.
Jason Scotland made his first start of the season, and promptly notched his first goal since the final day of last season. It was the former Trinidad and Tobago international’s first start since April.
It is Watford’s first win at Oakwell in eight visits and their biggest ever victory over Barnsley. Remarkably their previous biggest win came last season, when they won 4-1 at Vicarage Road.
On this weekend last year Barnsley scored five (at Birmingham) one year on they concede five.
On a brighter note today was the first time in six league matches that no Barnsley player received a yellow card.
The attendance of 9,850 was Oakwell’s lowest of the season and lowest in six home games, since 9,007 showed up for the 1-1 draw with Derby on the 16th April.
Today was the first time Barnsley did not have a substitute goalkeeper since 28th April 2012- 62 league and cup games ago.
Barnsley Team:
Luke Steele
Peter Ramage
Tom Kennedy
Martin Cranie
Scott Wiseman
Stephen Dawson
David Perkins
Jacob Mellis
Kelvin Etutu
Jason Scotland
Chris O’Grady
Substitutes:
Jim O’Brien (for Kennedy ht)
Reuben Noble-Lazarus (for Dawson ht)
Paddy McCourt (for Mellis 58)
Unused Substitutes:
Jean-Yves Mvoto, Tomasz Cywka, Chris Dagnall, Danny Rose.
Match Reports:
Sky Bet Championship results Saturday 21st September 2013:
Charlton 0-1 Millwall
BARNSLEY 1-5 Watford
Birmingham 4-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Exactly one year after Craig Davies netted four times at St Andrews Stadium against Birmingham, Jesse Lingard netted four for them today)
Blackburn 0-0 Huddersfield
Blackpool 2-2 Leicester
Brighton 3-1 Bolton
Derby 1-3 Reading
Doncaster 2-2 Nottingham Forest
Leeds 1-2 Burnley
Middlesbrough 3-3 Bournemouth
Yeovil 0-1 QPR
Barnsley lie in 23rd place in the Sky Bet Npower Championship with 4 points from 8 games.
We are 11 points off the Play-Offs 13 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 16 points off First place and inside the Relegation Zone on Goal Difference.
Up to 21.9.13
Next Up:
On The Road:
Sky Bet Championship Matchday Nine: Leicester City v Barnsley Saturday 28th September 2013: Kick-Off: 3pm
Tickets:
Adult: £28
Over 65s: £25
Under 22 £25
Under 18: £18
Under 12: £9
Under 8: £7
At Oakwell:
Sky Bet Championship Matchday Ten: Barnsley v Reading Tuesday 1st October 2013: Kick-Off 7:45pm
Tickets:
Adults £23.00
Over 65's £16.00
Students (aged 18-20) £16.00
Under 18's £16.00
Under 12's £5.00*
*Must be purchased with an adult or over 65's ticket.