Its getting a bit predictable now isn’t it. 2-0 win Richards on the score sheet…
A 3rd successive 2-0 victory shot The Reds back into 4th spot, 3 points clear of 7th and 4 points off 2nd.
Could a Barnsley side be about to make an impact on a league for the first time since the turn of the century.
After criticism from all sides including myself Marc Richards suddenly seems a different player and got his 2nd brace in 2 weeks taking him to FIVE goals in his last THREE games and his 10 goal in 15 starts to shoot him to joint top-scorer in the team.
Andy Ritchie was forced to make four changes from the side that played so well at Nottingham Forest
Matt Carbon and Neil Austin were suspended whilst Stephen McPhail and Martin Devaney were injured. Antony Kay returned from injury and Paul Heckingbottom made his home debut whilst Brian Howard and Robbie Williams came into midfield.
Immense credit must go to Ritchie and his assistant Rick Holden for building a side that not only can score crucial goals but also knows how to keep them out. For many years the defence has been Barnsley’s downfall and many believe it was the inability to stay tight at the back that denied The Reds automatic promotion in 2000.
This team barring a few new names is the same team that flattered to deceive last season but players like Nick Colgan, Matt Carbon and Stephen McPhail who looked to be heading out of the Oakwell exit door have seen their careers rejuvenated under Ritchie and hopefully touch wood we can keep this going until May.
Today Bristol City to their credit looked a fairly decent side but didn’t trouble Nick Colgan ONCE. In fact the closest they came was when Colgan came to claim a ball and Kay headed it just over his own bar.
By then rejuvenated Richards had fired The Reds 1-0 up in the 28th minute with a glorious Gazza-esque finish.
He picked the ball up on the right wing before flicking it over the head of Louis Carey and raced on to rifle home with a slight deflection off Matt Heywood.
The 3 points were sealed 9 minutes from time.
Tommy Wright outmuscled Carey and attempted to race clear before Carey brought him down in the box. Ref Nigel Miller who was utter garbage ( he awarded us our first free-kick in the second half and the whole ground erupted with ironic applause) pointed to the spot and sent Carey packing. To be fair Carey did seem to go for the ball and just mistimed it but the letter of the law says that if a player’s clean through it’s a straight red.
Richards stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way. It was a point when City were starting to get on top.
We could most certainly be brought straight back down to earth next weekend as the dreaded Doncaster Rovers are our next opponents but with a 14 point gap between the teams, maybe just maybe the tide is about to turn. A victory at Belle Vue would make even the hardest critics believe that something special could be around the corner come May.
COME ON YOU REDS!!!
Player Ratings:
Nick Colgan: Didn’t have one save to make but 3rd successive clean sheet will have done wonders for his confidence. Booked. 7
Paul Heckingbottom: Solid home debut and got forward whenever possible. Him and Austin will have a good tussle for that left back slot. 7
Antony Kay: Back from injury and asked to fill Matt Carbon’s boots. Felt like the big man was still there. 8
Paul Reid: Anther excellent display from the skipper and again shed blood for the cause. Subbed. 8
Bobby Hassell: Gets better with every game. Tackling was spot-on. 8
Chris Shuker: Looked to be just getting into the game when a poor tackle twisted his ankle. Just his luck. Subbed. 7
Jacob Burns: Again did the dirty work not afraid to get stuck in. Would now like to see him stamp his authority on games. 7
Brian Howard: Back in the team and worked well with Burns. Should have made it 3 late on with a great chance. 7
Robbie Williams: Was excellent in the air but a bit off it on the ground, to be fair to him though left midfield isn’t his position. No Devaney. 7
Paul Hayes: Worked so hard again and really got on the City keeper’s mind. Wasn’t as effective when switched to right midfield when Shuker limped off but again that isn’t his position. 7
Marc Richards: What a player hey who dared ridicule him… First goal was great second crucial and was excellent in the air and on the ground. Booked. 9
Substitutes:
Tommy Wright ( for Shuker 40) Was like a bull in a china shop at times but did make some great tackles. His strength helped earn the penalty. 7
Ryan Laight ( for Reid 86) Academy graduate made his debut after Reid suffered another nasty head wound. Earned raptures applause when he won a header with his first touch. 6
Unused: Scott Flinders, Daniel Nardiello, Simon Heslop
Sponsors Man of the Match: Paul Reid
Barnsley Boy’s Man of the Match: Reid did have a good game although I thought Kay and Hassell were our best defenders. For the second week in a row though I will have to hand it to Marc Richards!
Coca Cola League One Results Saturday 4th February 2006
Barnsley 2-0 Bristol City
Blackpool 2-2 Nottingham Forest
Brentford 5-0 Walsall
Chesterfield 1-1 Gillingham
Colchester 3-1 Bradford
Oldham 0-1 Port Vale
Rotherham 0-0 Hartlepool
Scunthorpe 2-0 Milton Keynes Dons
Swindon 2-1 Doncaster
Yeovil 0-2 Southend
Barnsley lie in 4th place in League One with 51oints from 30ames. We are in the Play-Offs by 3 points, 4 points off the Automatic Promotion Places and 17 points clear of the Relegation Zone.
Next Up:
On The Road: Doncaster Rovers v Barnsley Saturday 11th February 2006 Kick Off 3pm
Tickets:
Seating: Adults: 18.00 Concessions 12.00 Standing: Adults 15.00 Concessions 8.00
Note: This match is ALL TICKET NO TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM DONCASTER
Coach Tickets: 8.00 The coach will leave Oakwell at 1pm on the day of the game
At Oakwell: Barnsley v Port Vale Tuesday 14th February 2006 Kick-Off 7:45pm
This is a Category B match.
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