A cool finish from Paul Hayes and a goal-keeping master-class from Nick Colgan helped The Reds claim a vital relegation point against arguably the strongest squad in the Championship.
This was really a game of two halves as Barnsley dominated the first period but were severely put under the cosh in the second 45.
Caretaker Simon Davey made one change from the side that drew at Leeds last weekend with young loanee Kyel Reid making his full debut for the club after two starring cameo sub appearances. He replaced fellow loanee Grant McCann who dropped to the bench.
The Reds started in impressive fashion with Hayes who had been blatantly awful in recent weeks showing the form that earned a bid from Southend earlier in the season.
He forced one excellent reaction save from goal-keeper Russell Hoult midway through the first half and gave left-back Paul Robinson a torrid time.
West Brom did have quality in their ranks however with Jason Koumas pulling the strings and after Hayes, Nardiello and Knight had wasted great chances it was the Welsh international that fired West Brom ahead against the run of play on half an hour.
Koumas who wanted to join Cardiff City in the summer and even went on strike took advantage of awful positioning from Neil Austin to skate clear and hit an unstoppable rising shot past Nick Colgan.
A goal that oozed quality.
The Reds though fought back just 6 minutes later.
Brian Howard's swirling corner kick came back off the cross bar, Sam Togwell fed Kyel Reid who swung the ball back into the box, Hoult came out to make the punch but collided with Knight to leave Nardiello with a great scoring chance. His effort was blocked on the line and Hayes showed great composure to rifle in the rebound. That was Hayes' first goal in 15 matches, incidentally his goal against Huddersfield in the Play-Off semis was his first in 15 matches last season and yesterday's game was probably his best game since.
The Reds could have added more as West Brom made countless mistakes but all Barnsley fans had to cheer about for the rest of the half was that ex boss Andy Ritchie was in the studio for SKY Sports and he got a rousing cheer as the “There's Only One Andy Ritchie” chants rang around Oakwell.
Still at halftime the Oakwell contingent had reason to be hopeful but as so often seems to happen, after a great first half the second period goes flat.
Barnsley seemed content with a point as the team went deeper and deeper leaving just Leon Knight upfront to deal with desperate high balls.
Right at the beginning of the half John Hartson hit a great 30yard strike that forced a breathtaking save from Colgan who tipped the effort onto a post before blocking Kevin Phillips effort with his legs.
Hartson also missed two sitters, first hitting the underside of the bar from 3yards and from a similar distance he hit a shot wide when he had all the time in the world to finish.
Barnsley's only real chance of the second half saw Knight head Kyel Reid's free kick over the bar and West Brom should really have snatched the points when an uncharacteristic error from Bobby Hassell allowed sub Nathan Ellington to dispossess him of the ball and race clear but his effort was weak and Colgan smothered at the second attempt.
So another point in the bag for The Reds to leave Davey 4 matches unbeaten and the gap between us and Leeds a fairly nice 3 points.
2 away games follow now against two teams entrenched at the bottom with us, Leicester and QPR. Wouldn't it be nice to celebrate Christmas a good few places up the table!
Player Ratings:
Nick Colgan: Fairly redundant in the first half but a series of wonderful saves helped Barnsley grab a point. 8
Neil Austin: Caught woefully out of position for Koumas to score but recovered well. 7
Paul Reid ©: Handled Hartson well in the air and held the defence together in the second half. 8
Bobby Hassell: A rare error nearly handed West Brom a late winner but apart from that he couldn't be faulted. 7
Paul Heckingbottom: Again troubled when players run at him and backs off until they get in a cross. In the team merely because there's nobody else. 5
Paul Hayes: After so many lacklustre games it was refreshing to see him play well. First half he was outstanding and West Brom couldn't deal with him. Faded a little in the second half as the team concentrated on defending. Booked. 8
Brian Howard: Recovered from flu to play and again was the creative force in midfield. His corner caused the problems for the equaliser. 8
Sam Togwell: Say the same every week. Runs his heart out but has no impact on the game. 6
Kyel Reid: First start and again looked dangerous. His cross fooled Hoult to allow Barnsley to equalise. Subbed.7
Daniel Nardiello: Couldn't follow up his heroics at Leeds and couldn't really get involved. 6
Leon Knight: Still to impress. Left on his own a lot during the second period and he was well marshalled. Subbed. 5
Substitutes:
Martin Devaney (for K.Reid 72) Was brought on to give Barnsley an attacking outlet. Didn't really work. 5
Marc Richards (for Knight 76) Brought the height that Knight lacked but again too much emphasis was on defending for any strikers to make an impact. 6
Unused Substitutes:
Robbie Williams, Kyle Letheren, Grant McCann
Sponsors Man of The Match: Bobby Hassell
BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Hassell impressed except for his blunder at the end but for me Nick Colgan earnt the point.
Most Impressed By West Brom's: Jason Koumas. Stupidly gets involved in skirmishes but his goal proves he oozes class.
Ref Watch: Antony Bates: Just like the garbage rest. 4
Coca Cola Championship Results: Saturday 9th December 2006:
Birmingham 3-1 Preston
Cardiff 2-2 Ipswich
Coventry 1-0 Burnley
Crystal Palace 1-3 Colchester
Leeds 0-1 Derby
Norwich 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday
Plymouth 1-0 Hull
Southend 2-1 Southampton
Stoke 1-0 QPR
Sunderland 2-1 Luton
Wolves 1-2 Leicester
Sunday 10th December 2006
Barnsley 1-1 West Brom
Barnsley lie in 21st place in the Championship with 23 points from 22 games. We are 13 points off the Play-Offs, 17 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 20 points off First Place and 3 points above the Relegation Zone.
Next Up:
On The Road:
Coca Cola Championship Matchday Twenty Three: Leicester City v Barnsley Saturday 16th December 2006 Kick Off 3pm
Tickets for the game are priced at:
Under no circumstances will the Oakwell Box Office sell tickets to season ticket holders without Special Match Voucher D being enclosed in their season ticket book.
Subject to availability, tickets will then go on GENERAL SALE at 9.00am on December 6, 2006.
Tickets are priced at:
Adults - £22.00
OAPs (Over 60) - £20.00
Young Adults - Aged 16 to 21 - £20.00
Juveniles (12 to 15) - £12.00
Under 12s - £5.00
Under 8s - FREE
Official Reds On The Road coaches will be making the trip to Leicester. Coach tickets are also on sale, priced at £11.00 and coaches will depart Oakwell at 12noon on the day of the game.
Coca Cola Championship Matchday Twenty Four: Queens Park Rangers v Barnsley Saturday 23rd December 2006 Kick-Off 3pm.
Tickets are priced at:
ADULT: £24.00
JUVENILE U16: £1.00
JUVENILE U16 (WITHOUT AN ADULT): £1.00
JUVENILE U8: FREE
STUDENT (21 or under with valid NUS): £14.00
OAP (Over 60): £14.00
Tickets will be on sale on the turnstiles at Loftus Road and is priced at:
ADULT: £26.00
JUVENILE U16 (WITH AN ADULT): £7.00
JUVENILE U16 (WITHOUT AN ADULT): £10.00
JUVENILE U8: £7.00
STUDENT (21 or under with valid NUS): NOT AVAILABLE
OAP (Over 60): £16.00
Official Reds on the Road coaches will be making the trip to Loftus Road.
Tickets: £16
Coaches depart Oakwell at 9:45am on the day of the game.
At Oakwell:
Coca Cola Championship Matchday Twenty Five: Barnsley v Burnley Tuesday 26th December 2006
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 01226 211200. 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.
|
