Make it 11 straight defeats and 25 years. Akpo Sodje inflicted more derby hurt on Barnsley last night and in truth looking at the quality of the two sides on display that might have been the best chance we will have at winning at Hillsborough.
In a fairly even first half it looked like The Reds had the upper hand and could finally go on to claim that first success at S6 since Ronnie Glavin poached a winner back in April 1983.
But the same old frailties resumed at the back to ensure bragging rights remain with Wednesday for another year. Like the European Cup, when you win it five times, the Owls might as well just keep them!
Backed by 5,000 extremely vocal fans, The Reds fresh from toppling the league leaders Watford at the weekend set about breaking the Hillsborough hoodoo once and for all.
The two wingers Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Martin Devaney caused problems whilst Anderson De Silva was simply majestic in the midfield. One lovely pirouette sent the Wednesday midfield one way whilst he went the other.
Chances though were few and far between. The best one for The Reds came on 16 minutes.
Brian Howard swung over a corner which Dennis Souza met superbly only to be denied by the fingertips of Owls keeper Lee Grant. In truth Grant should not have even been on the field after clearly picking up the ball outside the area minutes earlier.
Like Watford, Wednesday look most dangerous in the air, with Heinz Muller risking life and limb to keep them out, including one sickening collision with Sodje after a poor backpass from Souza.
The second half was set for The Reds, now shooting in front of their own fans to take the game by the scruff of the neck. But unlike against Watford they did the exact opposite.
Wednesday should have scored within the first minute of the restart and its still by some amazing reaction from Muller that they didn't.
Burton O'Brien swung in a cross which flicked off Dominik Werling and eluded Muller, bouncing back off the post to Marcus Tudgay. And from just a yard out he smacked his effort straight against the 6"7 frame of the German keeper! An incredible let off which Barnsley simply did not take heed of.
Wednesday continued to pour forward and grabbed the lead on the hour.
O'Brien whipped in another free kick which was met by the head of Sodje whose header flew across Muller and into the far corner. It was the FOURTH GOAL IN A ROW Barnsley have now conceded due to high balls into the box. Something needs to be sorted.
Inevitably it was that goal that sprung Barnsley into life with Devaney and Campbell-Ryce becoming more dangerous. Simon Davey took off Dominik Werling and Istvan Ferenczi and threw on Kim Christensen and Kayode Odejayi to try and snatch the equaliser. Odejayi should have done too.
A good cross in by Campbell-Ryce was met by the big Nigerian just six yards out, but somehow he headed wide. It looked easier to score.
Michael Johnson sliced a clearance towards his own goal but was a very lucky man that Grant kept it out and Anderson was desperately close in injury time with a 25 yard strike that flew just wide.
But like the previous 24 years and 10 games it just wasn't to be as Barnsley slipped to their fourth straight defeat on the road without scoring a goal, a trip to Portman Road to face an Ipswich side who have won their last 12 home games (including a 5-1 thrashing of the Reds) is next. Can't wait…
Player Ratings:
Heinz Muller: Risked life and limb to keep Wednesday out. He might not be here come February 1st. 7
Dominik Werling: Looked totally out of sorts. Caught out of position and wasted possession. Subbed. 4
Dennis Souza: Won most things in the air and so close to giving Barnsley a first half lead. Have to ask questions of his marking at the free kick from which Sodje grabbed the winner. 7
Lewin Nyatanga: Like his partner, was caught out by Sodje goal but looked relaxed and also seemed to move into midfield in the second half. 7
Stephen Foster: Probably the best of the back four. Sound defensively and got forward to send in a stream of crosses. 7
Jamal Campbell-Ryce: A bright spark throughout the game. Two great crosses should have been finished better. But picked the wrong option on more than one occasion. 7
Brian Howard: Very quiet display. A Yorkshire derby needs a captain's performance. Howard did not deliver. 5
Anderson De Silva: Barnsley's best player by a mile. In fact the best player on the park! He needed his team-mates to be on the same wavelength though. A star of the future. Booked. 9
Martin Devaney: Tried everything to fashion chances. Bombed forward constantly but the final ball let him down more often than not. 7
Istvan Ferenczi: Very withheld display. Didn't impose his game at all. A comfortable evening for the Wednesday defence. Subbed. 5
Jon Macken: Has got great control, great touch, fantastic eye for a pass. But he's a striker and he still doesn't look like scoring in a month of Sundays. 6
Substitutes:
Kayode Odejayi (for Ferenczi 68) Missed a sitter to grab a point. Gone completely off the boil since his promising start. Fans are starting to lose patience. 5
Kim Christensen (for Werling 81) Came on far too late. Should have been on when Wednesday scored. Is inching towards a start. 6
Unused Substitutes:
Paul Reid, Sam Togwell, Grant McCann
Sheffield Wednesday:
Grant, Hinds, Simek, Michael Johnson, Spurr, O'Brien, Watson, Jermaine Johnson (Small 75), Folly, Tudgay (Burton 86), Sodje.
Subs Not Used: Esajas, Beevers, Lunt.
BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Anderson De Silva. Barnsley's best player last night by a country mile!
Impressed by Sheffield Wednesday's: Akpo Sodje. Scored a terrific header. Odejayi take note.
Ref Watch: Colin Webster: Missed a blatant handball by the Wednesday keeper Grant but nothing nasty he had to deal with. 6
Other Reports:
FootyMad
Official Report
BBC
Coca-Cola Championship Results: Tuesday 27th November 2007
Blackpool 1-3 Norwich
Charlton 0-3 Sheffield United
Coventry 1-1 Scunthorpe
Crystal Palace 2-1 Preston
Hull 0-0 Bristol City
Ipswich 2-0 Southampton
Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 BARNSLEY
Stoke 3-1 Queens Park Rangers
Watford 1-2 Burnley
Barnsley lie in 10th place in the Coca Cola Championship with 26 points from 18 games.
We are 1 point off the Play-Offs, 5 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 10 points off First Place and 10 points above the Relegation Zone.
Next Up:
On The Road:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Nineteen: Ipswich Town v Barnsley Saturday 1st December 2007 Kick-Off 7:45pm
Tickets:
Adults: £26.50
Senior Citizens (Over 60): £18.50
Juveniles (16-18): £18.50
Juveniles (U16) £9
Official Coaches will be travelling to Portman Road
Price: £19
Departure Time: 9:30am on the day of the game.
At Oakwell:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Twenty: Barnsley v Wolverhampton Wanderers Tuesday 4th December 2007 Kick-Off: 7:45pm
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 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.
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