Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Forty: Sheffield United 2-1 Barnsley

There's no other way to dress it up. Barnsley came to Bramall Lane for a hotly-anticipated South Yorkshire derby, and came for a 0-0 draw…. They very nearly got it!

In terms of possession and actually "wanting it", United deserved the three points and the double over their rivals from down the A61, but The Reds frustrating gameplan worked a treat for 81 minutes before a linesman's flagged decided John Joe O-Toole's effort had crossed the line and finally opened up this match!

Simon Davey hasn't got too much right this season but he was spot on in his post match press conference when he said the match should have just started at the 80 minute mark. Before it, we saw a dreary match, punctuated by chants for and against Chris Morgan. The first half was like a staring contest with both sides waiting for the other to blink.

The Reds midfield, as on Saturday was bossing the game. Andranik, although a bit too eager to go to ground, was covering every blade of grass, whilst Anderson was his usual composed self. Upfront however was the same old story. I have to applaud Jon Macken because he absolutely worked his socks off for 90 minutes and I have honestly never seen a striker work as hard in a match as he did, but Michael Mifsud was again off the pace. He sparked a little in the second half but never sufficiently. Jamal Campbell-Ryce was also a major disappointment and missed his second penalty in the space of three days. Something that must be almost unheard of for Barnsley.

The Reds only had one real effort on target in the opening half and it arrived on 32 minutes with Andranik letting fly from 30 yards, but it was comfortably saved by Paddy Kenny. United had the best chance of the half but had to wait until the 44^th minute. Former Reds target Jamie Ward met Greg Halford's long throw but Heinz Muller superbly tipped the ball over the bar.

United knew that they could close the gap on second place to just three points with victory and came out after the break with much more vigour. But Barnsley were holding firm. Although United continued to pump long balls into The Reds box, the defence were dealing with them superbly and Muller was hardly troubled. Unfortunately the best The Reds could muster were two tame headers from Macken, in decent positions, that Kenny held.

With the clock ticking it looked more and more likely one goal was going to win it, and with 81 minutes gone United finally looked to have got it. Ward whipped in a corner which caused mass panic in the area. Muller appeared to twice claw the ball away but according to the linesman, O-Toole managed to hook the ball over the line before Bobby Hassell cleared.

With the game at 0-0, Davey had sacrificed a striker (Mifsud) for another midfielder (Hammill) but as soon as United scored, it was clear The Reds had to go forward and so on came Daniel Bogdanovic for Colace. Before the tall Maltese man had time to make an impact, United looked to have put the game to bed. On 87 minutes Arturo Lupoli was given far too much space and he speared an effort from 25 yards into the far corner. It was then though that the real drama came in a mad last couple of minutes.

Within seconds of United's second goal, Hassell swung in a free kick and bizarrely Darius Henderson stuck up his hand to give The Reds a penalty. Amazingly Campbell-Ryce missed again as Kenny dived to his right to palm the ball away for a corner. When this was half cleared Macken swung the ball back in and Bogdanovic bundled the ball in. There was still time for a mass melee on the sidelines as the Barnsley and United benches erupted in a full on fight, sadly there wasn't enough time for another Barnsley goal.

Player Ratings:

Heinz Muller: Kicking was again poor but made a couple of very good saves. 7

Rob Kozluk: First return to Bramall Lane since leaving and despite a late lunge early on he had a solid game. 7

Stephen Foster: Did very well to contend with the lively Jamie Ward. It's just a shame he and Moore could hold out for another nine minutes. 8

Darren Moore: Towering performance. Completely nullified Henderson and did the one thing that Barnsley fans were hoping he would do- square up to Morgan. 8

Bobby Hassell: Long throws were again an asset and was solid as always in defence. 7

Andranik Teymourian: Annoyed the Bramall Lane faithful but he had another good game. Tackling was superb. 8

Anderson De Silva: Calm and composed but didn't get forward enough. 7

Hugo Colace: Probably the quietest of the central midfielders. Didn't really boss the game as he normally does. 6

Jamal Campbell-Ryce: Totally off the pace and its clear he shouldn't take another penalty. Anybody know the last time a Reds player missed two successive penalties? 3

Jon Macken: I have to applaud his workrate. He never stopped trying and wanting the ball. Should have done better with two headers but his hold up play and passing were spot on. 8

Michael Mifsud: Used his pace a little in the second half but was again totally useless. 3

Substitutes:

Adam Hammill (for Mifsud 77) When fit he has to start. We actually looked capable of creating something when he came on. 7

Daniel Bogdanovic (for Colace 83): Popped up with another goal and deserves to start ahead of Mifsud. 7

Unused Substitutes:

Luke Steele, Dennis Souza, Martin Devaney

BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Macken, Foster and Andranik were all hard workers but Darren Moore never put a foot wrong.

SHEFFIELD UNITED: Kenny, Halford, Naysmith, Cotterill (Lupoli 70), Morgan (c), Henderson, Montgomery, Ward (Beattie 90), O'Toole, Naughton, Bromby.
Subs: Bennett, Howard, Walker.

Most Impressed by United's: Jamie Ward: Got a glimpse of what we missed out on.

Ref Watch: Grant Hegley: At times he didn't look up to managing a South Yorkshire derby but he did have a pretty decent game overall. 7

Coca Cola Championship Results Tuesday 7^th April 2009:

Crystal Palace 1-1 Coventry

Sheffield United 2-1 BARNSLEY

Watford 2-2 Southampton

Barnsley lie in 20^th place in the Coca-Cola Championship with 45 points from 40 games.

We are 19 points off the Play-Offs, 30 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 32 points off First place and 3 points above the Relegation Zone.

Up to 7/4/09

Next Up:

On The Road:

Coca-Cola Championship Forty One: Watford v Barnsley Saturday 11^th April 2009 Kick-Off 3pm

Tickets:

Adults - £10.00
Senior Citizens (65 and Over) - £10.00
Students (Under 25 with a valid NUS) - £10.00
Juvenile (Under 16) - £10.00
Juvenile (Under 16) when purchased with an adult ticket * - £1.00

*Maximum two tickets per adult.

Official Reds on the Road coaches are making the trip to Vicarage Road. Tickets: £23. Coach leaves Oakwell at 9:30am on the day of the game.

At Oakwell:

Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Forty Two: Barnsley v Swansea City Monday 13^th April 2009 Kick-Off 3pm.

Tickets:

East Stand and West Stand Upper Tiers

Adults £21.00

OAP/Juvenile £12.00

Juveniles (U11) £6.00

Barnsley Chronicle Family Area

Adults £21.00

OAP £12.00

Juvenile £12.00

Juveniles (U11) £6.00

East Stand Lower and West Stand Lower

Adults £20.00

OAP/Juveniles £11.00

Juveniles (U11) £5.00

CK Beckett Stand (Pontefract Road End)

Adults £19.00

OAP/Juveniles £11.00

Juveniles (U11) £5.00

All Disabled Areas £19.00

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.

Man of the Match: Darren Moore