Stand up and clap, and clap, and clap!
Incredible! Superb! Breath-taking! Amazing! Devastating!
I could go on! Barnsley turned in a performance of Premiership quality last night at Oakwell to destroy the last unbeaten record in the Championship.
Bristol City simply couldn't live with the skills of Brian Howard and Anderson Da Silva whilst Lee Trundle, such a threat in the Play-Off Final in 2006 was left isolated and alone by THE best central defender outside the top flight- Dennis Souza.
Souza also claimed the 2nd goal to go along with yet ANOTHER Man of The Match display. If he's still a Barnsley player or indeed a Championship player come the end of January I'd be very surprised!
It was claimed in yesterday's Daily Mirror that the club have slapped a £3m price tag on current skipper Brian Howard to ward off the attention of clubs such as Everton, Aston Villa and Bolton! Not bad for a player dumped by Swindon two years ago for being fat!!
Howard may even have added a few more noughts on to that alleged price tag last as he ran the show in midfield and broke the deadlock with a goal only he could score but with what us Barnsley fans have become accustomed too.
Howard doesn't score tap-ins and he certainly didn't last night.
After a slow start to the first half both sides started to move the ball around well, Anderson will surely be in the Everton side before long. He was certainly a class above anything else on the park last night in terms of touches and movement.
Bristol City began to show why, although undefeated had drawn five of the eight games.
The returning Michael McIndoe, booed like McPhail 3 days earlier showed flashes of talent but never anything to trouble Stephen Foster whilst Barnsley began to exert some authority.
Adriano Basso had to be alert to deny both McCann and Howard whilst giant Heinz Muller turned over a stinging drive from Marvin Elliot.
With Souza in such incredible form the strike partnership of the usually lethal Trundle and Darren Byfield were simply starved of chances.
In fact Muller tested Byfield on the stroke of half-time as he came out for a cross and flattened the ex Rotherham man.
It was in the second half however that The Reds turned the screw.
Miguel Mostto, repeatedly caught offside first half, worked his socks off and it was his piece of skill that set Howard away for the opener on 67 minutes.
A lovely turn and flick sent Howard running at a retreating City defence, Campbell-Ryce went through the middle for him but Howard fancied a shot. With his right foot being about as useful as a chocolate fireguard, he cut back on to his left and curled an absolute beauty around Basso into the corner!
From then on the floodgates opened.
The Reds won a free kick 50 yards out 5 minutes later in a position that would certainly be out of shooting range for anybody but Dominik Werling.
From fully 50 yards Werling, who returned in place of Rob Kozluk, arrowed an astonishing missile towards goal which Basso could only beat out to the waiting Souza and he rifled the rebound into the roof of the net.
City tried in vain to get back into the game, even sending three men upfront, but whenever the ball came into the Barnsley area either Souza or Muller dealt with it
superbly. In recent games an assault like that would usually leave fans fearing a comeback but not last night. Not with that back five playing like they are.
And with 2 minutes remaining Barnsley broke to finish off the game.
Howard surged forward with the ball with just one City man back, he squared the ball to the onrushing sub Martin Devaney and just like at Southampton, Devaney composed himself superbly before firing through the legs of a defender and past Basso into the corner.
There was even LESS at Oakwell last night than on Saturday. But it serves you right that you missed a cracker! You'll be back. Because last night was something special that you really had to be there to see!
YOU REDS!!!!
P.S Normal service seems to have resumed with the Owls as well!
Player Ratings:
Heinz Muller: Unflappable. Whenever a corner or cross came in he made sure HE got to it. An imposing presence that refuses to be beaten. 8
Dominik Werling: His defensive capabilities shone again last night as he wouldn't be bullied in the tackles. Another Roberto Carlos-esque free kick to set up Souza's goal. 8
Dennis Souza: I'm running out of words to describe him! Bargain of the decade! Head and shoulders above everybody on the pitch and never gave Trundle or Byfield a sniff. When he did play a bad ball he looked so upset you would have thought he had just being told he would be playing for the Wendies next week!. Absolute class! Great to see him score as well. 10
Lewin Nyatanga. Cannot fail to improve with Souza alongside him. His long legs and height make him a colossus alongside the big man. 8
Stephen Foster: Burnley must have some fantastic defenders if they could afford to sell this man. Snuffed McIndoe out of the game and on the ball looks so at ease. 8
Jamal Campbell-Ryce. Has the pace and the intelligence but not the final ball. If he could improve his crossing he would be some player!. Subbed. 7
Brian Howard: Worked his socks off again. £3m doesn't come close after last night. Stunning opening goal and led by example in the middle. 9
Grant McCann: Apart from one close free kick he struggled to make an impact. With Howard and Anderson in the team he has to try even harder to get noticed. Did the "dirty" stuff well though. Subbed. 7
Anderson Da Silva: So much natural skill its frightening. Will surely be a Premiership regular soon. Knows his pass before the ball's even come to him! Booked. 9
Miguel Mostto: Struggled again the first half but became more involved in the second period. Worked his socks off and a great ball to release Howard for the opening. A sign last night of what he may possess. Subbed. 7
Kayode Odejayi: Quiet game and if I'm not mistaken looks like he's carrying some sort of injury. Needs to be fully fit to compete and I'm not sure he is. Booked. 6
Substitutes:
Kim Christensen (for Mostto 76) The fresh legs City's defence didn't want to see. Put himself about. 6
Martin Devaney (for Campbell-Ryce 81) Banging on the door for a start now after two goals as a sub. Lovely composed finish to seal the game. 7
Sam Togwell (for McCann 87) Was he really a regular last season? Came on to close the game down and did his job. 6
Unused Substitutes:
Nick Colgan, Rob Kozluk
Sponsor's Man of the Match: Dennis Souza
BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Whilst Souza is playing like this he's the Man of the League never mind match!!! Notable mentions for Muller, Foster, Howard and Da Silva too.
Impressed by Bristol City's: Not one individual stood out for me really. McIndoe had moments in the first half but I forgot he was on the pitch in the second half!
Ref Watch: Eddie Ilderton: Started off well enough and then started dishing out rash bookings. 5
Other Reports:
Official Website Report
FootyMad Report
BBC Report
Coca-Cola Championship Results: Tuesday 2nd October 2007
BARNSLEY 3-0 Bristol City
Burnley 2-2 Ipswich
Coventry 3-1 Blackpool
Hull 1-2 Charlton
Leicester 0-0 Wolves
Norwich 0-0 Scunthorpe
Plymouth 1-0 Crystal Palace
Preston 5-1 Southampton
Sheffield United 3-3 Cardiff
Watford 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Barnsley lie in 4th place in the Coca Cola Championship with 15 points from 9 games. We are 1 point inside the Play-Offs, 3 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 5 points off First Place and 7 points above the Relegation Zone.
Next Up:
On The Road:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Ten: Charlton Athletic v Barnsley Saturday 6th October 2007 Kick-Off: 3pm
Tickets:
Adults: £20
Senior Citizens (Over 60) £15
U21: £15
Juveniles (U18) £10
Official Coaches will be travelling to the Valley.
Price: £19
Departure Time: 9:30am on the day of the game.
At Oakwell:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Eleven: Barnsley v Burnley Saturday 20th October 2007 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 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.
|
