Its never dull watching The Reds. 3-0 up against a team with just two defeats in the last 19 games, and twenty minutes left on the clock, Barnsley very nearly contrived the throw this match away.
For 70 minutes it was going very well for The Reds against a very good Burnley side, but errors at the back most notably from Rob Kozluk nearly threw two vital points away.
Burnley started very well in the opening 10 minutes and The Reds were struggling to get hold of the ball, but with 11 minutes on the clock Barnsley should have been in front. Burnley conceded a throw and it enabled Martin Devaney to hobble off with a twisted ankle to be replaced by Diego Leon and from the throw, Kozluk launched the ball into the area, Kayode Odejayi nodded it on perfectly for Jon Macken six yards out. He looked suspiciously offside but he didn't connect cleanly and Burnley's giant keeper Brian Jensen managed to tip the ball away for a corner.
It was then the turn of The Reds giant keeper, Heinz Muller to come to the rescue twice in the space of two minutes. Firstly he turned away a clever effort from Robbie Blake and then when Blake touched a free-kick across to Chris Eagles, Muller made an even better stop to push the goal-bound shot away.
The Reds though were starting to turn the tide and Jamal Campbell-Ryce was again instrumental in the middle of the park, and on 18 minutes The Reds hit only their third first half goal at Oakwell this season to take the lead. Kozluk dinked a lovely ball over the Burnley defence and Macken made amends for his earlier miss by drawing Jensen and then producing a lovely effort into the near corner.
The goal seemed to deflate Burnley a little and with Hugo Colace again brilliant, The Reds began to dominate possession, and on 27 minutes it should really have been 2-0. Why wasn't it? Two words- Kayode Odejayi! Yep, he did it again. Dennis Souza hit a long clearance that left Odejayi and Clarke Carlisle chasing, Odejayi showed his strength to barge away the Burnley defender and it left him with a clear sight of goal, the first touch was great but incredibly he hit the ball straight at Jensen's legs. It really isn't funny anymore, that's two home games in a row he's had clear cut chances and missed.
The game was becoming a feisty affair and Carlisle was booked for a shocking challenge on Leon and The Reds nearly went into the interval two goals to the good when the ball flew across the six yard area and Macken just couldn't get his foot to it.
The second half was really a roles reversal to the first with Barnsley starting like a house on fire and they looked to have put the game to bed with two goals inside the opening six minutes .
The first one arrived after 49minutes, and was the slice of good luck that has deserted The Reds this season. After shocking refereeing decisions against Sheffield United and Preston in recent weeks, The Reds benefited from one.
Bobby Hassell did brilliantly to win the ball off Eagles and then Colace played the ball across to Campbell-Ryce. The Jamaican winger strode forward before unleashing a stunning strike that hit the offside Simon Whaley, totally wrong-footing Jensen and flew straight into the back of the net. Whaley was clearly offside as the ball struck him and the Burnley players and coaching team were furious! In the linesman's defence the speed of the shot would have made it difficult for him to see if and who it hit on its way in, but still a poor decision but one that had finally gone Barnsley's way.
The decision though left Burnley in absolute disarray with their players totally taken off their game plan by it and two minutes later it was 3-0 with an almost carbon copy goal. Campbell-Ryce's corner was played to the edge of the area where Leon produced a deft flick to take him away from Joey Gudjonsson before hammering a shot that smacked off Steven Caldwell to again leave Jensen going the wrong way.
Barnsley were in dream-land, Burnley were in disarray, it should have been game over. Never that easy at Oakwell unfortunately and for some strange reason, despite having a three goal cushion, Barnsley seemed to panic, going further and further back with Odejayi almost playing as a fifth defender at times. You sensed Burnley only needed one goal to get themselves back in it and it arrived on 69 minutes.
Campbell-Ryce was caught in possession inside the centre-circle by Graham Alexander and the ball fell to Robbie Blake whose defence splitting pass released substitute Martin Paterson, and the former Scunthorpe man did very well to hold off Kozluk before planting the ball through the legs of Muller.
Fear emitted around the stadium and Burnley, who had not given up at 3-0 were not going to give up at 3-1 either. On 74 minutes it really was game on again after a series of howlers by Kozluk. Firstly he gave the ball away to Blake on the half-way line who immediately released Patterson again. The 21 year old scampered down the right flank with Kozluk chasing. But Kozzie just let him run and run, didn't get near enough to him, and in the end Paterson skipped into the area before beating Muller at the near post.
A shocking goal to concede and after a fine first half, Kozluk had totally crumbled. Four minutes later he did it again, as Blake brushed him off the ball and again found Paterson but Colace defended him very well.
Burnley so very nearly completed their comeback on 82 minutes. Eagles released McCann whose cut back was again poorly defended by Kozluk, as the left back hit it straight back to McCann but he was foiled by a top, top save from Muller. Three minutes later it should have been 3-3. A quick passing move on the edge of The Reds area sent Eagles in on goal, he was denied superbly by Muller but the rebound came out to Kevin McDonald, and with a gaping goal he somehow blazed over. Muller was furious with his defence and rightly so. The Reds had crumbled and crumbled badly.
They hung on for the four minutes of injury time. It's a result that extends a 76 year unbeaten home record against Burnley and hoisted The Reds above Sheffield Wednesday (at least for 24 hours) it could and should have been a lot more comfortable though!
Player Ratings:
Heinz Muller: Four brilliant saves! Once again a match saver and if it wasn't for him the game would have been thrown away. 9
Rob Kozluk: He had a good first half, setting up the goal but totally crumbled in the second half. Some shocking errors that let Burnley back into the game. Also got involved in a confrontation with Burnley manager Owen Coyle after the final whistle. 4
Dennis Souza: Won absolutely everything in the air. Top drawer display. 8
Stephen Foster: Had a shocker against his former side last season but tonight was magnificent. Put his foot and head in where it hurt. 8
Bobby Hassell: Started off very poorly and again deserted his right back spot. Improved after the break. 7
Martin Devaney: The early injury curse struck again at Oakwell. Last weekend Darren Moore limped off after 16 minutes and Devaney who had just come back into the side after injury departed after just 10 minutes after his ankle was twisted by the force of a shot from Eagles. 5
Hugo Colace: Unbelievable again. Has to be a real contender for Player of the Year already. So calm and his tackles look effortless. One worry was that ex Red and Wolves manager Mick McCarthy was in the stands… 9
Jamal Campbell-Ryce: Cracking effort deflected in by Whaley and was again the one man who looked most likely to create for The Reds. 8
Simon Whaley: Well his off the mark for the club if it was very controversial. Worked hard and showed some nice touches. 7
Jon Macken: Five goals in his last eight appearances now for Macken. Not bad for a striker who went 10 games without a goal at the start of the season! Great finish tonight. 7.5
Kayode Odejayi: Another great chance missed and was very poor tonight. Didn't challenge and just didn't work hard enough, which is strange for him. 5
Substitutes:
Diego Leon (for Devaney 11) Got a goal but seems far too lightweight to compete in the centre of the midfield. 6
Marciano Van Homoet (for Leon 84) A sub subbed in the case of Leon. Van Homoet came on to shore up the defence. 6
Michael Coulson (for Odejayi 84) Great to see Coulson back after his cruciate knee injury. Looked lively in his first appearance for the first team at Oakwell since April. 6
Unused Substitutes:
Miguel Mostto, Maceo Rigters.
Sponsor's Man of the Match: Heinz Muller
.
BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Heinz Muller and Hugo Colace: Both were instrumental in ensuring The Reds didn't throw away what should have been an unassailable lead. Big mentions should also go to Souza and Foster.
Burnley: Jensen ,Duff (Rodriguez ,88 ) ,Carlisle ,Caldwell ,Jordan ,Alexander ,McCann ,Gudjonsson (McDonald ,55 ) ,Eagles ,Akinbiyi (Paterson ,55 ) ,Blake
Most Impressed by Burnley's: Quite a few players impressive on the Burnley side tonight. Robbie Blake, Chris Eagles and two goal substitute Martin Paterson all shone.
Ref Watch: Nigel Miller: Well his assistant had a shocker with Barnsley's second goal but Miller himself had a decent game. A nice change. 7
Results and standing will be printed tomorrow after all the games have been played.
Next Up:
On The Road:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Twenty: Nottingham Forest v Barnsley Saturday 29th November 2008 Kick-Off 3pm
Tickets:
Adults - £10.00
Senior Citizens (60 and over) - £10.00
Full Time Students - £10.00
Juvenile (18 and Under) - £10.00
Juvenile (11 and Under) - £5.00
Official Reds on The Road Coaches will be making the trip to the City Ground. Tickets: £12. The coach leaves Oakwell at 12:30pm on the day of the game.
At Oakwell:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Twenty One: Barnsley v Reading Saturday 6th December 2008 Kick-Off 3pm.
Tickets:
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
CK Beckett 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.