It looked like they would, then it looked like they wouldn't, but in the end goals from Miguel Mostto and captain Stephen Foster ensured The Reds ended a troubled week by grabbing all three points for stricken striker Iain Hume.
Hume will have probably slept a lot better last night after watching his team-mates totally dominate manager-less Watford but have to come from behind to win for the second time this season.
It was also heartening to see that The Reds can still play good football and win when key players such as Hume and Anderson are not available with Hugo Colace taking over the mantle of midfield general and having a superb game.
Before the game Reds boss Simon Davey had claimed he would be without five first team players for the game, but once again it proved to be mind-games as the total was just four. Striker Jon Macken recovered from his groin injury that kept him out of last weekend's controversial defeat to Sheffield United and partnered last Saturday's goal-scorer Kayode Odejayi up front. It was only Odejayi's third start of the season and meant a return to a 4-4-2 formation.
In the opening 15 minutes Macken showed there was no rustiness from his injury as he had two great chances to put The Reds in front.
Jamal Campbell-Ryce who seemed to have a free role, found Macken inside the area and he hit a terrific show towards goal-keeper Richard Lee's right hand top corner. Lee was diving to his left but somehow stuck out a leg in the air to produce an unbelievable save.
On 11 minutes Macken went even closer. This time Odejayi found space on the right before playing the ball across to Macken. The striker's first touch set him up beautifully for a cracking volley that hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing out.
The Reds were disrupted five minutes later when Darren Moore over-stretched whilst reaching for the ball and had to come off- Bobby Hassell replaced him at right back with Foster moving into the centre.
It had been all one way traffic but Watford finally fashioned out some decent chances as the game approached half time.
Jobi McAnuff squared the ball back for Tamas Priskin who blazed over whilst Heinz Muller produced a terrific stop to deny Jon Harley. Even though the shot was straight at the giant German it was hit with some force.
Then, it happened again. Right before half time, Mounir El Haimour who had a very poor game, slipped the ball through and when Leigh Bromby slipped, it allowed Odejayi to gallop away clean through. Nobody got excited though as we have seen it all before and true enough, in attempting to chip Lee, Odejayi failed to get enough height or power on his effort and Lee who was stumbling managed to claw the ball away. To be fair to KO it was the only thing he did wrong all afternoon!
As so often happens with Barnsley, failure to take a clutch of chances cost them when Watford scored against the run of play eight minutes after the restart.
Despite being surrounded by four Reds players- Rob Kozluk, Dennis Souza, El Haimour and Hugo Colace, McAnuff managed to thread the ball across the bye-line where Tommy Smith produced a cheeky back heel to send the ball past Muller.
It was so cruel and it seemed to hammer The Reds confidence with the route-one football replacing the previous pass and move stuff.
But on 69 minutes The Reds punished Watford for their incessant time-wasting by grabbing an equaliser out of nothing.
Foster hit the ball forward, Macken produced a great flick over the Watford defence and substitute Miguel Mostto appeared from nowhere to get to the ball before Lee and hammer Barnsley level.
It was only Mostto's second goal for The Reds and he held up seven fingers to salute Hume.
This was the confidence boost The Reds needed and a minute later they should have been in front. The ball fell kindly to Campbell-Ryce who hammered a shot that Lee blocked and then when the ball came back out to Campbell-Ryce, Lee was equal to it again!
Oakwell erupted though on 71 minutes when the lead finally arrived. Diego Leon swung over a corner, Souza flicked the ball on, Macken was again superbly denied by Lee but Foster managed to knock the ball over the line. Macken was again denied by Lee before Muller showed he may be getting back to his best by producing a fine save from Will Hoskins in injury time to ensure Barnsley's fourth win in six games.
A big shout out must also go to the fans who showed great support for Hume throughout the game. Fans in the Ponty End had created a banner for Hume which Toby Tyke paraded around the ground before kick-off and then when the chant for "Stand Up for Iain Hume" rang around the stadium, everybody stood up and applauded!
That win was for you mate!!
Player Ratings:
Heinz Muller: Produced two terrific stops. May be getting back to his best now. 7
Rob Kozluk: Always has his "rush of blood to the head" moments but he produced some terrific tackles and got forward whenever possible. 7
Dennis Souza: May now be finding the consistency that sometimes seem to be lacking last season. Excellent again, even though he maybe could have done better for Watford's goal. 8
Darren Moore: Only got 16 minutes due to pulling up with injury. Looked just like a pull and the defence was not disrupted. 6
Stephen Foster: Captain Fantastic again and also does what he always seems to do- pop up with crucial goals. 8
Mounir El Haimour: Not sure what this player brings to the side. Too slow to be a winger and lost the ball countless times throughout the game. 3
Hugo Colace: Magnificent! Every time El Haimour lost the ball Colace seemed to win it back! He dominated the midfield. Best performance yet! 9
Jamal Campbell-Ryce: Seemed to have a free role in the side as he kept popping up all over. Always wanted the ball and made things happen. Watford couldn't deal with his pace. 8
Diego Leon: His impact was minimal. Has the creativity and guile but knocked off the ball far too easily. 6
Jon Macken: Could have had a hat-trick if it wasn't for Richard Lee and the woodwork. Looks like he could be in the form of his career! 8
Kayode Odejayi: Missed his usual sitter but that was all he did wrong. Won everything in the air and was a constant thorn in the Watford defence. If only he could finish… 8
Substitutes:
Bobby Hassell (for Darren Moore 16) Got caught out a bit on his flank when he first came on but was a colossus thereafter. Produced two great interventions to stop Watford scoring. 8
Miguel Mostto (for El Haimour 55) Maybe just maybe he does have something to offer. Appeared out of nowhere to produce a clinical finish for the equaliser- Maybe that's what he used to do in Peru! it's a start lets have more Miguel! 8
Marciano Van Homoet (for Leon 84) Brought on to help The Reds protect their lead. 6
Unused Substitutes:
Luke Steele, Maceo Rigters.
Sponsor's Man of the Match: Jamal Campbell-Ryce
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BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Hugo Colace: Whilst JCR had another fine game Colace's can only be described as superb!
Watford: Lee, Mariappa, Bromby, DeMerit, Doyley, McAnuff, Williamson, Smith, Jenkins (O'Toole 80), Harley (Hoskins 78), Priskin (Rasiak 60)
Subs Not Used: Tyler, Ward.
Most Impressed by Watford's: Richard Lee: If it wasn't for him it could have been a cricket score!
Ref Watch: Colin Webster: Missed a few fouls on Odejayi but after D'Urso last week, anybody would have been an improvement. Didn't show a single card either!
Coca-Cola Championship Results: Saturday 15th November 2008
BARNSLEY 2-1 Watford
Birmingham 3-2 Charlton
Bristol City 2-2 Nottingham Forest
Cardiff 2-1 Crystal Palace
Coventry 0-1 Plymouth
Derby 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Doncaster 1-0 Ipswich
Norwich 2-3 Swansea
QPR 1-2 Burnley
Sheffield United 0-2 Reading
Southampton 1-2 Wolves
Barnsley lie in 16th place in the Coca-Cola Championship with 21 points from 17 games.
We are 7 points off the Play-Offs, 13 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 19 points off First place and 6 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to and including 15/11/08
Next Up:
On The Road:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Eighteen: Preston North End v Barnsley Saturday 22nd November 2008 Kick-Off 3pm
Tickets:
Adults - £20.00
Senior Citizens (60 and over) - £12.00
Young Adult (Aged 16 to 20) - £12.00
Juvenile (15 and Under) - £5.00
Family Ticket 1 - (One Adult and Two Juveniles) - £25.00
Family Ticket 2 - (Two Adults and Two Juveniles) - £45.00
Official Reds on the Road coaches will be making the trip to Deepdale: Price: £13 Coaches leave Oakwell at 11:45am on the day of the game.
At Oakwell:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Nineteen: Barnsley v Burnley Monday 24th November 2008 Kick-Off 7:45PM
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.
Note- This game is also live on SKY!
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