I see trees of green, red roses too! I see them bloom for me and you! And I think to myself: WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD!!!!
A fantastic performance from Barnsley finally ended the Wednesday hoodoo and brought a first win against the Owls from S6 for the first time in seven long and painful years!!
It finished 2-1 but it really should have been more. For nearly 70 minutes a Barnsley team that had capitulated so poorly at Crystal Palace just 72 hours previously were rampant.
Sheffield Wednesday came into the game supremely high on confidence after their 1-0 win over city rivals United on Sunday and also by the fact they hadn't lost to Barnsley home or away since December 2001.
For Barnsley fans they came to the match wondering whether they would see the side that were 1-0 down to Doncaster at half-time two weeks ago and which lost heavily at Palace on Saturday or whether it would be the side that produced a stunning second half performance to eventually beat Rovers 4-1.
In fact it was probably better than that Rovers rout! Right from the offset in front of a noisy season's best crowd of 17,784 Barnsley were at Wednesday and the noise was cranked up even more when The Reds made a dream start with just four minutes on the clock.
Martin Devaney who had by far his best game of the season put in a low left wing cross that looked like it had been cut out for a corner by Lewis Buxton's sliding lunge. Remarkably though, instead of the ball going out of play, it looped up into the air and whilst everyone else stood and watched, Jon Macken nipped in to flick the ball back to Iain Hume who smacked home a terrific half-volley to give Barnsley a 1-0 lead over Wednesday for the first time since December 2003 (seven meetings ago!)
After that it was Just Like Watching Brazil as time and time again The Reds carved open Wednesday. On the wings Devaney and Jamal Campbell-Ryce- fresh from signing a new three year deal- were brilliant whilst Hume and Macken were not giving the Wednesday central defenders a moment's peace. Also with Dennis Souza in imperious form at the back, the Owls strike-force of Marcus Tudgay and former Arsenal man Francis Jeffers never got a sniff.
Barnsley's biggest win against Wednesday is 4-0, which was set in 1948 and that could easily have been doubled tonight but for poor finishing that you always thought might come back to haunt them.
On 18 minutes Campbell-Ryce showed great trickery to fashion a chance but it was on his weaker left foot and it just curled beyond keeper Lee Grant and the far post.
On 30 minutes a lovely ball from Macken looked to have released Hume who produced a great finish to beat Grant but the linesman's flag ruled out a crucial second goal.
Two minutes later another great ball from Macken released Devaney one-on-one with Grant but he couldn't match Hume's composure as he hit his effort too close to the Wednesday keeper who managed to tip his effort away.
Hume then met Campbell-Ryce's cross perfectly but glanced an header inches wide.
A South Yorkshire derby which was always simmering boiled over in spectacular fashion on 34 minutes due to a disgusting and shocking challenge from Wednesday full-back Tony McMahon.
Rob Kozluk had possession on the bye-line and 22 year old McMahon- who had never been sent off in his career before- launched in from about 5 yards away, two footed with an horrific lunge. Thankfully he missed Kozluk but referee Phil Crossley was absolutely right to brandish a straight red card and even Wednesday captain Tommy Spurr gave him a real rollicking as he headed down the tunnel.
Four minutes later Hugo Colace was inches away from his first goal in English football as he struck a sweet shot from 25 yards that Grant did very well to catch in mid air.
The question at half-time was whether The Reds could maintain this excellent performance and the answer were certainly yes as they came roaring back out after the break.
Three minutes after the re-start Anderson De Silva sent over a delicious cross that Macken was inches away from converting before Campbell-Ryce slid the ball across the six yard line and Kozluk slid in, made contact but it wasn't enough as he couldn't force the ball over the line.
On 61 minutes Oakwell was bouncing as Reds fans smelt victory when they were awarded a penalty after Stephen Foster had his shirt clearly tugged as he went for a header.
Despite Hume standing on the penalty spot, Campbell-Ryce was adamant he was going to take it. It turned out to be the right decision as the Jamaican wizard coolly sent Grant the wrong way.
It should then have been cruise control but Wednesday were handed a way back into the game thanks to a dreadful decision from referee Crossley.
Leon Clarke, who only seconds ago had come on as a substitute, turned Souza in the area and simply stumbled over. Incredibly Crossley pointed to the spot for the third penalty in three matches to be awarded against Barnsley. Clarke then struck a confident penalty straight down the middle.
It ensured it would be a nervy final 20 minutes but it was quite obvious why Clarke's penalty was Wednesday's first effort on target as the closest they came to what would have been a wholly underserved equaliser was when Jimmy Smith's strike was well held by Muller.
Wednesday were very lucky not to go down to nine men in injury time when a clearly frustrated Peter Gilbert went straight through the back of substitute Kayode Odejayi as he shepherded the ball at the corner flag. Crossley concluded his inconsistent performance by only showing a yellow card.
The final whistle signalled scenes of joy reminiscent of that epic win over Chelsea last season. The seven year itch has finally been scratched. Now to end that horrible run of 11 straight defeats at Hillsborough!
Player Ratings:
Heinz Muller: Had very very little to do and his kicking was a bit suspect again. 6
Rob Kozluk: Great performance. Always eager to get forward and terrific at the back. 8
Dennis Souza: Immense. Was so good the Wednesday strikers never got a sniff. Very harsh decision to award a penalty against him. Booked. 9
Darren Moore: This game was perfect for him. Won every aerial battle. Never put a foot wrong. 8
Stephen Foster: Back at right back and much better than at Palace. Won the penalty for the second goal and put in some great challenges. 8
Martin Devaney: I've said many times before- when we are playing well he's terrific but when we are on the back foot he's woeful. We played very well today and it was Disco's best display of the season. 8
Hugo Colace: No coincidence we won the midfield battle. This guy was brilliant and never put a foot wrong. His tackles and passes were spot on. 9
Anderson De Silva: Much improved from Saturday even if he did play a couple of poor passes. Got better as the game went on. 7.5
Jamal Campbell-Ryce: Signed on until 2011 and proved why we need him. Wednesday couldn't deal with him 9
Jon Macken: Another who had his best game of the season. Lovely through balls to release Hume and Devaney in the first half and great awareness to knock the ball back for Hume's opener. His touches and hold-up play was back to how it was last season. Subbed. 8
Iain Hume: Fast becoming a star. Goals against Rovers and now Wednesday have put him firmly in the fans heart. Showed great composure to net when clean through in the first half but linesman denied him. Booked. Subbed.8
Substitutes:
Kayode Odejayi (for Macken 81) Added a more physical presence upfront. And disgracefully taken out at the end by Gilbert. 7
Maceo Rigters (for Hume 89) Brought on to run down the clock. 5
Unused Substitutes:
Luke Steele, Bobby Hassell, Diego Leon.
Sponsor's Man of the Match: Jamal Campbell-Ryce
BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Every player was on the top of their game but I was just so mightily impressed with Souza.
Sheffield Wednesday: Grant ,McMahon (sent off 34),Buxton ,Beevers ,Spurr ,Small (Clarke ,66 ) ,Smith ,McAllister ,Gilbert ,Jeffers (Watson ,46 ) ,Tudgay (Burton ,37)
Most Impressed by Sheffield Wednesday's : Steve Watson: He didn't come on until half-time but he nearly helped drag Wednesday back into the game.
Ref Watch: Phil Crossley: Sheesh! Got the McMahon sending off spot on but got nearly everything else wrong! 4
Coca-Cola Championship Results: Tuesday 21st October 2008:
BARNSLEY 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Birmingham 1-0 Crystal Palace
Blackpool 3-2 Derby
Charlton 0-2 Bristol City
Coventry 1-3 Burnley
Norwich 5-2 Wolves
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Ipswich
Plymouth 1-0 Preston
Reading 2-1 Doncaster
Sheffield United 0-0 Southampton
Swansea 0-0 QPR
Watford 2-2 Cardiff
Barnsley lie in 22nd place in the Coca-Cola Championship with 11 points from 12 games.
We are 8 points off the Play-Offs, 14 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 16 points off First place and 1 point inside the Relegation Zone.
Up to and including 21/10/08
Next Up:
At Oakwell:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Thirteen: Barnsley v Bristol City Saturday 25th October 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.
On The Road:
Coca Cola Championship Matchday Fourteen: Doncaster Rovers v Barnsley Tuesday 28th October 2008 Kick-Off 7:45pm
Tickets:
Adults - £20.00
Senior Citizens (60 and over) - £14.00
Student (With Valid NUS) - £14.00
Juvenile (Under 16) - £13.00
Juvenile (Under 11) - £5.00
Tickets are now on general sale.
Official Reds on the Road coaches will be making the trip to the Keepmoat Stadium. Price: £9. The coaches leave Oakwell at 5:30pm on the day of the game.
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