If anybody received a Monopoly set for Christmas I advise you to check in the box and make sure your Get Out of Jail Free cards are still there because I think Barnsley just used one today.
This game mirrored the Southampton draw in many ways, except the opposite way around.
Scunthorpe, without a win at home since September deserved to end that run at a wet and windy Glanford Park as they raced into a 2-0 lead either side of half-time.
The Reds, so impressive in the first half at Oakwell at the weekend were simply miserable here, as boss Simon Davey admitted "absolutely diabolical"
Therein lies the problem. Confident and attacking at home where defeat hasn't been tasted since the opening day, woeful and lifeless away where victory has arrived just the once.
After dominating from the start Scunthorpe should have taken the lead after 13 minutes with their first effort
Ian Morris cut inside Marciano Van Homoet but his effort was beaten away by Heinz Muller. The same player went even closer on 27 minutes. He left fly with a shot that swirled in the air, Muller producing an incredible save to turn the ball over the top.
Six minutes later Scunthorpe proved why they are fighting relegation by wasting a golden opportunity.
Ex red Paul Hayes who was booked for scything down Martin Devaney, slid the ball through the Barnsley defence, Dennis Souza- a surprise inclusion after being ruled out yesterday - slid but missed and Iron top scorer Martin Paterson raced through.
With just Muller to beat he dithered, tried to take it around the German and eventually Lewin Nyatanga got back to dispossess him.
That scare briefly galvanised The Reds and they came close to the breakthrough.
Scunthorpe keeper Joe Murphy had a rush of blood as he came to meet the again desperately poor Kayode Odejayi, Odejayi lofted the ball towards the open goal but strike partner Istvan Ferenczi couldn't get there to nod in.
Finally as the clock hit the 45th minute Scunthorpe got their deserved lead…but it came in controversial circumstances.
Paterson's cross struck Souza on the hand, the linesman flagged, Barnsley stopped, Scunthorpe didn't and Hayes slid the ball across for Morris to tap past Muller.
After such an abject first half performance Davey went for broke at half-time, hauling off Ferenczi and Devaney, and bringing on Michael Coulson and Grant McCann.
The Reds went 4-3-3 with Coulson, Odejayi and Campbell-Ryce going upfront.
The game plan hit the buffers within two minutes of the restart when Scunthorpe doubled their lead.
Hayes was again involved playing in the impressive Kelly Youga who fired past Muller into the far corner.
That really seemed to be it but to their credit Barnsley improved although without showing a cutting edge. Coulson was a real live-wire as was Campbell-Ryce. With Odejayi totally out of form though Scunthorpe dealt with anything being thrown at them.
The Nigerian displayed a poor first touch on the right before then producing an airshot. But showed much better skill to seize on a poor backpass. He took the ball past Murphy, before squaring to the unmarked Brian Howard. From 7 yards Howard side footed over the bar!
With twenty minutes to go Van Homoet's clever ball saw Odejayi gallop clear again but he produced a woeful effort well wide.
Finally The Reds got a crucial goal back on 72 minutes. Odejayi attempted to barge his way through but was hauled to the floor by Scunthorpe captain Andy Crosby right on the edge of the area. It looked a certain red card but amazingly referee Clive Oliver produced only yellow.
Grant McCann curled the free kick straight into the wall but then smacked the rebound into the roof of the net.
Finally there was hope. Murphy produced a good stop from Campbell-Ryce before the game's axis swung on 82 minutes. Nyatanga was left in a heap after a tussle with Tomi Ameobi and had to be stretchered off. With his loan period ending today it looks to be the end of his Barnsley career.
The delay in play meant five minutes of injury time was added on and Barnsley toiled and battled with Odejayi and Stephen Foster being denied by some last ditch defending.
The whistles from the home crowd rang around the old stadium with Scunthorpe players asking the referee how long was left. The Iron could smell that victory that would take them away from the relegation zone.
And then with merely seconds to go (it may have even been after the five minutes were up) Miguel Mostto who had replaced Nyatanga, hit a ball against Crosby's hand in the area and ref Oliver pointed to the spot to delirium from the 1700 Barnsley fans behind the goal.
Howard then stepped up, shimmered, Murphy dove to his right and the captain chipped it into the left corner cool as a cucumber.
The first point of 2008 is registered maybe it's a sign our luck could be changing…
Player Ratings:
Heinz Muller: Kept The Reds in the game in the first half with a couple of cracking saves. Looking very doubtful that he will still be here come 31st January. 8
Marciano Van Homoet: Good going forward but was pegged back dealing with the pacy Youga throughout the game. 7
Dennis Souza: Passed a late fitness test to play but looked sluggish. A poor slip nearly let Scunthorpe in. 6
Lewin Nyatanga: Won everything in the air but suffered a worrying injury in the 82nd minute. Heads back to Derby now with his reputation enhanced. Subbed. 7
Stephen Foster: Another polished display and the key man of the back four that kept Scunthorpe at bay. Also got forward whenever possible. 8
Martin Devaney: Sent flying by Hayes early on and never got in the game. Withdrawn at half-time. Booked. Subbed. 5
Brian Howard: Another woeful display. Failed to find any sort of passing rhythm. His injury time penalty saved face. But it seems it's only his penalty skills keeping him in favour.4
Sam Togwell: Again proved that when the chips are down he is not the man to call on. Looked forever lost in the midfield battle. 4
Jamal Campbell-Ryce: Quiet as a mouse in that miserable first half but when pushed upfront after halftime, he was a menace. Scunthorpe struggled to contain him. Denied a goal by the alert Murphy. 7.5
Istvan Ferenczi: Losing a little favour with the fans now after another lacklustre display. Too slow to react when Odejayi's cross would have presented him with an easy chance. His replacement Coulson was miles better. Subbed. 4
Kayode Odejayi: Could not fault his work-rate and his rampaging run earned the free kick for the first goal. But in front of the net he is a nightmare. The air-kick in the second half summed it all up. 4
Substitutes:
Grant McCann (for Devaney 45) Showed some good passes and helped The Reds gain more control of the midfield. His free kick after 72 minutes was poor, his rebound fantastic! 7
Michael Coulson (for Ferenczi 45) Brought on for only his third Championship appearance but was a real hive of activity. Did not understand the concept of lost cause. Wanted the ball all the time and more importantly did things with it. Very very promising player! 7
Miguel Mostto (for Nyatanga 82) Coming along nicely with every game. Showed those flashes of quality and smacked the ball against Crosby's hand for the penalty! Brilliant Id say! 7
Unused Substitutes:
Bobby Hassell, Rohan Ricketts,
Scunthorpe: Murphy ,Youga ,Crosby ,Baraclough ,Williams ,Hayes (Taylor ,77 ) ,Goodwin ,Morris ,Cork ,Hurst (Forte ,77 ) ,Paterson (Ameobi ,82)
BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Heinz Muller: Once again the giant German saved us.
Impressed by Scunthorpe's: Kelly Youga: On today's performance it is a real surprise Scunthorpe are struggling. Youga is on loan from Charlton and could play higher. Frightening pace and very confident with the ball.
Ref Watch: Clive Oliver: Very picky. Blew for almost everything. But then he blew in the 96th minute when it mattered most! 6 (for the penalty decision 10!!!)
Other Reports:
FootyMadOfficial Report
BBC
Coca-Cola Championship Results: Tuesday 1st January 2008
Blackpool 3-0 Burnley
Bristol City 2-1 Coventry
Cardiff 1-0 Plymouth
Charlton 1-2 Colchester
Crystal Palace 1-1 Norwich
Ipswich 2-0 West Brom
QPR 3-1 Leicester
Scunthorpe 2-2 BARNSLEY
Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Preston
Southampton 0-3 Watford
Stoke 1-1 Hull
Wolves 0-0 Sheffield United
Barnsley lie in 13th place in the Coca Cola Championship with 34 points from 26 games.
We are 5 points off the Play-Offs, 13 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 13 points off First Place and 7 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to and including 1/1/08
Next Up:
At Oakwell:
FA Cup Third Round: Barnsley v Blackpool Saturday 5th January 2008 Kick-Off 3pm.
It's 'kid for a quid' at Oakwell when the Seasiders come to town on Saturday January 5, 2008, KO 3.00pm, although youngsters must be accompanied by a full paying adult or senior citizen and have to purchase their tickets from the Oakwell Box Office prior to 1.30pm on the day of the game. Admission through the turnstiles for juveniles aged U16 will be £5.00.
A full paying adult can get one 'kid for a quid' ticket. Additional juvenile tickets are available at just £5.00 each.
The Reds have also cut the cost of admission for adults to just £15.00 while concessions for 16 and 17 year olds and senior citizens have been reduced to £10.00.
Full Ticket Prices for the big game are:
Adult - £15.00
Concessions (Juveniles aged 16 and 17; Senior Citizens) - £10.00
Juveniles (Under 16 purchased in advance of the game and accompanied by a full paying adult) - £1.00
Juveniles (U16 purchased on the turnstiles and accompanied by a full paying adult) - £5.00
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Twenty Seven: Barnsley v Norwich City
Saturday 12th January 2008 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.
On The Road:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Twenty Eight: Queens Park Rangers v Barnsley Saturday 19th January 2008 Kick-Off 3pm
Tickets: Not Known
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