We've had the hype, the unbeaten pre-season, the comeback at Hillsborough and the cup win at Lincoln. Today we got reality.
A totally abject performance saw The Reds humbled by Coventry for the fourth successive season and it was totally deserved. This was the first half at Sheffield Wednesday but spread over the entire 90 minutes. The best way to sum it up is the fact that The Reds had just ONE shot on target in the entire game and it arrived in the 94th minute- indeed they only mustered only three efforts on goal at all compared with the Sky Blues 12.
Last season the first home game- against Coventry as the last three have been, saw The Reds concede two and have a man sent off. The same happened again today and it could be about to signal another painful season. Rob Kozluk compounded the nightmare start to the season he has had by getting himself stupidly sent off for two rash tackles in the space of two minutes- boss Simon Davey said the tackles were "uncharacteristic" of Kozluk, no they are not, he does them every week, but is usually too slow to make contact!
Whilst Kozzie's dismissal may have had some bearing in the game, he wasn't the only one to blame, and really they all could have followed him down the tunnel and we would have got home early.
Adam Hammill is labelled as the great white hope and huge fanfare was made of him today but he was poor and failed to clear the first man with his corners, his fellow winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce was again anonymous and even finished the game at full-back to compensate for Kozluk. He did nothing before though, often drifting into the middle of the park, leaving Bobby Hassell totally exposed.
Daniel Bogdanovic and Jon Macken- heroes at Lincoln and Wednesday respectively never got in the game, albeit the service was poor and Boggy was constantly caught offside.
This brings me finally onto the referee- Steve Tanner. Now normally I only usually comment on
the referee when I rate him at the end of the player ratings, but Mr Tanner was THAT bad he gets
a mention in the report! Now I know its easy to lambast the referee after a defeat and most of them have dodgy games every week, but Tanner really should have just worn a Sky Blue Coventry shirt! Some of his decisions were ridiculously poor including awarding the free-kick from which Coventry opened the scoring after just eight minutes.
Moments earlier Hammill was body checked and got nothing but when Stephen Foster did the same to Clinton Morrison on the edge of the area, Tanner blew! The goal was a cracker though. Leon Best got his third goal in three games against The Reds by running up and smashing a cracker past Luke Steele into the roof of the net.
The Reds though simply failed to rally. The midfield was far too congested and there were far too many cross field balls and passes backwards. The first effort on goal didn't arrive until the 62nd minute when Jacob Butterfield drove a 30 yard effort just wide and then Hammill did the same from the same distance.
At 1-0 there was always hope one half chance could turn the game but Coventry sealed what is becoming an obligatory three points from Oakwell with eight minutes remaining.
Issac Osbourne curled the ball across the goal-mouth from the right hand side, Steele hesitated and Morrsion gleefully finished.
The only shot to trouble Coventry keeper Keiren Westwood arrived at the end of the four minutes of stoppage time. Iain Hume- making his first competitive appearance since suffering his fractured skull back in November, curled a free-kick in and Foster managed to divert it towards goal where Westwood instinctively palmed it away.
Simply not good enough at all today, there is a chance for redemption in three days time when Preston visit Oakwell. This one is vital to win!
Player Ratings:
Luke Steele: Had no chance for the first goal but hesitated for the second. Often had to sweep up for his defence. 6
Rob Kozluk: A third poor performance in a row and compounded it by stupidly getting sent off. Booked. Sent Off. 1
Stephen Foster: Worked hard as ever but struggled with the quickness of Morrison. 6
Darren Moore: Has struggled with injury all week and it showed. Wasn't his usual imposing self and obviously hasn't got the pace to deal with much on the deck. 5
Bobby Hassell: Due to Campbell-Ryce drifting into the middle, Hassell had to do the job of two men at times. It was an unusually poor game from the dependable Bobby today. 4
Jacob Butterfield: Not as impressive as he has been in a congested midfield. Had The Reds first shot in anger… after 62 minutes but failed to sparkle. Booked. Subbed. 6
Anderson De Silva: The best of a bad bunch as he at least tried to instigate things. Not much came off for him but he was certainly more positive than his team-mates. 7
Jamal Campbell-Ryce: Again very poor. Never got in the game, kept drifting inside to leave the flank totally exposed and finished the game at right-back! Needs to book his ideas up fast! 4
Adam Hammill: Maybe the expectation on him is a bit too great but he was unimpressive today. Corners were terrible when they are usually good and seemed reluctant to run at the Coventry defence. 5
Daniel Bogdanovic: The hero on Tuesday but subdued today. Constantly offside. Subbed. 5
Jon Macken: On a day when your struggling to create chances he's not quite the striker you want. Held the ball up well as always but never a goal scoring threat. Subbed. 6
Substitutes:
Kayode Odejayi (for Bogdanovic 68) Not even the most positive Reds fan would have expected K.O to change the game. Made one surging run but certainly in competitive games he doesn't look to have goal in him. 5
Iain Hume (for Macken 68) Unfair to expect him to come on and score, he is clearly still getting match fitness. Good to see him up for the headers and his free-kick was nearly turned in by Foster. 6
Onome Sodje (for Butterfield 80) Brought on when the game was dead. Should have entered instead of Odejayi. 5
Unused Substitutes:
David Preece, Luke Potter, Martin Devaney, Mounir El Haimour.
Sponsor's Man of the Match: Stephen Foster
BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Anderson De Silva: Very hard to pick anybody because nobody stood out. Anderson though at least looked to create.
Coventry:
Westwood ,Wright ,Cranie (Grandison ,72 ) ,Van Aanholt ,Turner ,Gunnarsson ,Clingan ,Osbourne ,McIndoe ,Morrison ,Best (Jeffers ,80)
Subs not used
Most Impressed by Coventry's: Leon Best: The type of centre forward we could do with and whilst I hate to say it, Michael McIndoe was always a threat.
Ref Watch: Steve Tanner: Nothing much more to add to what I've already said! Must be a closet Coventry fan! 0
Coca Cola Championship Results Saturday 15th August 2009:
BARNSLEY 0-2 Coventry
Blackpool 1-1 Cardiff
Bristol City 1-0 Crystal Palace
Doncaster 1-1 Preston
Ipswich 0-0 Leicester
Newcastle 3-0 Reading
Nottingham Forest 0-1 West Brom
Peterborough 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Plymouth 1-1 QPR
Scunthorpe 3-2 Derby
Sheffield United 2-0 Watford
Swansea 0-3 Middlesbrough
Barnsley lie in 21st place in the Coca-Cola Championship with 1 point from 2 games.
We are 3 points off the Play-Offs, 2 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 5 points off First place and above the Relegation Zone on goals scored.
Up to 15/8/09
Next Up:
At Oakwell:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Three: Barnsley v Preston North End Tuesday 18th August 2009 Kick-Off 7:45pm.
Tickets:
East Stand and West Stand Upper Tiers
Adults £21.00
OAP/Juvenile £12.00
Juveniles (U11) £6.00
Barnsley Chronicle Family Area
Adults £21.00
OAP £12.00
Juvenile £12.00
Juveniles (U11) £6.00
East Stand Lower and West Stand Lower
Adults £20.00
OAP/Juveniles £11.00
Juveniles (U11) £5.00
CK Beckett Stand (Pontefract Road End)
Adults £19.00
OAP/Juveniles £11.00
Juveniles (U11) £5.00
All Disabled Areas £19.00
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 Four: Leicester City v Barnsley Saturday 22nd August 2009 Kick-Off 3pm
Tickets:
Adults: £25
Senior Citizens: £21.50
Students (With Valid NUS) & Under 22s: £15
Under 16s: £10
Under 12s:£5
Under 8s: £3
Official Reds On The Road coaches will be making the trip to the Walkers Stadium. Coaches will depart Oakwell at 12noon on the day of the game and the fare is £15.00.
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