This is getting predictable. For the fourth game in a row The Reds were held to a draw.
This should have been comfortable against what was a pacey but ultimately limited Walsall side.
Martin Devaney missed a glorious chance in the first 30 seconds and that just about set the tone for the match.
He received the ball on the edge of the area produced a great flick up in the air which Paul Hayes headed back down to him but somehow from 6 yards he smacked it well wide with the far corner of the net gaping.
This was no where near a fluent Barnsley performance but you felt they always had the edge over their counterparts from the Midlands.
Robbie Williams saw an absolute beauty of a free-kick superbly tipped over the bar by Walsall keeper Andy Oakes but just a couple of players weren’t on top of their game.
Most of my reports concentrate on what actually happened in the match but today I’ll leave Footymad to inform you of that whilst I’d like to concentrate on the player’s performances because after 4 successive draws something is seriously missing.
Marc Richards is quickly turning into another Barry Conlon but without the great first touch.
A player of his height and build should be knocking opposition defenders around like Andy Booth does so superbly for Huddersfield.
Yes it’s not pretty but as Booth proved last weekend it’s highly effective and wins you priceless points.
In the last few games and evidently again today, he goes up for headers he hardly ever wins and a lot of the time he just stands and watches the defender head it away.
Today he seemed more of a hindrance than a help to strike partner Paul Hayes and the small signs of promise he showed early on this season have evaporated rapidly.
Tommy Wright won far more aerial duals in the 25 minutes he was on the field than Richards did in his 65.
Next up for some, maybe harsh criticism is Chris Shuker.
Top scorer this season maybe but he often runs into blind alleys down that right hand side and just cannot beat a man anymore. “Shukes” will always run and run for 90 minutes but you just feel there should be be more from a player with maybe the most genuine ability at the club.
Still we go back to today and with a goalless and fairly uninspiring first half, this really did have draw written all over it.
The second half to be kind was marginally better.
Martin Devaney saw far more of the ball whilst Hayes’ first touches were quality.
Nick Colgan then undoubtedly kept Barnsley in the tie after 57 minutes
Julian Bennett’s cross was met wonderfully by the foot of ex Man Utd youngster Mads Timm and he fired the ball towards the far corner from inside the area but Colgan somehow flung himself across to make a truly world class save.
Barnsley should really have taken the lead after 62 minutes
Devaney and Hayes combined down the left to send in a cross that ( on this occasion) was headed down on the by-line by Richards and from barely 6 yards the returning Stephen McPhail flicked his left leg at it, knocking it down against the ground and over the ball. All he needed to do was side foot home rather than dramatically flick himself at it. It’s not the first time he’s missed a chance like that!.
But after 74 minutes Walsall looked like they had taken ball number 29 in the fourth round when they took the lead from a breakaway. Mark Wright got to the ball before Paul Reid who first went to the ball and then for some reason stopped. He then slipped it through to Walsall’s new loan recruit from Nottingham Forest Kevin James. His pace broke through the offside trap and he coolly despatched the ball past the onrushing Colgan and into the far corner.
All Barnsley’s possession without a goal looked to have been punished again.
That was until the 77th minute.
Robbie Williams floated in a cross that Oakes could only half punch under pressure from Tommy Wright and Hayes stabbed it towards goal, Craig Pead looked to have got back to clear but he stumbled over the ball and it just crept over the line.
So another depressing draw for The Reds but we have suffered just 1 defeat in out last 17 games.
Chesterfield and Oldham’s results today have seen us slip out of the play-offs, but victory against winless away from home Gillingham will see us manoeuvre back into 6th. A mouth-watering fourth round tie would be nice to go along with it
Player Ratings:
Nick Colgan: Pulled off a world class save second half and came racing out of his area to save The Reds on a couple of occasions. 8
Neil Austin: Another 100% showing from “Aussie” His tackling was spot on. 7
Paul Reid: Another solid display from the skipper although why he stopped going for the ball that led to Walsall’s opener still baffles me. Booked. 7
Robbie Williams: So so close with a brilliant free-kick in the first half, never stopped running backwards and forwards. Subbed. 7
Dale Tonge: Broke up a number of Walsall attacks in a game where our defence played pretty well. Hassell could have a fight on his hands to get Tonge out of the team. 7
Martin Devaney: Again looked Barnsley’s best attacking outlet. His mazy runs and trickery often left Craig Pead in dizzy spells. 8
Jacob Burns: I might as well give Burns the same comments every week. Nobody runs, tackles or gives more blood, sweat and tears than this lad. 8
Stephen McPhail: Back in the team but had no impact whatsoever except for the absolute sitter he missed second half. Subbed. 4
Chris Shuker: You always know he’s trying his best but just couldn’t find a way through. Felt sorry for him today. 6
Paul Hayes: Glad to see him back in the starting line up. Again his goal will give him confidence although how the announcer could credit it to Wright most of the Oakwell faithful couldn’t understand. 7
Marc Richards: Big rival for McPhail as worst player on the pitch. Offered no threat and he should really have been substituted at half-time. Subbed. 4
Substitutes:
Tommy Wright ( for Richards 65) Again this should have been made at half-time. Wright really gave the Walsall defenders something to do in the air and his presence saw Oakes present the equaliser to Hayes. 7
Daniel Nardiello ( for Williams 79) Came on to make a three man attack as The Reds searched for a winner. Got in the way though more than anything. 5
Richard Kell ( for McPhail 83) After 6 months he finally made his first team debut. Didn’t have much time to make an impact but should some neat touches. 6
Unused: Scott Flinders, Nicky Wroe
Sponsor’s Man of The Match: Martin Devaney
Barnsley Boy’s Man of the Match: Probably agree about Disco, Burns is a close 2nd though.
FA Cup Third Round Results: Saturday 7th January 2006
Arsenal 2-1 Cardiff
Barnsley 1-1 Walsall
Blackburn 3-0 QPR
Brighton 0-1 Coventry
Chelsea 2-1 Huddersfield
Cheltenham 2-2 Chester
Crystal Palace 4-1 Northampton
Derby 2-1 Burnley
Hull 0-1 Aston Villa
Ipswich 0-1 Portsmouth
Luton 3-5 Liverpool
Man City 3-1 Scunthorpe
Millwall 1-1 Everton
Newcastle 1-0 Mansfield
Norwich 1-2 West Ham
Nuneaton 1-1 Middlesbrough
Preston 2-1 Crewe
Sheff Utd 1-2 Colchester
Sheff Wed 2-4 Charlton
Southampton 4-3 Milton Keynes Dons
Stockport 2-3 Brentford
Stoke 0-0 Tamworth
Torquay 0-0 Birmingham
Watford 0-3 Bolton
West Brom 1-1 Reading
Wigan 1-1 Leeds
Wolves 1-0 Plymouth
Coca Cola League One Results:
Chesterfield 1-0 Bradford
Oldham 0-0 Southend
Tranmere 0-0 Bournemouth
Yeovil 2-0 Hartlepool
Barnsley lie 8h in League One with 39 points from 25 games We are 3 points off the Play-Offs with 2 games in hand, 5 points off the Automatic Promotion Places and 13 points clear of the Relegation Zone
Next Up:
At Oakwell: Barnsley v Gillingham Coca Cola League One Tuesday 10th January 2006 Kick Off 7:45pm.
On The Road: Port Vale v Barnsley Cola League One Saturday 14th January 2006 Kick Off 3pm
Tickets: ( Note Admission is playable on the turnstiles only NO tickets will be sold from Oakwell) Adults: 18.50 Juveniles (16 and under): 8.50 OAPs ( 60 and over): 8.50 Students: 12. Student tickets must be bought from the Port Vale box office and a valid NUS card must be produced
Coach Tickets: 12 pound. The coach leaves Oakwell at 11:30am on the day of the game.
|
