It looks like it will have to be the FA Cup again doesn't it? As a poor, blunt display at League One Crewe, saw Barnsley's hopes of a Carling Cup run ended before they had even started.
Reds boss Simon Davey promised a strong line-up and he duly delivered. But if this is the strongest side we have got, it will prove to be a long hard season.
Dutch striker Maceo Rigters scooped the Golden Boot award at the European U21 Championships last year but he left his shooting ones at home last night at Gresty Road. His first start since joining on a season long loan from Blackburn delivering very little. People can moan that the service to him wasn't up to much, and they would be right, but Iain Hume impressed greatly and the poor quality balls were just the same for him.
As you would expect in a Championship v League One tie, Barnsley had the lions share of possession throughout the game and apart from having to pick the ball out of his net twice, goalkeeper Luke Steele had very little to do.
But whichever of Davey, Ryan Kidd or Kelham O'Hanlon told the Reds midfielders and defenders to send high long balls up to a strike-force barely over 5ft 5" needs to seriously look at their methods.
Due to this bizarre ploy both Rigters and Hume had to fight for any scraps they could get. Whatever happened to that lovely footballing side that won promotion from League One just two years ago?
Steele was called into action after just three minutes to turn away an effort from Crewe's Bryon Moore, a player who caused panic all night and his namesake caused the damage for The Reds for the second time in a week on 14 minutes.
Tom Pope surged into the area and the lumbering Darren Moore, totally beaten for pace, simply clattered him over for a penalty. One which was just despatched into the corner by Michael O'Connor despite Steele getting a hand to it.
Darren Moore could well go down as one of Davey's biggest duds. At 34 years old he is simply a liability against anybody with a bit of pace and quickness as has been identified with him giving away two penalties in two games. Quite simply we have signed Moore about five years too late!
The Reds were nearly straight back on level terms when Diego Leon (The Reds best performer on the night) curled a lovely free kick towards the top corner that Crewe keeper Steve Collis did brilliantly to tip onto the top of the crossbar and then after half an hour, Martin Devaney's cross found Leon again in space but the little Spaniard dragged his effort inches past the far post..
Six minutes later The Reds task got even harder.
Crewe quickly broke and Byron Moore surged away and was sent sprawling by a poor, ill-timed challenge from Rob Kozluk and Anthony Elding confidently smashed home the penalty.
The second half belonged to Barnsley. Stream after stream of endless crosses were flown into the Crewe area but towering centre half Julian Baudet seemed to deal with them all and even when he was found wanting his team-mates helped him out.
Brian Howard's free kick on 52 minutes caused confusion and the ball dropped perfectly to Leon a few yards out but his effort smashed off a posse of Crewe defenders.
The Reds had a decent shout for a penalty of their own ten minutes later when Rigters appeared to be pulled back by Baudet but the referee (who had a poor night apart from the rightful award of Crewe's penalties) waved play on.
Substitute Kayode Odejayi was even denied what would have been his finest Barnsley goal so far with eight minutes remaining.
Leon was fouled on the edge of the area, but the ball broke to Miguel Mostto who teed Odejayi up lovely for the big Nigerian to curl his effort into the bottom corner. Amazingly referee Taylor pulled the ball back for the foul on Leon!
It just wasn't Barnsley's night and after witnessing this performance I feel we might be saying that quite a bit this season…
Player Ratings:
Luke Steele: Had very little to do, was desperately unlucky not to save the first penalty but had no chance with the second. 7
Rob Kozluk: Had a good game apart from one silly rash tackle to concede the second penalty. Booked. Subbed. 7
Darren Moore: Could cost us any success this season. Another clumsy challenge to give away a penalty and whilst not much beats him in the air, on the ground he's a massive worry. 5
Dennis Souza: Calm display and tried to mop up for Moore. 7
Stephen Foster: Out to impress against the side where he made his name. Got forward whenever possible. Booked. 6
Diego Leon: Barnsley's best player by a mile. Skilful, incisive. Crewe couldn't handle him, especially in the first half. Booked. 8
Brian Howard ©: Surprised he's still here really. Failed to motivate his team-mates in actions or words. Time to hand over the armband? 6
Bobby Hassell: Took him about six passes to find a team-mate. Struggled massively in midfield again. Subbed. 5
Martin Devaney: Another one who kept giving the ball away. Improved in the second half though and was a constant thorn on the flank. 7
Iain Hume: Along with Leon, the only one who looked remotely interested. Tried his hardest to get things moving. Has the makings of a fan favourite. 7
Maceo Rigters: Service was poor but unlike Hume did not work hard enough to create chances. Subbed. 5
Substitutes:
Jon Macken (for Hassell 62) Davey went three up front and Macken as always worked his socks off. Went close with one effort that just dropped wide. 7
Kayode Odejayi (for Rigters 68) Davey went four up front! Denied a wonderful goal by the referee. Seems to have lost a few pounds during the summer. 7
Miguel Mostto (for Kozluk 80) Davey went five up front! Teed up Odejayi for the disallowed goal but not enough time to make an impact with the game already gone. 6
Unused Substitutes:
Kyle Letheren, Robert Atkinson, Jacob Butterfield, Jamil Adam.
BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Diego Leon: The only real creative force. Had Barnsley's best chances.
CREWE ALEXANDRA: Collis, Woodards, Jones, Baudet, O'Connor, Elding, Grant (Schumacher 71), McCready, Moore, Pope, Bailey.
Subs: Legzdins, O'Donnell, Abbey, Miller, Daniel, Clements.
Most Impressed by Crewe's: Bryon Moore. His pace and skill frightened the life out of the Reds defence.
Ref Watch Mr A. Taylor: Got the penalties right, but made some other woeful decisions. 6
Other Reports:
Carling Cup First Round Results Tuesday 12th August 2008
Bournemouth 1-2 Cardiff
Brighton 4-0 Barnet
Bristol City 2-1 Peterborough
Bury 0-2 Burnley
Charlton 0-1 Yeovil
Chester 2-5 Leeds
Crewe 2-0 BARNSLEY
Crystal Palace 2-1 Hereford
Dag & Red 1-2 Reading
Derby 3-1 Lincoln
Exeter 1-3 Southampton
Gillingham 0-1 Colchester
Grimsby 2-0 Tranmere
Hartlepool 3-0 Scunthorpe
Huddersfield 4-0 Bradford
Ipswich 4-1 Leyton Orient
Leicester 1-0 Stockport
Luton 2-0 Plymouth
Macclesfield 2-0 Blackpool
Millwall 0-1 Northampton
Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 Norwich
Notts County 1-0 Doncaster
Preston 2-0 Chesterfield
Rochdale 0-0 Oldham (Oldham win 4-1 on pens)
Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 Rotherham (Rotherham win 5-3 on pens)
Shrewsbury 0-1 Carlisle
Southend 0-1 Cheltenham
Swansea 2-0 Brentford
Swindon 2-3 QPR
Walsall 1-2 Darlington
Watford 1-0 Bristol Rovers
Wolves 3-2 Accrington Stanley
Next Up:
At Oakwell:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Two: Barnsley v Coventry City, Saturday 16th August 2008 Kick-Off 3pm.
Tickets:
East Stand and West Stand Upper Tiers
Adults £22.00
OAP/Juvenile £13.00
Juveniles (U11) £7.00
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 Three: Birmingham City v Barnsley Saturday 23rd August 2008 Kick-Off 3pm:
Tickets:
The Reds will receive an initial allocation of just under 1,000 tickets for the game, priced at:
Adults: £27.00
Senior Citizens (Over 60): £15.00
Students (With Valid NUS which must be shown at the turnstiles): £15.00
Juveniles (Under 16): £15.00
Juveniles (Under 12): £7.50
Official Reds on the Road coaches will be making the trip to St Andrews Stadium. Price: £13. The coaches leave Oakwell at 11.30am on the day of the game.
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