Before this match Barnsley right-back Bobby Hassell said the 4-1 win over Doncaster Rovers two weeks ago would mean nothing if the side then were beaten by "three or four" at Crystal Palace.
Well it was thanks really to the bleached blonde defender that the score-line wasn't more than that!
This performance in front of the whole country was as bad as it has been this season. Many fans see the lowest point as being the 1-0 home defeat by Cardiff in September. But at least then there were excuses. Muller and Anderson De Silva were both still missing through injury, Darren Moore was a liability at the back etc.
Yesterday at Selhurst Park though, Simon Davey had his best team out, it was the back four everybody wanted to see with Hassell at right back and Stephen Foster partnering Dennis Souza in the centre. Muller was between the posts and was at fault for all three goals. Anderson was in midfield and had an absolute nightmare. A player dubbed as one of the best in the Championship played like a pub player.
On this showing it really is not hard to see why The Reds have won just nine out of 52 Championship away games since being promoted back into the division in 2006. It is not difficult to comprehend either why Barnsley have just one goal and one point to show on their travels this campaign.
It was obvious very early on yesterday that a 0-0 draw was the best Barnsley could hope for.
From the first minute Palace (a side packed with youngsters) were all over The Reds like a rash. Hassell had to work overtime and produced three excellent challenges.
The only surprise was that it took 23 minutes for Palace to finally break through.
Maceo Rigters came very close to scoring for Barnsley when his diving header went straight at Palace keeper Julian Speroni. And then the Argentinean sent a tremendous kick up the field which left Victor Moses with Rob Kozluk and Jamal Campbell-Ryce for company.
It turned into a comedy of errors. Firstly Kozluk totally missed his kick and then the ball bounced up nicely for Campbell-Ryce to either nod back to Muller or put our for a throw-in. He did neither. For some bizarre reason he tried to control the ball on his chest. It bounced off it terribly and sent Moses in the clear. Muller came flying out and sent the young striker sprawling for a certain penalty.
It looked like Muller would walk and Luke Steele had begun to get ready on the bench. Referee Tony Bates saved further embarrassment though by only showing a yellow card. Ben Watson wasn't so generous as he coolly sent Muller the wrong way to give Palace a deserved lead.
It took the half-time break to wake The Reds up and immediately after the re-start they had their best spell of the game.
Diego Leon's free kick flicked off Stephen Foster and presented Rigters with another great opportunity but again he only found Speroni.
Campbell-Ryce and Rigters then combined brilliantly to tee up Anderson on the edge of the area but the Brazilian capped his woeful evening by side-footing high over the bar.
On 54 minutes, a lovely turn of skill from Iain Hume looked to have presented himself with a great opportunity but just when the Canadian international was about to slam the ball home, Palace defender Jose Fonte made a terrific last-ditch challenge.
That was to be it however as six minutes later Palace put the game to bed.
Nick Carle surged down the left wing but Anderson just stood and watched him without even trying to put in a challenge and the Australian midfielder pulled the ball back across goal where Watson thumped it home as Muller was far too late to react.
Palace were now toying with Barnsley and wrapped the game up on 82 minutes with Speroni again the architect. Another long punt up field by the keeper was missed by Foster and substitute ex owl Shefki Kuqi was left clear and lobbed the advancing Muller who collided with Kuqi and the ball dropped neatly into the net.
Only 200 or so fans made the trip to South London, probably thousands more watched at home. There will be one thing they all agree on this morning
Simon Davey's reign as permanent manager of Barnsley Football Club started with a home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday. If another ones arrives on Tuesday night that reign might end.
Player Ratings:
Heinz Muller: Poor game. Could have done better on all the goals. 4
Rob Kozluk: Did nothing wrong but didn't get forward nearly enough. 6
Dennis Souza: Struggled with Moses but kept going right until the end. 7
Stephen Foster: Made a complete hash of clearing the ball which led to the third goal. Struggled. 4
Bobby Hassell: The best defender by a mile. Made three crucial challenges to stop Palace adding to their total. Limped off though which is a major worry. Subbed. 7
Martin Devaney: Such a pointless player these days. Kept switching wings but had zero impact. 3
Diego Leon: Tried to get the team moving and looked good on the ball. Sacrificed as Davey went three up front. Subbed. 7
Anderson De Silva: Lets just hope it was one of those days. Has been amazing so far for the club but was atrocious last night. Challenges and passes were terrible. 2
Jamal Campbell-Ryce: Terrible error led to the first goal and struggled all evening. Went on a his trademark mazy runs but often had no where to go. 5
Maceo Rigters: Still looks short of match fitness which may explain why he missed two good chances. It was an improved display though. Subbed. 7
Iain Hume: Once again gave everything for the cause but was left feeding on scraps. 7
Substitutes:
Marciano Van Homoet (for Hassell 66) Played as more of a winger than a full-back on his introduction but couldn't put in a telling cross. 5
Jon Macken (for Leon 68) Will always work hard but when your desperate for a goal he just isn't the man to call for. 5
Kayode Odejayi (for Rigters 73) Probably brought on for his aerial presence but I don't think he won a single header. 4
Unused Substitutes:
Luke Steele, Hugo Colace (Should have been brought on in my opinion)
BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: It was an awful team display but at least Hassell stood his ground.
CRYSTAL PALACE: Speroni, Lawrence, Hill, Derry (Oster 76), Fonte, Carle, Moses, Beattie (Ertl 85), Ifil (Kuqi 74), Watson, Clyne.
Sub: Scannell, Danns.
Most Impressed by Crystal Palace's : Ben Watson: Ran the midfield and totally over-powered Anderson.
Ref Watch: Tony Bates: Should have sent Muller off but had a decent game. 7
Other Reports:
Coca-Cola Championship Results: Saturday 18th October 2008:
Bristol City 1-0 Norwich
Burnley 1-1 Birmingham
Cardiff 2-0 Charlton
Crystal Palace 3-0 BARNSLEY
Derby 2-1 Plymouth
Doncaster 0-0 Blackpool
Ipswich 2-2 Swansea
Preston 2-1 Reading
QPR 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Southampton 0-3 Watford
Wolves 2-1 Coventry
Barnsley lie in 22nd place in the Coca-Cola Championship with 8 points from 11 games.
We are 9 points off the Play-Offs, 16 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 17 points off First place and 2 points inside the Relegation Zone.
Up to and including 18/10/08
Next Up:
At Oakwell:
Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Twelve: Barnsley v Sheffield Wednesday Tuesday 21st October 2008 Kick-Off 7:45pm.
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
Following discussions with the Supporters Trust, it has been decided that tickets for this game will be sold on a category system as follows:
Category 1 - Tickets will go on sale at 9.00am on Tuesday October 7, 2008.
Season ticket holders (on production of Special Match Voucher A in your season ticket book) with TWO different away ticket stubs from the 2008-2009 season.
Or
Regular away supporters in possession of THREE different away ticket stubs from the 2008-2009 season.
Tickets will remain on sale to Category 1 supporters ONLY until close of business (12noon) on Saturday October 11, 2008.
Category 2 - Tickets will go on sale at 9.00am on Monday October 13, 2008.
Season ticket holders (on production of Special Match Voucher A in your season ticket book) with ONE away ticket stubs from the 2008-2009 season.
Tickets will remain on sale to Category 2 supporters until close of business (5.00pm) on Wednesday October 15, 2008.
Category 3 - Tickets will go on sale at 9.00am on Thursday October 16, 2008.
Season ticket holders (on production of Special Match Voucher A in your season ticket book) not falling into the above two categories
Tickets will remain on sale to Category 3 supporters until close of business (12noon) on Saturday October 18, 2008.
Category 4 - Tickets will go on sale at 9.00am on Monday October 20, 2008.
Centenary Society Members (Membership Card required) and Reds Saver Account Holders (Passbook required).
Tickets will remain on sale to Category 4 supporters until close of business (5.00pm) on Monday October 20, 2008.
Category 5 - General Sale
Any remaining tickets will go on General Sale at 9.00am on Tuesday October 21, 2008.
Tickets will remain on sale, subject to availability, until close of business (5.00pm) on Monday October 27, 2008.
Official Reds on the Road coaches will be making the trip to Doncaster. Coaches will depart Oakwell at 5.30pm on the day of the game and the fare is £9.00.
It cannot be guaranteed that sufficient tickets will be available for each category. Tickets will be sold subject to availability on a first come first served basis using the category system above and are restricted to one ticket per qualifying criteria.
It is strongly recommended that ALL supporters save their ticket stubs from ALL away and home games as appropriate. It is anticipated that in the event of any big games that tickets will be available as ONE per qualifying criteria (unless stated otherwise).
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