I was there, just got back to my brothers who lives locally now. We didn't turn up first half, played to many long balls to nowhere that were getting caught in the wind. Barnsley were well worth their lead and could easily been further in front. Although the goal they did score was very poorly defended, all our defenders seemed to assume it was rolling wide. After the break we were much better playing it on the floor and looked dangerous, albeit wasting some good opportunites. The Barnsley second was a free kick that was a little against the run of play but that kicked us into action and we could easily have won it if McGoldrick had got a touch on to a Hunt shot across goal; after that we seemed to settle for defending the point and went back to the long balls. Player ratings: Gerken - 5 - Ok goalkeepeing performance, but some very poor distribution. Cresswell -6 - Didn't do a lot wrong, but didn't do much good either. Smith - 6 - Not much to say really, have to be honest i didn't notice him much. Berra -6 - Relatively solid at the back, and helped cover the RB position when Chambers cut in Chambers - 5 - Seemed to drift inwards a lot Tabb - 4 - seemed weak on the ball and didn't provide anything going forward, just anonymous in the middle. Skuse - 6 - Possibly one of poorer games but did the simple balls well and kept us ticking, appeared to be have to control the midfield by himself much of the game Hunt - 8 Lively all game and provided our attacking threat, and endevour. Ran at the Barnsley defence and got them worrying Nouble - 5 - Nothing stuck to him and seemed ineffective, but his hustling and bustling did provide some of the few half chances we had in the first half. Murphy - 6 - Much better in the second half. McGoldrick - 7 - one of our better performers, especially in the second half when we had ball on the ground. Anderson - 6 - Having him attacking on the opposite wing really help pull the Barnsley defence across the pitch and gave us a lot more options in attack, although he didnt do anything spectacular. Green - Noticed him coming on, not much else - but better than Tabb.
I had a great day out up at Barnsley yesterday. I met up with some old Barnsley mates of mine that I first met in a pub after that glorious Play-Off final victory back in 2000! A small group of Barnsley supporters were in a pub drowning their sorrows and a few of us Townies went over to them and got talking and we've been great mates ever since! We agreed from that day on that we would attend all the Barnsley Vs Town fixtures together as a group home and away. The Barnsley fans are very knowledgable about their football, they have no airs or graces, they are very warm and friendly but they are as tight as a ducks chaff! Only kidding! I was sat with my mates in the Barnsley home stand (their version of the Sir Bobby) and there was good banter between us throughout. The Barnsley crowd are still very warm towards our Mick as he is Barnsley born and bred and played for them for 6 years. As for the game itself there is no doubt whatsoever that we should have won the game and even my Yorkshire mates acknowledged that! We weren't great first half and resorted to mainly lumped balls up the park. Barnsley deservedly took the lead and could have had a couple more but as the game wore on we grew into the game and we ended the first half strongly. Second half I thought we dominated for long periods and their second goal was very much against the run of play. I was absolutely delighted with our response to going down 2-0 and we battled back to snatch a fully deserved draw. The Barnsley faithfull were of course cursing their luck but they knew deep down that we should have won in the end and that a draw was a little flattering on them! A special mention for Berra as I thought he was excellent again! THe best Centre Back we have had here since Jason De Vos imo! Gherks had a bit of a mare as I think he was culpable for their 2 goals (may be a tad harsh on him) but his kicking was poor. Skuse was quietly efficient and Hunty gave everything. Tabb was very poor and ineffective and Murphy was annonymous first half mainly due to where he was being played! You might think it was another 2 points squandered but given the context of the game and us being 2 down with 15 minutes to go, I think it was a very good point gained! In the context of the league not a great deal has changed and we now move on to the visit of Blackpool next week.
The ball for their first goal was rolling wide until it got hit by the gale that was blowing through the gap between our stand and the stand on the right as we looked at it, I dont know who was more surprised, our defenders or O Grady, there didnt appear to be any danger thats why nobody moved to shepherd it out of play. Overall a point is well deserved as we were by far the better side but it could have been 3 if Hunt hadnt missed when it seemed easier to score. The mystery as to why MM continues to start with Nouble continues to baffle everyone I speak to, no movement, no on the ball skills, no threat, and it seems no football brain, of course it could be just coincidence that we improved no end as an attacking force after he was subbed bit I doubt it somehow, I think possibly hes playing in a division above his level and thats why he struggles to make an impact.
