Greater than what was left out was what was back. Hurrah for the return of Jordan Williams at right wingback, following injury. He was dominant, especially 1st half. Remember when we sold Brad Potts and got an even better replacement (Jacob Brown)? It reminds me of that. Britton (Brittain? Britain?) was poor last season, and to rob Blackburn of a million plus and replace him with Jordan is a great bit of business ‘IMHO’. (Can I say ‘IMO’. Why should I be humble about being right? There, I’ve said it.) After setting up Norwood early on (offside) he chases down a long diagonal from Kitching and hooks it back for an unmarked Cole to head home.
Back to Cadden, and he plays a huge hand in the second, killer goal, playing Tadic through on the left. Tadic only has the keeper to beat, but he squares it for fellow sub…(Christ, I’ll have to look up his name now, having got it wrong midweek…the Norwich bloke…) Josh Martin to tap into an empty net. Which is cue for me to once again regale youse with my favourite ever Barnsley miss….as Dire is clean through on the right….but instead of passing square for Sheron to have an empty net…goes for goal, cannons it off the far post and they go upfield and score. (We were beating Wolves and went on to lose). Sometimes, just sometimes, it pays not to be a greedy ba5tard and do what’s right for the team. And, may I say, with his runs, his intelligence, his pointing where players need to pass the ball…I thought Tadic looked better than our usual front two. Early days, but I look forward to seeing more of him.
Otherwise, it was a question of how many we’d get. Both Cole and Norwood crashed close rangers off the keeper from Cadden crosses, while Tadic had a one-on-one saved (though the run and holding off of the defender suggested better times ahead), while Kitching had one cleared off the line. Of course, as the game went on and we weren’t taking our chances, there were rumbles of the likelihood of a smash ‘n’ grab equaliser, but their only threat came late on as a consolation was ruled out for a foul on Collins. Easy.
Onwards and upwards!
*** Jordan Williams. Welcome back.
** Kitching. Defends, attacks….gets booked for sarcastic applause. What’s not to like?
* Cadden. Got up the pitch, got the crosses in.
Official MOTM: Connell.
Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Kitching 2= Jordan Williams / Cadden
Despatches:
I sat with Nozzer today, and was given a rundown of what makes Connell such a good player. (I’d been wondering). And it was true, he was much improved from last week, winning plenty of balls and laying off simple passes. But I defer to the yoof we overheard up the hill from Oakwell afterwards…’how the f*** did Connell get MOTM?’ At least the decision didn’t get booed, like midweek, though any standing ovation* was reserved for Jordan Williams, when he was subbed. We’ve missed him.
*what constitutes a ‘standing ovation’? I was standing, as were dozens of others, but way more fans remained seated. Does an ovation have to be a particular number? Or percentage? Or can one person standing up applauding count? Answers on a postcard, usual address.
Staying overnight, I also had the opportunity for more beers post-match. The town was mental, everyone wandering round in fancy dress for Halloween. Not being able to move for cleavage, we elected to leave new joint ‘The Old Tailor’s’ at the top of Regent Street for the basement of the Old #7 and 2 blokes shouting at each other about politics while Nozzer cringed in the middle. We know how to have fun.
Drink du jour: House Party IPA in Spiral City, Barnsley Blonde in Old #7.
Away: 189. If that.
Today’s take home: Can we play Forest Green every week?
The Damage:
c.£31 travel
= c.£31
The Tunes:
BBC5Live
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