The crowd was 1,300 down on the Northampton game, despite Bolton bringing 2,000. That tells you all you need to know about the faith of the Barnsley public. It’s a good job we have plenty of money though, as we refused to give Bolton any more tickets. That’s nearly 4,000 extra sales we’ve turned our noses up at. At an average of £15 a ticket, that’s £60k…plus whatever in pies and programmes. Just remember that when we sell MdG in the summer. All for some perceived slight advantage. That worked. (Maybe it did? Kept the score down.)
It was the same side as usual. Same formation. Same tactics. Jordan Williams part of a back 3. Kane strolling around centre mid. Devante Cole up top. Same old, same old. What’s the point? I’m hungry and Cole has gone down injured, so I go for a pie. I hear the cheer and I know – I’ve missed the visitors scoring. Apparently, it’s a sweet move ending in a cross bundled home from close range. And it’s offside. Sadly (!) we’ve yet to have VAR foisted upon us in division 3 (until the final, at least, where it will demonstrably not be used correctly) and the goal stands. I’ve seen it in replay, and the angle I’ve seen is inconclusive. But I can say it was no surprise, as Bolton were playing us off the park and we never had a shot that opening half.
Still, another inspirational half-time team talk from Coach Collins Devaney brings the expected result – we are 2 down within 7 minutes. It’s a disaster too, as the whole ground can see what’s coming. Despite an unkind bounce, Jordan is determined to head it back to the keeper. He knows it, we know it, and, crucially, their centre forward knows it. (Roberts knows it too, but doesn’t know where to stand.) The header is predictably short and the centre forward nips in to clip it wide, before crashing in to the keeper. For me, this is a simple coming together. I was actually surprised the ref gave a penalty. Where’s this VAR thing everyone’s on about? 0-2, though Roberts did get a hand to it.
By now, we are all over the place. Disco considers his options for a time, then receives the biggest cheer of the night for hauling Cole. On comes Cosgrove. Kane is hauled too (quelle surprise) for a 4th division loanee. In a play-off semi. That’s how bad it was. Suddenly, we have a player capable of winning headers and holding a ball up. Grant plays Cosgrove in and it’s 1-2! Bl**dy hell. We’ve half a chance here. A header from a corner (Phillips?) is tipped wide by a diving keeper. Bolton are penned in their own half but we’re unable to make further inroads. Still, a rare break needs Roberts to rescue us with a one-on-one save. Phew, still in it.
Then, in the 5th minute of injury time, The Trotters get a killer 3rd. A corner is swung in, everyone misses it, and it nestles inside the far post. I’ll say this: in a similar position, we wouldn’t have scored it, cos we’d be tippy-tappying down by the corner flag (see last game) trying to waste time rather than putting one in the mixer. Of course, Phillips was rugby-tackled. Of course, the keeper is obstructed. But I’ve seen it half a dozen times and Roberts is weak. He almost allows himself to be reversed into the goal. Besides, when was the last time you saw him come out and claim a corner? He wasn’t getting that. No, my ire is reserved for the other 9 Reds players, all of whom allowed a ball to pass through them and into the goal. I keep hearing folk say we do zonal marking down at Oakwell, but that’s not what I saw. Everyone goes with their man and completely ignores the ball. It was a fitting way to finish. We were dismal and Bolton deserved a two goal lead and more. The disappointment lay more in the MANNER of the goals conceded. All three had a claim to being chalked off. Together with the controversial last minute penalty equaliser they got at Oakwell 2 months ago, I am starting to really despise this bunch. EVERYTHING goes their way from the men in black.
Onwards and upwards!
*** Cosgrove. Coach Devaney even makes the same SUBS as Collins! I’d laugh, but I’m saving my facial muscles for something funny.
** Connell. Showed glimpses of his old form. Hopefully some scouts were there.
* O’Keefe. Outstanding 1st half, ‘marish 2nd.
Official MOTM: Cosgrove. Wasn’t even on the pitch for half an hour. I said it was bad.
Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Cosgrove 2. Connell 3. Phillips
Despatches:
Last Monday the club announced the POTY, Adam Phillips. Not bad, considering he didn’t appear till January. As this coincided with Devante disappearing, I have a theory that they’re one and the same player. Who here has ever seen Adam Phillips and Devante Cole in the same room? Exactly!
Aidy Marsh was young player of the year, while the players’ player of the year was Roberts, who hasn’t had a decent game since...? It is a low bar this year, as exemplified by us making the play-offs – all the decent teams got promoted last season.
Good to see some fight down at Oakwell too, though, sadly, it was youths in the Ponty reigning punches down on some fool who’d infiltrated our end. Beyond unseemly though was the sight of teens hanging over the gangway to spit at said individual as he was bundled out for his own safety. This is not what stewards, on a minimum wage, signed up for. Disgusting. (I don’t remember hearing an announcement about it; maybe this kind of behaviour is somewhere below besmirching the IRA and the Pope in the Oakwell pecking order?)
As for hopes and expectations…last season, you had to beg, borrow and scrape for a play-off ticket in the away leg. This year, they’re still on sale. Who’s up for the comeback of the century!? See you there.
Drink du jour: Leffe in Bramah’s.
Away: 2,159 (sellout). Don’t get me started.
The Damage:
£20 ent (+ £1 processing fee)
c.£8 petrol
£25 half price home shirt
£4.50 socks
£8 mug
£4.30 meat and potato pie
= c.£70.80
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