palexander
Life President
Just got back from Barnsley - great fighting performance from the team against a very rugged (i.e. dirty) Barnsley.
We started OK, though Barnsley had the better of it. After the opening exchanges, Gower had a shot that the keeper fumbled onto the post and it looked like we may be getting a foothold in the game.
60 seconds later, we are one down due to a poor header from Barrett that Hunt re-directed towards goal past the wrong-footed Flavs... 0-1.
The whole Barnsley sides gameplan seemed to be to rough us up and put us off our game. Some pretty solid challenges flew around that the ref ignored. One of Barnsleys big front-men totally clattered Flavs during a high challenge - the ref called him over and made an obvious gesture that this was his one and only chance to make that sort of challenge.
10 minutes later, exactly the same challenge on Flavs from the same player and NOTHING. We somehow scooped it out for a corner, from which they scored again. THe fans were going nuts and it was a terrible decision from the official who looked out of his depth.
HT and Gutts, Maher and Brush all in the ref's face but its too late.
We give the ref plenty of stick and then a massive show of support for the boys which must have helped in the half-time lifting.
We came out 2nd half full of fire and Barnsley cannot get going. Eastwood starts to run the show and combines well with Gower, Maher and the Goat to create a few decent openings.
The pressure eventually tells as Juppy's low cross is mis-hit by Goater but falls nicely for Gower to tuck home - 1-2 game ON!
Barnsley seem withdrawn to the outcome and we turn the screw. Finally Eastwood gets his moment, twisting and turning, he looks up 25-yards out and wrong-foots the keeper with an unstoppable shot into the opposite corner.
We looked the only winners, but with so much effort put in during the game, it was too much to nick it.
Cracking performance though and huge credit to the crowd (around 2500?) who sang their hearts out and I expect this to be mentioned in the interviews this week with managers/players.
Everybody played their part, but I thought Hunt was really poor today. He couldnt handle the rough stuff and only for a Sodje or Prior to have been fit!
Ratings:
1. Flavs - 7 - Did as well as he could against 2 6ft+ strikers.
2. Jupp - 7 - Got forward well and defended ok.
3. Wilson - 6 - Some good defensive work but never got into their half.
4. Hunt - 4 - Terribly non-commited performance.
5. Barrett - 8 - Complete opposite of Hunt, was dead on his feet at the end.
6. Bradbury - 8 - Quality performace of touch and vision.
7. Gutts - 7 - Battled well and took a few big challenges.
8. Maher - 8 - Again, dug in and battled well. Was the heart of the performance today.
9. Gower - 8 - Good attacking display and linked well with those around him.
10. Goater - 6 - Was a good target man today, though quicker legs would have seen him have a few good attempts.
11. Eastwood - 9 - Terrified Barnsley every time he got the ball and a great goal to boot.
So nervy still! A defeat for Huddersfield tomorrow though and we can go up next week in all but goal difference....
We started OK, though Barnsley had the better of it. After the opening exchanges, Gower had a shot that the keeper fumbled onto the post and it looked like we may be getting a foothold in the game.
60 seconds later, we are one down due to a poor header from Barrett that Hunt re-directed towards goal past the wrong-footed Flavs... 0-1.
The whole Barnsley sides gameplan seemed to be to rough us up and put us off our game. Some pretty solid challenges flew around that the ref ignored. One of Barnsleys big front-men totally clattered Flavs during a high challenge - the ref called him over and made an obvious gesture that this was his one and only chance to make that sort of challenge.
10 minutes later, exactly the same challenge on Flavs from the same player and NOTHING. We somehow scooped it out for a corner, from which they scored again. THe fans were going nuts and it was a terrible decision from the official who looked out of his depth.
HT and Gutts, Maher and Brush all in the ref's face but its too late.
We give the ref plenty of stick and then a massive show of support for the boys which must have helped in the half-time lifting.
We came out 2nd half full of fire and Barnsley cannot get going. Eastwood starts to run the show and combines well with Gower, Maher and the Goat to create a few decent openings.
The pressure eventually tells as Juppy's low cross is mis-hit by Goater but falls nicely for Gower to tuck home - 1-2 game ON!
Barnsley seem withdrawn to the outcome and we turn the screw. Finally Eastwood gets his moment, twisting and turning, he looks up 25-yards out and wrong-foots the keeper with an unstoppable shot into the opposite corner.
We looked the only winners, but with so much effort put in during the game, it was too much to nick it.
Cracking performance though and huge credit to the crowd (around 2500?) who sang their hearts out and I expect this to be mentioned in the interviews this week with managers/players.
Everybody played their part, but I thought Hunt was really poor today. He couldnt handle the rough stuff and only for a Sodje or Prior to have been fit!
Ratings:
1. Flavs - 7 - Did as well as he could against 2 6ft+ strikers.
2. Jupp - 7 - Got forward well and defended ok.
3. Wilson - 6 - Some good defensive work but never got into their half.
4. Hunt - 4 - Terribly non-commited performance.
5. Barrett - 8 - Complete opposite of Hunt, was dead on his feet at the end.
6. Bradbury - 8 - Quality performace of touch and vision.
7. Gutts - 7 - Battled well and took a few big challenges.
8. Maher - 8 - Again, dug in and battled well. Was the heart of the performance today.
9. Gower - 8 - Good attacking display and linked well with those around him.
10. Goater - 6 - Was a good target man today, though quicker legs would have seen him have a few good attempts.
11. Eastwood - 9 - Terrified Barnsley every time he got the ball and a great goal to boot.
So nervy still! A defeat for Huddersfield tomorrow though and we can go up next week in all but goal difference....
