What a night, what a win, what an atmosphere.
The Super Reds beat local and promotion rivals Sheffield Wednesday 4 – 2 at Oakwell on Tuesday night.
The reds raced in to a two goal lead thanks to goals from Cole and Norwood in the first 12 minutes of the match. Wednesday pegged Barnsley back to 2 – 2 in the second half before goals from substitute Watters and Kitching sealed all three points for Barnsley.
Barnsley were good value for their 2 – 0 lead as they pressed their visitors from the off giving them no time on the ball and forcing them in to mistakes. Norwood set the tone brilliantly with his closing down and Cole and the rest of the lads followed his lead.
Inevitable when a team is 2 – 0 up they sit back a bit and Wednesday took control of the game for a large portion. The decision to sit back after the second goal was not an instruction from the bench but more of an unconscious decision from the players who automatically went in to protect the lead mode.
Bannan began pulling the strings for Wednesday but overall they were just a physical long ball team who are masters of the dark arts. They don’t play much football other than through Bannan but they are a big team so there is no reason for them not to play to their strengths. And they do get away with murder in terms of fouls that they commit that goes unnoticed by the officials.
The Reds weathered the storm for the most part and put their bodies on the line defensively with several last ditch blocks and a superb save from Isted in the first half. I must say that all three centre backs were tremendous. In particular the skipper Andersen who had his best game for a number of weeks just when it was needed. I agree with the sponsors choice of him as man of the match but felt Norwood and Cole would have pushed him close had they remained on the pitch for the duration.
I was slightly worried when first Norwood and then Cole were substituted. Both had run their blood to water but I felt that their replacements weren’t adequate when we were at 2 – 2 and in search of goal. What do I know? Watters finished superbly and along with Thomas pressed and added pace when they came on. He wasn’t on for long Watters but I can safely say it is the most productive I have seen him in a red shirt and it was a change from Duff that probably won us the game.
In the last few home games we have put 4 past Wednesday and Derby and 3 past Plymouth and Portsmouth. This is some team. We have goals all over the pitch and players who work their socks off and a manager who knows what he is doing and has instilled belief in to the players and possibly more importantly the fans who have created an atmosphere not seen for a long, long time.
I really do fancy us for automatic promotion the way we are playing. We have a week until the next game but then they come thick and fast which may be our only obstacle. Who knows, maybe this result will even dent Wednesday’s confidence and the title may still be to play for? I’d take second without a doubt and even if it is the play-off’s, I’m confident we can beat anyone over two legs and at Wembley.
COYR
