5 positives from Cheltenham 0-4 Barnsley

As Barnsley went 6 games unbeaten with an emphatic victory away at Cheltenham on Saturday we take 5 positives from the game and the reds current form overall.

Reds becoming clinical

It is not that long ago that Barnsley visited Charlton and lost 2-0 despite having 23 attempts at goal yet only 2 were on target. That game capped off 3 miserable defeats in which no goals were scored.

By 5pm on Saturday, Barnsley had scored 4 goals at Cheltenham, the most in a game all season leaving them with an average 2.5 goals per game scored in the last 6 games. Manager Michael Duff said after the Cheltenham win “I am not sure we were superb. I think we were clinical”.

Whatever has changed since Charlton is clearly working. Long may those goals keep coming.

Goals throughout the side

Every club wants a 15-20 goal a season striker but they are hard to come by and expensive to purchase. Fans have rightly complained since the summer that Barnsley lack the firepower upfront to score their way to promotion. With James Norwood and Devante Cole both on 7 goals for the season in mid February that worry seems justified. Yet Barnsley look a better, more fluid side with that pairing upfront even if those two players are not prolific at scoring.

What has happened this season is that goals have been scored right throughout the side which is a positive trait to have instead of relying on one or maybe two players to get you the goals.

From Jordan Williams chipping in and a midfield having their own goal of the season competition between themselves Barnsley can score all over the pitch. Adam Phillips regularly pops up with a goal with Luca Connell and now Herbie Kane chipping in also. Trying to guess the Barnsley goal scorers each week is a tricky job and that is a positive mark of a side.

Best away form in League One

The table tells its own story, Barnsley are top of the away form table in League One. Whilst the reds have played more games than second placed Sheffield Wednesday it is pleasing to see Barnsley having a positive goal difference of plus 10 which shows how difficult we have been to be beaten on the road. Michael Duff has tightened the reds up defensively and organised the squad after what was last season a debacle especially on the road.

Reds quick out of the traps

In this 6 game unbeaten run with the exception of Portsmouth away, the reds have scored early in games. Against Accrington, Oxford, Cambridge, Port Vale and Cheltenham the reds have started games at a fast pace making sure they dictate the play and get ahead early. This allows Barnsley to manage games better.

This is key given this season when the reds have conceded the first goal only twice have they managed to get anything from the game (Ipswich away & Portsmouth away). So the tactic has to be to score first as Barnsley tend to do better defending a lead than chasing a game.

Squad depth

With a positive January transfer window now behind them, Barnsley have cover in a number of positions. Harry Isted in goal has yet to put a foot wrong and is seriously challenging Brad Collins for the No 1 spot between the sticks.

Bobby Thomas has filled the hole left by Tom Edwards departure through injury with the back three looking solid as ever. There is cover for Jordan Williams in Barry Cotter and there are a number of forwards fighting it out for a starting place.

With Luke Thomas returning, Duff has plenty of options as the reds go into a tough set of fixtures against sides in and around them.

The midfield is settled with Connell and Kane some of the first names on the team sheet every week. Adam Phillips and Jon Russell are fighting it out for the other place in midfield and Josh Benson will have a fight on his hands to force his way into the Barnsley midfield once he is fully fit.

Barnsley will need all of the squad between now and May if they are to continue this promotion push. Hopefully as players return from injury, the reds can have a break from picking up niggling injuries that have plagued them most of the season.