Barnsley out thought & out fought Sheffield Wednesday

After Barnsley`s 2-0 away win at Sheffield Wednesday we analyse the key areas where Michael Duff`s side came out victorious against their local rivals. Here are five takeaways from yesterday's game.

Duff tactics spot on

After impressive back to back victories away at Bolton Wanderers and at home to Forest Green Rovers, The Owls were flying going into this local derby but Duff shot them down with his tactical masterplan which his players fulfilled perfectly.

By stopping Wednesday from getting up a head of steam, the reds dictated the pace of the game. By pressing all over the pitch, hunting down in pairs and winning the ball back with regularity the Owls failed to get into their stride.

Never allowing Wednesday space, the reds suffocated their hosts and broke up play well. Slowing the game down and playing it at a pace the reds wanted to sucked the life out of Wednesday and Darren Moore was left scratching his head with no idea how to swing the game his sides way. Duff 1-0 Moore.

Duff has his strikers upping their game

From getting James Norwood to make the perfect apology for his recent sending off by scoring straight from coming on to Devante Cole making runs he never has previously, Duff has his strikers doing their talking on the pitch.

Cole may never be a prolific goal scorer but under Michael Duff he is putting "sweat on the shirt" and making runs he never previously did. In the build up to the opening goal, Cole made the run into the box and finished with aplomb, a run he would not have done in the past. He has an awareness to go seeking the final ball in the box and chases down defenders on the ball putting them under pressure, another positive trait from this season.

Whilst James Norwood is far from full match fitness and his ears ringing from his managers anger at his needless sending off in the cup game with Lincoln City, he showed everyone why he is a good goal scorer. Seconds after coming on as a second half substitute, Norwood headed Barnsley into a two goal lead after a superb Connell corner. Duff explained afterwards that Norwood is still not fully fit after arriving at the club late but Norwood did his apologising to his manager, team mates and supporters the best way by scoring.

Players buying into their manager

Michael Duff has achieved more in his two months at the club than Markus Schopp or Poya Asbaghi did in their time at Oakwell. He has the players onboard, something the previous two managers never did and they are buying into his playing style and his demands.

The way the players answered their critics after the defeat to Wycombe by battling for a point away at Ipswich and now being victorious at Hillsborough show they respond to their manager. Whilst it has been a bumpy ride over the opening weeks of the season, you can see the work being done on the training ground with the manager in how they implemented his plan on Saturday.

The resurgence in Josh Benson and Luke Thomas along with Devante Cole improving show how the players are responding to the hard work by the manager and his coaches.

A better final ball and the score line would have been greater

Time and again, the reds broke through the lines with Thomas, Connell, Wolfe carrying the ball deep into Wednesday territory yet too often either the wrong pass or a misplaced pass meant the reds chance had passed. In the second half, the reds were one final ball away from putting someone through one on one and had those passes been of better quality and you would have bet the reds would have scored more.

Whilst this did not come back to bite the reds, in tighter games this could become an issue. A little better decision making or calmness in key positions and the reds could have seriously embarrassed their hosts. Hopefully over time Barnsley will improve in this area.

Once again difficult to name a man of the match

Like in previous games at Ipswich, Leeds or home to Bristol Rovers it was difficult to name one player as man of the match as each and every player in red were superb. Barnsley are becoming a team. Instead of the club relying on one or two players to win them games, having one key danger man there are several in the frame for the man of the match award.

From Robbie Cundy who was colossal in defence to Liam Kitching who had a great game as left wing back, Luca Connell and Luke Thomas running midfield the whole side stepped up with 9 out of 10 performances. It is pleasing to see the team ethic coming through after such a horror show last season, something Duff has clearly worked on in pre season.

In summary

The reds out thought and out fought Wednesday all over the pitch. Supporters feared the away trips to high flying Ipswich and Wednesday after such a poor performance against Wycombe but Barnsley has shown what they are capable of and scored 4 goals away from home at two difficult places. What Barnsley and Duff have to do now is to turn this feel good victory into some proper momentum and dont fall flat at home to Portsmouth next Saturday. Consistency is key and we have seen in patches what this side can do, performing week in week out is now the test. Onwards and upwards.