Exeter loss brings realism to Oakwell

As manager Michael Duff said after yesterday's defeat, there should be no knee jerk reaction. There needs to be some realism given the last time the reds lost a league game was back on 20th August. You shouldn't think you have cracked it when you're winning so don't get too down after one poor performance.

Whilst the performance from the first second to the last was woeful in every way, fans need to take a step back and think about the journey Barnsley have been on under Duff so far. We currently sit 5th in a league where anyone can beat you. Looking at some recent results, Bolton have lost two games on the road at Cheltenham and Forest Green. Portsmouth failed at home to beat Fleetwood and the reds have dropped points at home to two promoted sides in Port Vale and now Exeter City. There will be bumps in the road with a new management team and a new young squad.

Hindsight they say is a wonderful thing and once the unfortunate news came out of Oakwell after the final whistle that Luke Thomas suffered a double leg fracture in training on Friday it is quite possible that the whole squad was affected mentally by that news.

To a man everyone in red was off their game. Whilst I saw Herbie Kane getting stick for his lacklustre performance, I didn't see any of the substitutes cover themselves in glory either with none of them changing the game Barnsley`s way.

On the subject of Kane, I like many others would have thought yesterday was an ideal chance for him to take the game by the scruff of the neck and drive the reds on but he didn't. Reluctant to take responsibility with shooting and poor passing in the reds engine room meant the forwards never had any service. Kane`s midfield partner Josh Benson also failed to have any impact on the game and neither did Luca Connell when he came on in the second half. The scrutiny on Kane was justified but the same should be said for all the Barnsley players.

We (still) only have 2 fit defenders, so even with your lack of attackers you should get a few chances today. We’ll likely stay in our wing back formation. It’s a nothing to lose game for us, so would take a draw but good old #ecfc we could win 4-0 or lose 4-0! — Tom (@tom_ecfc) October 8, 2022

A word for the visitors who despite losing their manager midweek to Rotherham, executed their tactical plan to a tee. Duff said in midweek that Exeter worked hard and Barnsley would have to at least match their intensity to get anything out of the game. Their forward line scared the reds backline to death with even Mads Andersen making mistakes and Nicky Cadden failing to track opposition players back leaving them with time and space in our penalty box.

Both goals were superbly worked and executed making Barnsley defenders look like statues. On Saturday morning, I was conversing with an Exeter fan on Twitter who said that with only two fit defenders but nothing to lose his side could either lose by four goals and win by four. He was almost right as Exeter had chances to make the scoreline even bigger.

The hope now is Barnsley can learn from what went wrong against Exeter and respond in the right way next week at Bolton. The challenge for the players has to be to put another unbeaten run together. The Exeter defeat is just a bump in the road, one that Duff and these players can negotiate. It's how the reds react now that is more important.

Image courtesy Devon Live