Points over performance for Barnsley FC

Most weeks I sit down to record my thoughts on Barnsley`s game and find plenty to write about whether good, bad or indifferent. Yesterday`s win over Burton found me scratching around with what to discuss as the game was as dull as dishwater to watch as a spectator.

However, I have had a think and highlighted a few things that were positive from yesterday, so here goes.

Mads Andersen relished the physical duel with returning Victor Adeboyejo. Andersen never gave Vic the chance to haunt the reds. Looking at Big Vic and his build, he is a real unit and could give many defenders a tough time physically but Mads stuck to him like glue. Mads truly is one of the best centre halves in the league and that is not me saying that with rose tinted glasses on, it's a fact.

Andersen`s partner Liam Kitching continues to grow in confidence week on week. Remember last season how Kitching looked out of his depth, low in confidence and did not appear to do much right? This season we see Kitching bursting out of defence with the ball and his long diagonal ball over to the advanced Jordan Williams has resulted in goals for the reds on a couple of occasions. The reds opener came from the same diagonal with Williams taking it down comfortably and passing to the impressive Matty Wolfe before Devante Cole flicked the ball in to calm any nerves.

Talking of Wolfe who returned after a long spell out injured, slotted into an advanced midfield role really well. Although it will take him a few ga

mes to get up to speed, he never stopped running and was often in the middle of everything the reds did offensively. He was blowing out of his backside just before the hour, which is to be expected. Wolfe is returning at a key time for the reds, we just hope he can stay fit as he offers the reds so much energy in the middle of the park.

Nicky Cadden has such a sweet left foot. Once again we saw him swing such dangerous crosses into the opposition penalty areas. Surely Barnsley should be scoring more goals from these crosses?

Post match Michael Duff welcomed Devante Cole`s tap in goals. Strikers are ultimately judged on their goal return and Cole has really upped his game this season, he is likely to end the season with his best goal tally in a season. Whilst it is encouraging seeing Cole run at defenders, we want him in the box sniffing out chances and that is what he did yesterday.

The victory over Burton was the reds 5th league win in a row. Earlier in the season, Barnsley could have dropped two points struggling to break down a side who sat deep making the reds work to open them up. Nowadays, there is confidence and patience in the side and the reds did a professional job to win the three points.

Yesterday was all about the points and not so much the performance. We go into two winnable games over Christmas and with two games in hand sitting nicely in the play off places.

This blog post is the last before Christmas. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope you have some great time with family and friends. Here's to a successful Christmas schedule for the reds.