Reds back on track against Forest Green

What is it that Michael Duff likes saying in press conferences? Not to get too excited when we are winning and not to get too low when we don't or something similar. After watching Barnsley finally create several decent chances, hit the back of the net and keep a clean sheet it can be difficult not to give plaudits in this blog post. Yet one win at home against a team who threatened very little isn't something worth shouting from the rafters about but yesterday was a step in the right direction.

Driving over a very wet, foggy and congested Pennines yesterday I did wonder how the game would go and the atmosphere inside Oakwell given the poor run the reds had been on. A convincing performance, 3 points and the punters go home happy. A performance riddled with mistakes and a frustrating draw or even worse, a defeat and Oakwell could have become toxic.

Not only were the players' confidence rattled in recent weeks, the supporters were once again turning their anger toward the players, the board and some incredibly (albeit on social media) toward the manager. Thankfully by 5pm Duff had a smile on his face punching the air in front of the Ponty end who were going home into the murky evening happier than when they arrived.

Team News

It was pleasing to see Jordan Williams return to the side and in a much more forward role on the right of a five man midfield. Many fans including myself had wanted a change in formation from the 3-4-3 of recent games which didn't seem to be working. A return to a five man midfield that had served the reds so well at the start of the season was a welcome move.

Although Tom Edwards has shown promise defensively filling in for Williams, he doesn't possess the attacking intent that Williams does. Although it was fair to say by 5pm, I counted several decent crosses whipped in by Edwards in that second half as the reds bombed down both flanks. On the left Nicky Cadden showed us what his left foot can do by putting in plenty of searching crosses, one which was on a plate for Norwood but somehow the ball stayed out of the goal.

After the game Duff commented on the change in shape “ We thought we could hurt them if we changed the shape, went longer, not playing in front of them all the time.”

The inclusion of Luca Connell also added more energy into a midfield that has come in for a lot of criticism of late which has been justified. As it turned out, the inclusions of Williams and Connell changed the whole dynamics of the reds with both worthy of the man of the match award with Connell winning that accolade from the sponsors.

Onto the game

The saying in football is it's a game of two halves which was true of the reds performance yesterday. The second half had more urgency, chances created and a better control of the opposition.

In the first half Jordan Williams' energy shone brightly and although some chances were created and finally scored through a header from Devante Cole (made by Williams) the reds stood off Forest Green Rovers and allowed them time on the ball. There was a lack of a press which allowed the opposition to play in the reds half although they created little in the way of chances.

Why do we always get rubbish referees?

With referee Bobby Madden wanting all the attention and appearing keen to give the visitors every decision there was always that seed of doubt in fans' minds that the reds would go on and get a second goal and put the game to bed.

How Rovers right back Bernard didn't pick up a yellow card for a couple of fouls in the first half when he left his mark on a Barnsley player I will never know. Yet Liam Kitching picked up one for sarcastically applauding Madden whose dummy fell out of his mouth upon seeing Kitching do that.

In the first half, Kitching stood out for his energy, willingness to pass and run forward. Whether he was pumped up playing against a side he played for who knows but the defender put in another great shift and was in the thick of it in the opposition box several times in the second half as Barnsley put crosses and corners in. He was unlucky not to score which would have rounded off a good performance for Kitching.

Whatever was said in the dressing room at half time clearly worked as the reds collectively pressured and pressed Rovers all over the pitch hunting them down when on the ball and we flung in many decent crosses from both flanks which was pleasing to see.

Chances were created and with a little bit more luck and better finishing the reds could have made the scoreline better reflect the domination in possession and chances.

How to solve the issue of Kane & Benson?

One downside is that Herbie Kane and Josh Benson especially in the first half laboured around and offered very little. Both play a similar game which does not help the team. Connell stuck out like a sore thumb in the middle of the pitch getting on the ball and quickening up the pace, passing forward and generally trying to get the reds up the pitch quicker. Kane and Benson are too laboured and were very ineffective certainly in the first 45 minutes.

Overall the reds ran out comfortable winners and this win should inject some confidence into the players. Tedic came on and had a hand in the second goal and should have scored himself as chances fell to him late on. He looks like a player who clearly needs minutes in him to get some consistency and maybe then fans will see what he can bring to the side. Duff alluded to this in his post match interview saying “Tedic deserves a lot of credit for that. He is in a foreign country, on his fourth loan in a couple of years, hasn't scored for a long time and missed a penalty recently. He could have been selfish but he squared it and put the game to bed.”

So Barnsley won a game they were expected to win but getting the three points have been hard to come by recently. Overall the reds controlled the game, kept the opposition at bay offensively and put them under a lot of pressure defensively especially in the second half. Sitting down near the front of the Ponty End I saw the Rovers central defenders absolutely blowing late on, which showed how much pressure they had been put under. With fresh legs in Tedic, Martin and Jalo running at them late on it was good to see Barnsley put the opposition under some pressure for once, something that has been lacking of late.

And finally...

Finally, it was nice to see Daniel Stendel come on the pitch at half time and speak to the fans. Rightly so, he received a great welcome from the supporters. Next week, it's the FA Cup for the reds and another trip to Bolton Wanderers. I suspect there may be changes to the line up like what has happened in the Papa Johns Trophy. Hopefully, the likes of Tedic and Jalo get game time and show us what they can do. Here's hoping it is anything but another boring game like a few weeks back.