Why Barnsley fans should be proud of this seasons achievements so far

After the initial disappointment of last nights bore draw at Lincoln City, I stepped back and took stock of where Barnsley are with just four games of the regular season left.

Tuesday nights 0-0 draw at Lincoln was far from pleasant on the eye from either side. I would go as far to say that the hosts were happy from minute one with a 0-0 full time score line. The Imps are the draw specialists in League One and tough to beat. Their recent form shows us that with three wins (one at Plymouth) and a draw at Sheffield Wednesday.

From the outset, Lincoln were compact and happy to try to hit Barnsley on the break. Despite the reds having much of the ball in the game, nobody really did much with it and supply to James Norwood and Devante Cole was almost non existent. Herbie Kane and Luca Connell had plenty of touches but their radars were off all game and never really cut the hosts defence open.

Distribution from the back was also poor with Liam Kitching`s usual long diagonal ball being often over hit into touch. Bobby Thomas was also guilty of mis-placed passes and missed from two yards out in the second half when it was easier to score. Neither wing back really penetrated the Lincoln rear-guard so the reds opted far too often for long aimless balls upfront.

Adam Jackson in the heart of the Lincoln defence stood tall all game winning everything in the air, he was colossal and up for the aerial battles all game. Barnsley played into Lincolns hands by going long and once again away from home, the reds had no Plan B to open sides who have a game plan to stop their midfield for opening them up.

82 points with four games left

Now we have put to bed the negatives of last night's performance we really should take stock of where Barnsley are under Michael Duff.

Prior to the new season starting most supporters were disillusioned about the reds chances in League One this year with many fearing a double relegation or at least a lower half finish. Is it any wonder when fans witnessed some of the worst football played by a reds side last season for many a year? Then the fractious relationship between board and supporters whilst Paul Conway was in the building and in charge of recruitment which drove a wedge between the fanbase and the club. Many fans decided to turn their backs on Oakwell on a Saturday afternoon given what was happening at the club.

There was plenty of talk of a “transitional” season given the comings and goings in the dressing room with the better players in the squad inevitably being sold off and a number of loans and free agents replacing those household names. No one knew too much about new manager Michael Duff other than he worked miracles at Cheltenham with a very limited budget hence people waiting and seeing how the season would play out with expectations low.

Pride in Duff and his players

So to be sat comfortably in 4th place 9 points ahead of Peterborough, 10 points clear of Bolton and Derby and a confirmed play off spot with time to spare, we can all be proud of what the players and coaching staff have achieved in a short space of time.

This season most would have expected Peterborough to mount a serious title challenge given Grant McCann had been given the end of last season and a full pre-season to assemble his squad with some good players within it. Once Derby were saved from extinction and able to sign the calibre of player they did in the summer, they were always peoples favourites for a title charge. Throw in Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday with their budgets this was always going to be a tough season to even get into the top 6.

At the start of the season, I predicted Barnsley would ultimately miss out on the play offs and finish somewhere between 7th and 10th which would have been seen as a good first season for Duff.

To still be in the hunt for an automatic promotion spot (albeit slim now after last nights draw) Duff and the players have worked wonders. To win 25 games, 8 in a row at Oakwell and a positive goal difference of 36, supporters should be rightly proud of their teams achievements even if the reds do not end up being promoted by the end of May.

We hope that Duff can fix the recent poor away performances between now and the play offs because Oakwell has become a fortress and no side will fancy their chances against the reds when they play to their full potential.