Since the disasters of recent years there has been a need to build slowly and surely and, for some, it wasn't being done quickly enough. I'm a naturally patient sort of guy as a rule so I was happy enough to wait. Thankfully our football club is run in the same sort of way, as evidenced by last week's statements about not spending all our windfall money too quickly. Some clubs would have gone out and splashed a few million on a couple of players by now. We could have done that, and ended up with a couple of highly paid journeymen and we would have soon been back to square one. That's not the Barnsley way any more. Brick by brick, season by season - build it on good foundations and it will last. I really believe that this is what we are seeing now. Even when some thought the club was sliding helplessly towards the Fourth Division under our previous manager I still believed that our fortunes would change for the better. They did, in spectacular fashion, and this week we are seeing the results of last season's progress. We're only twelve days into this new campaign and I, like most people I suspect, was a little bit worried that we might come up short. I'm not worried now. What a start to our home fixtures! If anyone thought it couldn't get better than last Saturday you had to be in the ground for the first twenty minutes last night. I really hope that the majority of the crowd were in for the kick off because we literally hit the ground running. From the first minute we were at QPR like terriers, harrying them, ruffling their peacock feathers and generally making sure that they had no time on the ball. I've seen frenetic starts to matches at Oakwell before but this was something new. There was speed of thought and movement, rapid and accurate passing movements and, just to emphasise that we can play these teams on equal terms, a brilliant opening goal inside four minutes. A perfectly flighted corner from you know who was neatly headed back across goal by Marc Roberts and Marley Watkins rose highest to plant it in the back of the net. It was inevitable that we couldn't keep that intensity going for the whole half and, sure enough, they got a foothold in the match and I was half expecting an equaliser before half time. They rattled the top of the bar with a free kick, but that was it. Only one team deserved to be in front at half time and we could have been more than 1-0 up. Ryan Kent unleashed a cracking shot which deserved a goal (keep it up Ryan, it won't be long before you get one!) and there were other near misses but we couldn't get a second. I was fully expecting Rangers to come at us from the kick off in the second half but was shocked that it was within the first minute. Their niggly centre forward Polter bought himself a penalty when he was allowed to run too far while wrestling with Roberts. The replays suggest a slight touch on his back but that was all he needed to go flying in the area and they had undeservedly got their equaliser. Another penalty followed in the 74th minute when James Bree blotted an excellent night for him with a rash challenge just inside the box. 2-1 and our heads could have gone down but we came roaring back. JFH moaned afterwards about the referee giving soft fouls against his team but it was poetic justice that another one just outside the area resulted in our equaliser. It was that man again who lashed an unstoppable curling effort into the top corner to send the home crowd into ecstasy! It might well have been a soft foul but they got their just desserts because they were yet another team coming to Oakwell intent on stopping us any way they could. There were so many blatant fouls committed on our runners but they somehow managed to share them around and avoid giving us a penalty. Conor made them pay though with that exquisite free kick which came only three minutes after their second goal. I could see us going on to win it now but didn't we leave it late! Tom Bradshaw was taken off after another hard working but ineffective performance and our new "super sub", Stefan Payne, came on to give them something else to think about. It wasn't his physical presence that undid them though. It was a moment of sublime skill. With the clock approaching 90 minutes Bree launched a hopeful high ball which looked like it might run out for a goal kick but we were having none of that. Josh Scowen made sure that their defender couldn't get to it by gently body checking him out of the way. The defender, naturally, fell to the ground appealing but this time, thank goodness, the referee didn't fall for their amateur dramatics. While Scowen checked back inside hoping for something to come his way, Payne executed a quite brilliant overhead flick to divert the ball back into the danger area. The lurking Scowen half volleyed a beauty into the roof of the net from point blank range and we all went bonkers again! There was still time for one of theirs to deservedly get sent off before we saw out the remaining minutes to secure a remarkable victory. Never mind the close scoreline. Just like Derby we deserved the points and could have had a couple more goals to show for it. QPR had plenty of skill but we had it too, and plenty more besides. I really, REALLY hope that we don't lose any of these players any time soon because it is quite clear that they are all playing for Barnsley. Not for themselves, but for the team. There will be more great days to come this season, and probably a couple of astute additions to the squad. Our near neighbours can only look on with jealous eyes. You have to feel sorry for them, don't you
As ever, having posted my report, I forgot that I was going to mention that I was concerned when D'Almeida came on. It looked like an admission that we were happy with the point and his defensive abilities would help us to secure at least a draw. I was wrong. Taking off a hard working, goal scoring forward was NOT the worst decision. For one thing, it saves Marley's legs for the weekend and, for another, it gave Scowen the chance to get more forward. That he did so with such a result borders on tactical genius on our manager's part. I can't make up my mind about Josh, to be honest. He puts himself about but I think he is struggling to be as effective this season as he was before he lost his place last year. That's to be expected though, with the higher standard of opposition. But what a goal! You could say he had no right to be where he was but what a fantastic winner. I'm sure Tom Bradshaw gave a wry little smile when he saw it fly into the net. Thoughts of "I could have done that", surely
For me it was yet another wonderful display from start to finish, for the second home game inside a week and again against a very good team. We're not perfect, but we never have been and never will be. Mistakes are made by players just as they are by people in other professions. That doesn't mean we should suck out the joy and soul from our performances. Thankfully, the vast majority of fans are enjoying and appreciating what we're seeing on the pitch. We've earned our right to play in the Championship and, so far, our performances are of Championship standard.
Another cracking report, POR, and a pleasure to celebrate a truly wonderful and gutsy performance by our lads by re-living it. I have to say I'm a huge Josh Scowen fan and I think he does a lot of the heavy lifting which allows Conor to be more effective. Josh is fantastic for a lad of his age at positioning himself so as to come away with the ball. He imposes himself really well but mostly stays just on the right side of conceding a foul. He works his socks off - and that in a team of hard workers. After two games like these you just can't wait for the next match to come along. If we do lose players, I'm confident the recruitment to replace them will keep on turning and that the coaching staff will continue to instill our style,methods and work ethic in whoever we put on the field. All this and it's Ebor Week! Innit grand?
There'll be no "joy sucking" done by me, that's for sure. We've both been around long enough to know that times like these are to be treasured, not criticised. Who wants a perfect football team that just wins all the time? No fun in that is there!
Thanks Orsen for your kind words. Think Josh is a cracking player as well and could develop into a valuable Championship asset. Watching these last two games it's easy to forget where most of these lads have come from. They're doing it quickly as well. All credit to every one of them.
I arrived 20 minutes late as a 2.5 hours journey from Cambridge took 5 hours due to traffic problems (set off at 3.00 pm)!!! There were still people queuing at the Box Office even after 8.00 pm. Thanks for the report, Prince - always enjoy reading them, even when I've been to the match.
Oh that's rotten luck but one of those risks we perpetual exiles have to endure. I've never been that late though and last night was not the night to miss any of it. I hope you get to watch a replay on Player because some of that stuff we played early on was breathtaking. Thanks for your complimentary words.
Thanks Selby - I try to keep it simple. As regards the true supporter bit, I definitely am one! I treat the good times and the bad times the same. It's all part of the fun.
I think scowen is doing well. 2 or 3 silly misplaced passes the only blot imho but so have several others such as mawson. He loves a tackle and mentioned this for saturday goin gto huddersfield in the derby. Wish I was gong but got stuff on. Be amazing to come away with our first away win of the season. We coudl be top 4 or better saturday evening if we did. Got everything crossed west ham loan fletcher to us for the season. if they did id be getting some money on top 6.
I'm not criticising Josh, really I'm not. I just think he is coming to terms with the higher class of opposition and I have no doubt he will be a stand out performer for us this season. He misplaces passes no more than anyone else but what I really like about his play is how he gets into the centre forward position nearly every game. For a little man he has a good leap and excellent heading ability. That goal last night was one of those things that will live in the memory. A cheeky flick over his head from Payne into Scowen's path. Josh didn't need to break his stride and what a fantastic smash into the roof of the net. That's how to give a keeper no chance. Never mind clever side footers. Hit it hard, hit it true!
Sums up everything I saw. Great report. Always liked JFH but he was a bad loser last night. His team were second best in all departments, other than cynical fowling.
Thanks John. I agree about JFH but it's what you would expect. You can't be going up to places like Barnsley and losing. That's just not fair. It's against nature. He should be demanding a re-match so that the correct result is achieved
