Barnsley FC Reports & News
1997/1998 Fixtures & Results..... Next Month
30th Derby (A) 0-1 : Our first away defeat of the season in
Derby's bran new Pride Park Stadium. So new infact that it isn't yet finished.
One corner of the stadium inside still to be finished and the car park to
be tarmaced.
Good start to the game again. We created a few chances and Hristov looking
lively. Derby set out there stall early on with many bruising tackles and
3 of there players were booked before one tackle too far on Darren Barnard
as he had to be carried off on a streacher. Sheridan took his place. He performed
admirably in the left back role but the reason we went out and bought Barnard
during the summer was all too apparent. He's got no pace.
The Derby Penalty came from a through ball down the Barnsley left. Leese
wasn't off his line early enough and he could only bring down Baiano. What
followed seemed a bit strange they took the penalty and it was saved
only for the rebound to be struck in. The kick had to be retaken though because
the Linesman saw some infringements by Barnsley players. How bizarre! This
time though Leese couldn't keep it out and we went in at the break 1-0
down.
In the second half we just didn't seem to be able to put the ball in the
back of the net. Liddell seemed to have an age infront of goal to pick his
spot but just blasted at the keeper. Redfearn also tested the keeper. Leese
kept us in the game making a couple of good saves. Most notably in a 1 on
1. Hendrie and Wilkinson were substitutes but neither were able to break
the blockade of the Derby defence. How we could have used something from
this game.
Still "WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE SAY WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE"
Leese, Eaden, Appleby (Booked), Moses, DeZeeuw, Redfearn, Marcelle(S), Liddell,
Tinkler, Hristov(S), Barnard(S). Subs Used Sheridan(Booked) , Hendrie, Wilkinson.
27th Bolton (H) 2-1 : First home win ever in the premiership and my
wasn't it close. If you are going down to Oakwell this year make sure you
take your supply of heart tablets because I don't think your going
to survive otherwise.
Hristov had his first start. As usual this season we set off like a traction
engine. Passes and pressure all over the pitch. We didn't have long to wait
for the first goal either. After 12 minutes a Redfearn free kick was met
at the far post by a running in free Eric Tinkler for his first goal for
the club. OOOO AAAAH ERIC TINKLER .Our first not from Redfearn this
premiership season.
Bolton came into it more after this. Watson made a brilliant save when Blake
was through one on one, but within 30 seconds while I was still off my seat
because of the save, he rushed out fo his goal too far and when Barnard couldnt
make a tackle Beardsley for Bolton slotted the ball over him into the empty
net. It's a good job he didn't save it with his hands though because he was
well out of his area and would surely have had to walk. Worse was to come
for Watson only a few minutes after. Jamie Pollock thought he had beat the
offside trap but the Linesman was dramatically late with his flag. Up it
went and half a second later there was a big clatter as Watson and Pollock
collided. Watson left the field on a stretcher, later discoverd to be concussion
which will probably mean a three week layoff.
One mans loss is another mans gain, and once again the old saying proved
true. Lars Leese got his first chance from Watsons misfortune. He seemed
to do quite well for his first taste of English football. Made some good
stop and had one terrific punched clearance from a corner in the second half.
He's left footed which caused a few problems early on for the passing back
of the defence but as the game got further on he seemed to settle better.
Shortly after the start of the second half we got the goal we needed and
Hristov got his first goal for the club. Barnard retrieved a long Eaden cross
and put it back in the box. Hristov running near post got to it just before
the keeper and placed it into the gapping net. GEORGI GEORGI GEORGI.
During the rest of the second half we let the wanderers come at us, not holding
the ball up, trying to play on the break. Chance after chance went begging
at both ends. Taggart hit the post when it looked like he could not miss
at all. Blake missed the ball when any sort of touch would have had it in
the back of the net and later still blasted it wide when he had time to shoot.
For us practically all of the front half of the team had a chance to put
it away. Hendrie one on on with the keeper. Bullock blazed past most of the
Bolton defence and did nothing with it from a week left footed shot. Redfearn
had an attempt blocked. Liddell ran his heart out as usual. All this close
football is the bad for the nerves but i'll take it.
Top half of the table above Liverpool, Leeds and Villa, who would have thought
it when "WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE SAY WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE"
Watson(S), Eaden, Appleby, Moses, DeZeeuw, Hendrie, Redfearn, Marcelle(S),
Tinkler, Hristov(S), Barnard (Booked). Subs Used Leese, Bullock, Liddell.
24th Chelsea (H) 0-6 : Well what can you say about a six goal
beating our first in the league by that magnitude since away at Newcastle
in April 1993. It wasn't that bad to start off with. For 20 minutes we looked
the most likely team to score. Barnard had the best opportunity early on,
following in his own poor cross getting a couple of lucky bounces he found
himself one one one with the keeper and only scuffed it into his outreached
arms. We created a number of other opportunities in the early part of the
encounter most falling the way of leading scorer Redfearn, none clear cut.
After the early period though it was all the boys in blue from London. The
first goal fell at the feet of Dan Petrescu on 25 minutes. A difficult long
cross found Eaden scrambling back only heading the ball to De Zeeuw who was
unable to control his clearance. Petrescu pounced rifling it inside Watsons
left hand post. Vialli looked as he was offside on the replay, but you get
no favours in this league. Barnard produced another chance a little later
a blistering shot which the Chelsea keeper could only parry over the bar.
That was as close as we came to leveling the game. Poyet found himself totally
unmarked on 34 minutes to knock in the second from inside the six yard box
following Watsons great save. On 44 minutes the game was sealed with a brilliant
piece of play De Goey to Di Matteo to Vialli to Goal. 3 touches the length
of the field and 9 seconds. Unbelieveable. Nothing at all could be done about
that one. Half time came just 20 minutes too late.
In the second half Chelsea put on a terrific performance. The youngsters
came on and just relaxed into the next 3 goals. It could have been more but
it wasnt, all 3 falling to Vialli. Hristov and Marcelle came on at half time
for Shedidan and Wilkinson, but to no availe but both showed enthusiasm Hristov
blasting over the bar on a snap shot but had some good touches. Liddell made
an appearance as a substitute for Hendrie.
There were definately some positives to be taken from this game though. The
biggest and best being the support being offered to the team from the ORA
stand. Brilliant. They kept going throughout all the second half. Well done
fans. Mark Magoo got his usual roasting and Wilsons praises were sang, It
was even suggested that Dennis Wise performs the five knuckle shuffle. The
two best songs though were the Monty Python "Always look on the bright side
of life" and with 5 minutes to go "7-6 Were gonna win 7-6". Lets keep it
going during the rest of the season folks. The other positives from the game
were Hristov showed that he isn't as bad as us wanting to buy Dowie makes
me feel and at least it was us losing 1-0 to West Brom in Division One because,
"WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE SAY WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE"
Watson, Eaden, Sheridan(S), Moses, De Zeeuw, Hendrie(S), Redfearn, Wilkinson(S),
Bullock, Tinkler, Barnard. Subs Used. Marcelle, Hristov,
Liddell.
12th Crystal Palace (A) 1-0 : "WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE" It was totally
amazing, our first points in the top flight. 3 down and only another 42 to
go. An absolute cracker from Redfearn in the 56th minute gave us the
points.
During the first half we seemed to have lots of the play and produced a couple
of keeper testing opportunities. The best coming from Super Johnny Hendrie
when he seemed to walk through the whole of the palace defence, took a swing,
and got a lucky deflection which almost carried the ball past the scrambling
Palace keeper. Wilkinson following in arrived just a half second too late
to open his account. Hendrie was also involved in our other best opportunity,
he crossed the ball to the far post where Barnard rushing in could not power
the header past the keeper and the ball was pushed wide for a corner.
During the second half the team tired from giving there all on a hot sticky
night. Gaps in the defence appeared from which Palace could have done better.
The Eagles new signing Lombardo never really got himself in the right
place at the right time. Palace the hit the Post and once the crossbar, the
ball hitting the deck a-la World Cup 66 but this time there was no Russian
linesman and the ball didn't cross the line. Time and again during the second
half Watson aquited himself admirably catching every cross (Cheered by the
crowd each time) and making a number of miracluous saves.
Well done lads, enjoy the victory you deserved it. "WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE
SAY WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE"
Watson, Eaden, Appleby, Sheridan, Moses, De Zeeuw, Hendrie, Redfearn, Wilkinson,
Bullock, Barnard.(Booked) Subs. Non Used.
9th West Ham (H) 1-2 : The day we had all waited for
ever for finally arrived. "WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE" The sun shone and red shirts
a plenty in the stands. Whenever you turned on the telly we were there, Look
North, Sky News, Sky Sports, Football Focus ,Match of the Day and the main
match on Radio 5 Live.
Dream start to the game shame it wasn't a dream end. Redfearn scored "a rare
headed goal" after 9 minutes. Only fitting really. Came from a cross
from the right by Eaden headed back accross goal by Wilkinson. The whole
ground went crazy. The radio reporters were drowned out apparently. The worrying
thing about that though was it was the only time we really gave the Hammers
keeper something to do. All the rest of the day things peted out at the edge
of the box or were blazed over or wide. I have to say I'm not surprised because
I was so nervous before and during the game I can't imagine how the players
must have felt. We must relax into it though otherwise its going to be a
long hard winter. We remained on top for most of the first half.
Second half was a different story though as West Ham changed things around.
Hartson eqaulised after Watson had one of his rushes of blood and came for
a cross that he had no chance to reach. Fairly even after that with neither
side really creating that much. West Ham then got the winner through Lampard.
Eric Tinkler made his first team debut along with midweek signing Darren
Barnard. Georgi Hristov also made his debut as a substitute as he came on
midway through the second half.
Watson, Eaden, Moses, De Zeeuw, Hendrie, Redfearn(1),Wilkinson (S), Bullock(S),
Shirtliff(S), Tinkler, Barnard. Subs Used. Marcelle, Hristov, Liddell.
