Aah, the smell of roast turkey in the air. Can you smell it? Nope, neither can I, but it seems our players must have thought it was Christmas the way they were giving out gifts of goals.
There were some similarities to the Burton game: the opposition having a player sent off then scored 2 goals with their 10 men against our 11. At least Barnsley didn’t score in 15 seconds, but did take the lead on 24 minutes when Jones and Okadina both seemed to be playing statues and Cole found himself in space around 8 yards to tuck the ball into the corner for their first shot of the game.
Before the goal Brophy had a shot which hit the post, and after their goal Smith had a tame shot easily saved. In added time a scramble in their goalmouth should have produced an equaliser, but somehow the ball was cleared.
Second half and U’s were well on top, forcing the Barnsley defenders to clear, and Collins made a good save from an O’Neil shot.
A high ball over the defence bounced outside their penalty area, Smith and keeper Collins both went to head the ball and their heads clashed. Smith was up fairly quickly, but Collins came off the worst, and after 10 minutes of treatment was able to walk off with a bit of help to be replaced by Searle.
Soon after as U’s continued to press Kitching tripped Knibbs and got a second yellow so was sent off on 68 minutes.
This seemed to transform Barnsley into world beaters, and all 10 outfield U’s players assumed they were the “extra man” so didn’t have to mark anyone, and after a Barnsley corner former loanee Cundy was able to loop a header over Mitov and into the far corner of the net for 0-2.
U’s did manage to get the ball into the net twice, but chances for Smith and Ironside were both ruled out for offside.
In stoppage time a long ball was not defended at all to allow Norwood a run at goal and he duly scored their 3rd.
A fairly even first half but if you don’t take your chances you are not going to win. I blame Knibss, if he hadn’t been tripped their #5 would not have been sent off, and we might have scored against their 11 players!
Barnsley looked a decent side, played the ball around nicely without really threatening until we started giving out presents! They were certainly good at the “dark arts”, and got away with some challenges that other referees might have carded them for.
Far too many individual mistakes, Jibril looks as if he needs a rest, so maybe an opportunity for Rossi to play alongside Jones. Our full backs were OK, but didn’t always get the support from the wide players in front of them.
I think Tracey and Brophy are best as wingers, but with 2 of O’Neil/Digby/May in midfield means they are pulled inside where they can do little damage to the opposition. I would have one of them out wide, and someone like Lankester or Worman in the middle for more creativity. Smith won plenty of ball in the air, but nothing came of his flick-ons, and looked to run in behind but was rarely spotted. Knibbs had little influence on the game apart from the sending off. Centre midfield worked hard but had little creativity.
About the only positives from the game were the nice weather, and the impecably observed minutes silence following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and the singing of God Save the King.