We have not beaten Barnsley since 1998 and we have not kept a clean sheet in the League since the opening day of the season, so to do both yesterday was something to be happy about. As the old cliché goes, football is a ‘results business’ and we got the result we wanted – a win. I remember saying just before the Forest game that after it we would have played 6 of the 7 top teams. Looking at the League now we have only played 2 of the 6 teams above us – so tight is this division and so quickly do things change. I am sure we would all have settled for being in7 place and only 5 points behind the leaders going into this mini break , especially considering we have had severe injury problems with 2 of our first choice midfielders and our star man out injured. So for all the above reasons I am reasonably happy today. Having said that almost everything about yesterday was pretty dire. The recession / Bates is really starting to bite as a mere 22k turned up for Barnsleys cup final ! Those that were there were very subdued throughout and there was nothing on the pitch to excite or entertain us. The highlight was the cool and audacious penalty by Becchio – miss it like that and you look a total tool, but score and even Mr W has to be impressed. When I heard the team news I thought it was going to be a straight swap – the more defensive minded Drury, useful away from home, being replaced by the more attacking White, more use at home. Instead for some bizarre reason Colin decided to swap people around with Peltier being moved to left back and White on the right hand flank with Byram moving backwards to right back. It did not work and we were getting overrun and outplayed. We almost went behind but a woeful sidefoot from in front of the penalty spot was put wide – he should have scored. That was their only real clear cut chance all game apart from a very late scramble when Paddy pulled off a great point blank stop. We on the other hand managed to conjure up a goal and one long shot from Austin that was easily saved. Others have seen the penalty and confirmed it was outside the box, but I do agree with Rich in that it was one of those cynical fouls where the man with the ball is going places and is just ‘taken out’ that does indeed deserve a penalty. To be fair to Colin he realised the first formation was not working and he changed it to 3 centre halves and 2 wing backs and we steadied the ship. The game was lacking in quality and entertainment throughout from both sides, and if there were any of the famed ‘neutrals’ in the ground I would be surprised if they stayed to the end. Somehow the ref managed to play 4 minutes at the end of each half – did we really deserve this match to last 98 minutes? I don’t think any player really did themselves justice yesterday – recent heroes, Austin and Byram both looked tired, and the number of games in a short space seemed to have caught up with Brown and Tonge. With those 4 players all out of sorts it was no wonder we did not create anything of note. Norris did look decent and lively when he came on and it was nice to see Green back in contention with a place on the bench. So a disappointing game but a good result. Before the games against the 3Bs – Bristol, Bolton and Barnsley I am sure we would all have been happy enough with 5 points so to get 7 is a bonus, even if we did not necessarily deserve them all. We are in touch with the play offs and even automatic promotion and whilst both remain a pipe dream without investment in the team, the takeover is still viable it seems and if we can continue like this until the January window this may still be our season _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected]
PETE CASS (1962 - 2011) Rest In Peace Mate
