Its surprising how entertaining bad football can be. The first half was
a laugh in the way that pantomimes can be a laugh. Lots of dreadful
slapstick stuff but enough highs and lows to keep you interested. The
second half, by contrast, was simply shite - the only moment of any
interest being Heath's disallowed goal - I couldn't see anything on the
replays, but the whisper on The Championship was a foul on the keeper as
the kick was taken - I reckon you had to look long and hard to see that.
For the full 90 minutes the passing and control was possibly the worst
seen this season, from both teams. The number of passes that were
mis-controlled was truly mind-numbing, and the number of hospital balls
played to team-mates beyond belief. The two on the park who could pass
and control, therefore stood out like shining beacons of total football,
in this desert - Blake and Nardiello. Kandol also played a decent part
by playing it simple - winning knock downs and just laying the ball off
5 yards to a team-mate was fine - trying to pass it any further for him
was a risk.
So we started with a midfielder at right back and a right back on the
bench - and a clown at left back - but be careful because Kaptain Ken,
in his programme notes, says not to boo him. And two minutes in the
player drifts in from the left, nutmegs our skipper in the box,
sidesteps Ehigou easy as beating a lamp-post and wallop, bottom corner.
Nardiello did really well, it was a class goal, but there was some
shocking defending in there too.
Not long after and a decent cross from Douglas on the right catches a
defender flatfooted, he heads it more or less straight up in the 6 yard
box Kandol gets there first as the keeper flaps and falls over a
defender, 1-1.
Then for a while there is a spell of entertaining but fruitless football
from both teams - we are pretty bad, but Barnsley are awful. Couple of
shots here and there. Nothing the keepers can't handle. Then Blake gets
in behind down the left wing into the box, pulls the ball back to Lewis
who hits a decent curling shot that has everyone beaten, but comes back
off the post. Within a minute Barnsley have scored - Nardiello breaks
away down our left - possibly offside - he runs into the box where Heath
throws himself of what looks to be a shot coming but the forward drags
it back on to his other foot, scarcely noticing Crainey who just sort of
ran by him and out of play, and planted in the far corner. Another well
taken goal ably assisted by god-awful defending.
On the stroke of half time we got our second equaliser of the game when
Westlake swung in a deep cross - having collected the clearing header
from his own corner of a few seconds earlier - to Derry at the back post
who nodded it back across goal where Ugo jumped to thump home a header
from 5 yards. Neither Ehigou or Kandol were marked for their goals and I
don't reckon Barnsley will be happy with either of them.
So again we showed good spirit in coming back - twice - from going a
goal down. That's about it for positives.
The second half was shocking.
STACK - looks less confident each week - except with straight forward
shot stopping - its tough being the Leeds keeper at the moment.
DOUGLAS - I maintain that Healy could have done better - went into
midfield once our real right back came on.
CRAINEY - woeful game - but still eh, he's our emergency captain...
HEATH - there is not much of a footballer in this guy - seems to have
been unlucky with the "goal"
EHIGOU - cracking in the air - suspect on the ground
- you know there's something wrong with your defence when the 2 CHalfs
have to double up on a 5ft 7 forward to beat him in the air.
DERRY / WESTLAKE - contibuted almost nothing positive to this game
except having a hand in our goals - no leadership, no domination of
midfield, some of the most dreadful "passing" - Westlake in particular
always looking for the flick when a decent solid pass is what is on
LEWIS - in and out
KANDOL - decent hard working home debut - won everything in the air for
the first 60 minutes - faded thereafter - lets hope the goal breeds
confidence
BLAKE - again MOTM - the only creative player/thinker on the team. Again
faded badly - bit more training yet D&G
--------------------
subs - RICHARDSON - looked rusty - went for glory at the end when a
cross would have been much better
HEALY - barely got a kick
CAROLE - on for 5 minutes
-------------------
We needed 3 points - Derby will provide a tough test - Hull should be OK
- but then its a tough run.
still at least we won't be sidetracked by a cup run.
-------------------
Anyway an evening with Billy Bragg in Holmfirth proved to be much more
fun - as Adie T can testify
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'I am in shock,' said Ferguson.
