Town 1-1 Barnsley
Saturday, 19th Jan 2013 17:10 Barnsley sub Danny Rose netted a late equaliser - his first league goal - to deny the Blues three points as the Tykes left Portman Road having claimed a deserved 1-1 draw. Town were fortunate to be on terms at half-time — ex-Blues loanee Marlon Harewood missing a number of chances — but Luke Chambers put Mick McCarthy's men in front in the 56th minute.
Boss McCarthy named the expected unchanged side against his hometown club with new strikers David McGoldrick and Aaron Mclean making their home debuts. Barnsley, playing a 3-5-2 formation, included former Blues loanee Harewood up front.
Aside from patches and piles of snow around the periphery, the pitch itself showed little sign of the recent snowy weather.
The Blues began the game strongly and skipper Carlos Edwards forced Luke Steele to tip over in the second minute with a shot from the edge of the box Guirane N’Daw having played him the ball after a spell of Town possession.
Aaron Cresswell saw a 30-yard strike deflect wide off Stephen Foster in the sixth minute with the Blues dominating the opening stages.
The game was held up on 10 when Barnsley midfielder Stephen Dawson fell awkwardly and after several minutes’ treatment was stretchered off, Kelvin Etuhu replacing him.
Soon after the restart, David Perkins scraped a shot wide from the edge of the area when he ought to have done better.
The break for the injury seemed to benefit the Tykes more than the Blues with the away side suddenly on top. On 20 Harewood beat Cresswell down the right and cut the ball back, Chambers making an important interception.
Town were finding it hard to break out of their half with the visitors now well on top. They should have gone in front in the 24th minute when Jacob Mellis played Harewood in behind the Blues’ backline, but the 33-year-old’s shot was weak and Scott Loach saved down to his right.
Chambers should have put Town in front in the 25th minute. Cresswell sent in a freekick from the left, the centre-half’s flicked header struck Foster behind him and fell at the former Forest man’s feet on the edge of the six-yard box, but he got under the ball and sent it into the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.
On 28 Lee Martin ought to have found Mclean in space breaking on the right but failed to spot his run. The Blues lost possession and Harewood beat Chambers, cut in from the left and hit a strike across the face of Loach’s goal. It was another fortunate escape for the Blues.
Referee Nigel Miller awarded Town an indirect freekick for obstruction inside the area on the left in the 31st minute after Steele had impeded McGoldrick as they went for a bouncing ball, the keeper having mis-kicked a clearance. The freekick was played to Martin by Cresswell and the midfielder’s shot deflected wide off a defender.
Chambers made an important interception ahead of Chris Dagnall in the 36th minute, the striker having been played in by Tom Kennedy.
Martin hit a deflected effort into Steele’s arms on 40 but it was Barnsley who had continued to have the better of it, the Blues having lost their momentum after the injury interruption.
However, so far, the backline had remained resolute for the most part with Harewood failing to make the most of the Tykes’ two significant opportunities.
As the game moved into five minutes of injury time Harewood was once again played in behind the Town defence unchecked by Mellis. This time the veteran striker beat Loach to his right, but the ball struck the outside of the post and bounced to safety.
The Blues could conceivably have found themselves two or even three goals behind by now had Harewood’s finishing been of a better standard.
McGoldrick shot wide at the other end, then went as close as any Town player had up to then with a far post header from an Edwards cross from the right which struck the bar, keeper Steele getting a touch to it. Moments before the whistle, Harewood backheeled Mellis’s corner from the right wide.
New Barnsley manager David Flitcroft would have been the happier of the two bosses at the break, although would have felt his side should have deservedly been in front.
Harewood had had the best of his team’s opportunities but had finished in a manner which became all too familiar during his loan spell with the Blues in 1999.
Despite being on the backfoot, other than in the opening 10 minutes, Town could easily have had two goals, Chambers having missed a gilt-edged opportunity and McGoldrick hitting the bar.
McGoldrick knocked an N’Daw cross from the left back across the area five minutes into the second half but too far in front of Mclean.
Perkins picked up the game’s first yellow card in the 56th minute for pulling back Martin as the Town midfielder broke down the centre of the field.
From the resultant freekick, the Blues went in front. Cresswell wafted a freekick into the penalty area, McGoldrick’s back header fell to Smith, whose attempted overhead kick fell to the feet of Chambers, who made up for his earlier miss by lashing the ball past Steele and into the net.
A Martin shot from 20 yards deflected to the Barnsley keeper on 59 before Frank Nouble replaced the largely quiet Aaron Mclean up front alongside McGoldrick.
The Blues had finally regained the ascendancy having gone in front and in the 66th minute McGoldrick cut in from the right and hit a low strike just wide. Soon after, N’Daw scuffed wide from distance after dispossessing Etuhu when he ought to have brought the ball further forward.
Mellis shot wide in the 68th minute, moments before Daryl Murphy took over from Martin on the Town left.
Harewood had another chance in the 69th minute when played in on the edge of the box by sub Matt Done but scraped well wide.
On 73 Cresswell played a clever freekick into the area into McGoldrick’s path, but Kennedy was alive to his run and blocked his shot on the turn.
The Tykes were close to an equaliser in the 75th minute when Foster headed Kennedy’s freekick from deep on the left wide. Seconds later, Michael Chopra replaced the lively McGoldrick, who had played his part in the goal.
Harewood had yet another chance in the 78th minute when Perkins escaped down the Barnsley left and crossed, the ball striking the ex-Aston Villa in the midriff and bouncing harmlessly wide. The former Blues loanee had had more than enough opportunities to claim the matchball, let alone grab a point for his side.
Murphy saw a shot deflect wide in the 84th minute, then soon after failed to find Nouble with a pass on the edge of the box when the former Wolves man, making his home debut, would have had a chance to shoot at goal.
With two minutes remaining, Loach superbly tipped over Harewood’s header from Kennedy’s corner on the left, but from the subsequent corner, Barnsley drew level. Kennedy again took the flagkick and sub Danny Rose - a 19-year-old striker - stooped to head past Loach close range.
In injury time, N’Daw found Edwards in a promising position on the right but the Town captain screwed his shot wide when he should have done better.
Neither side threatened again before referee Nigel Miller blew his whistle with a draw probably a fair result.
Town hadn’t played particularly well with the Tykes having had enough chances to have netted two or three times before Chambers put the Blues in front.
The Blues hadn’t looked particularly under threat until the two late corners, sub Rose heading home from the second.
After last week’s point away against leaders Cardiff, a draw against second-bottom Barnsley will be a disappointment to boss Mick McCarthy, although on the balance of the game it would have been harsh on the Tykes if they had taken nothing from their trip to snowy Suffolk.
Town remain 19th, six points away from the relegation places with a trip to bottom club Bristol City next Saturday.
Town: Loach, Orr, Smith, Chambers, Cresswell, Edwards, N’Daw, Hyam, Martin (Murphy 69), McGoldrick (Chopra 75), Mclean (Nouble 60). Unused: Lee-Barrett, Hewitt, Kisnorbo, Drury.
Barnsley: Steele, Stones, Golbourne (Done 69), Foster, Cranie, Kennedy, Perkins, Mellis (Rose 85), Dawson (Etuhu 13), Dagnall, Harewood. Unused: Alnwick, Hassell, Wiseman, Cymka. Referee: Nigel Miller (County Durham). Att: 15,513 (Barnsley: 175).
Photo: Action Images
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adeblueboy added 18:47 - Jan 19
Martin very busy but woeful end product not enough goals either and Edwards poor since he moved to right mid. Why cant our wingers take people on and beat them. Martin goes backwards. Our strikers need some creative midfielders. The last few games being below average. |  | |
h32 added 18:49 - Jan 19
...... and also Marshalls Mullet - get your facts RIGHT - I have NOT criticised MM.
Maybe you should read the post CORRECTLY before commenting.
Of course MM needs time to build his team - and on today's performance, we ALL know, truthfully, he has much to do.
Too many not doing the business for him today - and not looking like doing so either. | | |
Elizabeth added 18:51 - Jan 19
This jut proves that this really is a funny old league. Anybody is capable of beating any team irrespective of their league position. Was just a shame that we conceded so late in the game! I am sure that we will stay in this league and hopefully prepare for next season with an improved team and a push for promotion! I am dreaming now. | | |
CornardBlue added 18:55 - Jan 19
Pleased with a point after todays performance before MM came we would have lost this game.
As others have said the problem is with Martin and Edwards they were both really awful never created a thing, anyone who thinks DJ would have scored goals today were not at the game, we never created one chance for our strikers and the Barnsley kepper only had one shot to save, thank goodness Marlon Harewood was playing for them. | | |
Marshalls_Mullet added 19:04 - Jan 19
h32. Whats your point? I am a realist. How is your point of view more helpful?
You criticised MM for not creating a gap, are you disappointed with 25 points from 15 matches? |  | |
h32 added 19:05 - Jan 19
....... strange how some people on here see 'anything other than praise' as 'moaning' - but we have them for sure.
'Happy as long as a ball is kicked' - I guess they are. | | |
Marshalls_Mullet added 19:08 - Jan 19
H32.... this seems like direct criticism of MM;
"Sorry MM, but has to be much better - we are not creating that gap between ourselves and the bottom pack - and don't deserve to with performances like this."
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casanovacrow added 19:15 - Jan 19
we wont ever be prolific at home until we have the players to attack other teams with decent defence splitting passes or crosses.
Martin, cant tackle, cant shoot, cant cross, cant pass. He puts loads of graft in which I appreciate but his ability isn't there.
Edwards time at right back seems to have killed off his attacking ability.
Sadly both need replacing.
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Stretchstar added 19:15 - Jan 19
Crying out for Wordsworth and possibly Boyd, enough quality up front to slot the goals, just need to at least put em within sight!! ITID. |  | |
Ipswichbusiness added 19:17 - Jan 19
The problem is that we are in a relegation scrap. We need to beat the teams at our end of the table, especially when playing at home, or we will put enormous pressure on ourselves come the end of the season. I for one would have liked to see JET at least on the bench so that he could come on and give us something a bit different in the last 15 minutes. It is worrying that with 11 strikers at the club, none could score at home against the side in 23rd place. | | |
harlingblue added 19:31 - Jan 19
What is it with Barnsley and Portman Road...they seem to always come here and play the '(old) Ipswich Way'...luckily Harewood remembered his Ipswich loan period and let us off the hook!
Perhaps MM might have been impressed with Mellis and Perkins who controlled the midfield, having said that, strange that Rose replacing Mellis should grab the equaliser! | | |
StochesStotasBlewe added 19:46 - Jan 19
That performance was utter pants. N,Daw, Edwards, Martin woeful, Hyam not much better. Our strikers had no service whatsoever from midfield, we desperately needed a creative playmaker out there today & so dissapointing after last weeks impressive display. I,m sure MM will be addressing this soon & there is no denying he has done a good job thus far. A very big game at Bristol next saturday. |  | |
Trimleytractor added 19:57 - Jan 19
Clearly Mick McCarthy has done a great job in the short time he's been here and all Town fans should be grateful for that. Personally I think we were lucky to get a point today and it wasn't just Harewood who missed clear chances for Barnsley and I can say only one thing to those who have criticised Edwards and Martin - I agree with you. | | |
999blue added 20:01 - Jan 19
clearly the midfield on show today werent upto it we badly lacked any sort of cutting edge ........the lad from brentford and maybe 2 new wingers are the order of the day......edwards wont be here next season....his worst performance to date .......as above good old marlon! you were awful ...... | | |
budgieplucker added 20:11 - Jan 19
MM is arguably one of the best managers in this league. I admire his honesty when he says he didn't know what went wrong today.
Hyam and N'Daw have been outstanding in many of the matches we have played this season and them both scoring at home to Forest sticks vividly in my mind, and I for one am not prepared to criticise certain players on the strength of one or two offish performances.
The fact that Mick has done so well in his first two months has falsely raised expectations about how far this current bunch of players can go.
It is fair to say though that I think both Carlos Edwards and Lee Martin are on borrowed time, if N,Daw and Hyam are the warriors in the centre of the park then this does put the onus on the two players in the 4 to create chances and regularly chip in with a goal or two. I have to say I struggle to see a goal in either one of them let alone the ability to provide a pin point cross or defence splitting pass.
McGoldrick had good movement and held the ball up well, and I think it is nonsense to make judgements on this lad too soon. From his style of play there could be another Marcus Stewart in the making.
I for one feel far more comfortable about the set-up at PR than I have for a good six or seven years. |  | |
StowTractorBoy added 20:15 - Jan 19
Contrary to other opinions on here, today was a point gained as Barnsley could have been out of sight in the first half. They continued to create chances in the second half and we almost ran off with a robbery of a win. Sadly we do not seem to perform against the bottom sides at home and in my opinion the reason for this is that we have absolutely no creativity in midfield. I was not at all impressed with McLean but lets be honest what kind of service did any of our strike force get this afternoon. Furthermore we have no pace on either flank as Martin although tries very hard huffs and puffs with no end product and what has happened to Edwards - his legs seem to have gone completely. MM is not daft and these issues will be addressed I am sure. Away from home our midfield work hard and we catch teams on the break but today we huffed and puffed gave the ball away on countless occasions and provided us fans with a thoroughly frustrating afternoon. Luke Chambers was my man of the match today and now looks a good signing but our goalkeeper still gives me the jitters with his indecision.
Much still to done by MM but my goodness we would have settled for this position several weeks ago.
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dirtydingusmagee added 20:39 - Jan 19
Well, that game did little to warm the supporters up,cant believe the same team that gave Cardiff a run for their money last week,just couldnt get going today,We still cant score goals, and are making no inroads to our goal difference [which can only be peeped at with one eye open This could yet prove to be our downfall. OK results have been better since Mick took over,[im not knocking him ,he is a good manager ] but we are not out of the woods yet .Yet again Martin worked hard without achieving anything, [cant see any future with him or for him at Town ] Edwards was again less than convincing too.I think it will be a rocky run in ,but think Mick will get things right for next season . COYB |  | |
runaround added 21:01 - Jan 19
It was totally unjust that Barnsley got a point today... They should have got all 3!
they were by far the better side and played all the football. Luckily they were extremely profligate in front of goal. Whilst we defended stoutly, we offered nothing going forward. edwards & martin were truly awful & the front 2 were left with very little to work with. chambers was head & shoulders above every other town player today. In summary a very poor performance which shows we're not safe yet & if our away form ends up like home form we could be in trouble. |  | |
Lennyboy added 21:01 - Jan 19
Today was very disappointing, anyone who went would all agree. I do agree that both Martin and Edwards have reached their ceiling and their ability will not climb any higher; they were both awful today. Our new strikers do show some promise though and once they get used to each others mind sets, and stop going into the same spaces; they may be a useful partnership. McClean is certainly very quick but lacks height enough to win and hold high balls up to him, but on the ground he may be better. We definately need a couple of good midfielders, without doubt. In conclusion, the whole team display today was a few steps back rather than a step forward. STILL.....COYB!!! |  | |
clivewoodsleftpeg added 21:12 - Jan 19
back in September many people on here were delighted with a point away at Barnsley, it shows that the level of performances have gone up and with that the level of expectation, as dissapointing as today was it is a point gained, bad day at the office and move on to next week, which will also be a tough game, Barnsley and Bristol City have newly appointed managers and that always makes them tough games,next week will be O'driscolls first home game so I'd settle for another point thank you very much. | | |
runningout added 22:45 - Jan 19
we are no where near safe.. in football you cannot be complacent, whether you are top or bottom of any league.. it's up to the manager and the coaching staff to instill a clinical mentality, and the squad to take it onboard.. Our team havent had it for too long, that's why we make it hard for ourselves | | |
Marshalls_Mullet added 23:59 - Jan 19
runningout....................... we wont get relegated. Feel free to post this thread at the end of the season. | | |
kevtblue added 00:21 - Jan 20
Another game where our wide men Edwards and Martin produce
nothing for our forwards. Yes they seem to defend ok but no end result going forward. I'm sure MM has worked this out and will change this soon. Also why is Edwards still captain we need a leader and he isn't! | | |
R_LAMB3 added 01:47 - Jan 20
If we had thrashed them today Mick might of stalled a bit in the transfer market but now like the rest of us Mick must know that our midfield are not good enough
We need a couple of fast young wingers who can get some crosses over to the front men and someone who can hold the ball up and thread the ball through and a
free kick specialist and a decent corner taker
I am sure Mick will sort these problems out before the tranfer window shut and players will go and players will come in and dont take to much notice that Mick is saying nothings going on in the tranfer market at the moment because Mick keeps his cards to his chest and if he say he is going after this or that player he know other clubs will come in after them.
I for one will be watching the tranfer news right up to the last day in january and i think their will be a lot of deals going on with our club and their will be a very different look to the team when the window shut
Let Mick do his job and he will make Town A GREAT SIDE ONCE AGAIN. | | |
clint_eastwood added 03:44 - Jan 20
........he's been great but it's time to let Carlos go. |  | |
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