The first half was probably as good as we've played all season. We controlled the game from the start, teritorrially, in terms of possession and in chances created. Blake, playing behind the front two, caused Barnsley problems and should have opened the scoring when putting a diving header wide and just failed to get to a superb Healey cross. Derry and Douglas were controlling the midfield and Westlake, playing on the left of the three, looked a much better player than on Tuesday and the defence looked solid, so it was a bit of a shock when we went a goal down on the half hour. Kelly gave away a stupid and needless free-kick and Stack punched weakly at a good cross cross giving Devaney the chance to put the ball in the net from about sixteen yards. We didn't allow this to upset us and kept on playing good football and it was no more than we deserved when Derry headed home a good (for once) corner, and it got even better two minutes later when excellent interplay down our left-hand side led to Blake converting a good Healey cross. 2-1 up and I agreed with two blokes in the halftime drinks queue that Barnsley were there for the taking. We should have known better. We started well in the second half, and a great run into the box by Douglas was picked out by Healey,Douglas's cross-shot being saved with some difficulty by the Barnsley keeper at the expense of a corner. Then it all went pear-shaped. A half cleared ball fell to Mcindoe about 30 yards out and as he took it forward the midfield and defence parted in front of him like the Red Sea in front of Moses and he buried it in the bottom corner. It's all right picking up the runners on this occasions, but I'd have thought that someone would have had the wit to close him down as well. What do I know though. I'm only a mug punter. Ten minutes later bad became worse as our by now creaking defence spurned two or three chances to put a tackle in or clear the ball, allowing Howard the room to crack another excellent finish past Stack. Wise made the changes and we pressed hard for another equaliser, giving Barnsley the chance to increase their lead on a couple of occasions, but apart from a superb lob from Johnson which just cleared the bar we were unable to get the equaliser our overall performance deserved. There were some signs to suggest we have the players to get ourselves out of the mess we are in and also enough things to show that our new manager knows what he is doing, but if we don't start picking up points soon we'll be so deep in the shit it'll be too late. Six points from our next two home games is an absolute must to lift morale and start our climb away from the relegation area.
Stack - disappointed with him for the first goal but otherwise sound 6 Kelly - reasonable performance but should not have given away the freekick and could have done better with the third goal 5 Butler - again involved in the general cock-up for the third goal and is still our weakest player. Foxe must look pretty shit on the training ground for Wise to persevere with him, although he did say he's trying to stengthen central defence with a loanee 5 Killa - still not back to his best and mixed some good things with some shit things. His distribution was appalling at times 6 Lewis - the pick of the defence today (I can't believe I've just typed that!) and also linked up well with the midfield when coming forward. He looks such a different player from when he's pissing about on the left wing 7 Douglas - his technical ability does not improve, he's got a first touch like an Irish navvy, but he gives everything, makes good runs, puts tackles in, closes people down and generally makes us look a better team than we do without him 7 Derry - another solid performance in the middle of midfield, and he's begining to look almost back to his best of last year 8 Westlake - looked a lot better as the left hand side of a mid-field three than he did as one of the two central midfielders at Preston. having said that, the quality of the opposition was nowhere near as good. Will probably be the one to make way when Nicholls is eventually fit 6 Blake - our man of the match for me. Nearly all the good stuff we did came through him though he's still inclined to hang on to the ball too long occasionally 9 Healey - much more like his Northern Ireland self today. Looked much more up for it and had given up the silly habit of giving away free kicks by sticking his arse into the defender's groin. a good all-round game 7 Horsefield - held the ball up well, brought Healey and Blake into the game and put himself about a bit 7 Cresswell - much better than Tuesday, looked much more interested though still seems half a yard off the pace 6 Johnson - not on long but looked a class act again. So nearly got us the equaliser 7 Einnarsson - who? You know that Viking feller that scored a great goal at Burnley last year and hasn't been seen since. Not on long enough to do much. I feel it's starting to come right and with Nicholls back, a good central defender and maybe a bit of pace up front we will start to climb the table. It's hard to be patient though, and a bit worrying that we might be too deep in the shit to escape before Wise can get in the players he wants. _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist oh alright then :-)
