Analysis of Barnsley's 7-0 defeat to Manchester United on Tuesday.

REDS SUFFER ONE OF HEAVIEST EVER DEFEATS

What had seemed like a ‘win, win’ situation turned into a resounding and embarrassing loss for Barnsley in the EFL Cup third round on Tuesday.

The Reds travelled to Old Trafford with optimism, having earned the glamour tie with excellent wins in the previous rounds.

The run had boosted the club’s coffers while giving the players a chance to test themselves against some top players and their fans an opportunity to watch them at one of the most famous grounds in the world.

It felt as though – especially after the harrowing 3-0 loss at Stevenage three days earlier – they would at least put in a disciplined and workmanlike performance so as not to disgrace themselves, while there was always the tiny lingering pre-match hope of glory.

But, after playing adequately for most of the first half, they capitulated after the break and it became a humiliating night.

Head coach Darrell Clarke, who was furious in the dressing room afterwards, said his players were ‘miles off’ and ‘flaky’ while adding the performance ‘ruined’ his dream cup tie at the club he supported as a boy.

There were times, such as when the hosts scored four goals in the 25 minutes either side of the break to go 5-0 up, or when Christian Eriksen’s brace made it seven late on, when we were frantically researching the Reds’ heaviest ever losses. It was only a few glaring misses by the hosts that stopped them matching the 9-0 victory for Notts County at Oakwell in 1927.

In the end Barnsley copied the 7-0 defeat in the Premier League in 1997 in which Adi Moses, commentating for local radio on Tuesday, came off the bench for the Reds. It was Barnsley’s heaviest loss since that match more than a quarter of a century ago.

GULF IN CLASS AND BUDGET MASSIVE

The home club’s matchday squad had been put together for just under half a billion pounds, several times what the Reds are thought to have spent in their history.

They had more than 500 international appearances between them, with 18 of the 20 being senior internationals.

Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag made eight changes from Saturday’s top flight win at Southampton but still picked a side of top class players.

United’s front three of Antony, an £80million signing, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho – who scored the first five goals between them – were so much faster, better with their movement, and more clinical than the players the Reds face week in, week out in League One.

There were eye-catching match-ups all over the pitch such as Garnacho, who recently won the Copa America with Argentina, taking on Barry Cotter who was signed for £20,000 from the Irish league or Max Watters – who was a removal man while playing non-league football – being marked by £80million signing and England centre-back Harry Maguire.

United brought on £50million star man Bruno Fernandes at the same time as Barnsley introduced Kyran Lofthouse who they signed on a free from Woking.

REDS HELP UNITED WITH REGULAR ERRORS

The gulf in class, already huge, was widened significantly by Barnsley’s performance and in particular the way they gifted their hosts the ball time and again in good attacking positions.

There are ways to lose a football match, especially against a club with an infinitely bigger budget and better team, but this was not an acceptable one.

The rout began when Marc Roberts – the only Barnsley starter who was alive for the last 7-0 at Old Trafford – was very easily skipped around by England striker Rashford for the opener.

Then goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina conceded a somewhat soft penalty before Corey O’Keeffe, twice, Josh Earl and Matty Craig all gifted United the ball for goals with poor errors. Barnsley’s decision-making at times was baffling as many of them appeared to freeze.

Clarke has previously spoken of his squad’s ‘soft underbelly’ and it was exposed again on the biggest of stages. Even if you are playing in a much larger occasion than ever before against far better opponents than usual, you have to stay composed and professional while remembering the basics like being able to make a ten-yard pass or knowing when to clear the ball up the pitch rather than take risks.

Barnsley will have wanted at least one moment to remember positively but there was nothing. It was home goalkeeper Altay Bayindir’s first game at Old Trafford and he is still yet to face a shot there as the only two attempts Barnsley had were put off target.

If the towering Donovan Pines was on the pitch instead of in the stands with concussion and a black eye, they might have been more threatening from the many set pieces and crosses in the first half.

On one of the rare attacks they had in the second half, substitute Stephen Humphrys was booked for diving when in a good position – an embarrassing moment which partly summed up the night.

Mael de Gevigney was the only player singled out for praise by Clarke while Barry Cotter gave home youngster Toby Collyer a tough time early on before coming off midway through the second half with tight muscles.

Two 18-year-olds started for the Reds, Fabio Jalo and Vimal Yoganathan, in a proud moment for the academy. But they were both replaced at half-time despite not being any more ineffective than many of their older colleagues – with Jalo at least giving the away end something to cheer when he shoulder-barged the far bigger Maguire to the deck. But Jalo was only able to make five passes in 45 minutes while his fellow starting striker Watters touched the ball nine times in 55. The Reds hoped that duo’s pace could cause problems but it didn’t.

Other than four EFL Trophy games, either side of a loan at Swindon, this was half-time substitute Conor McCarthy’s first appearance for the Reds in almost exactly two years since rupturing his ACL.

SENSATIONAL FANS ONLY POSITIVE

The only real positive of the night from Barnsley’s point of view was the away end.

More than 6,000 Reds fans travelled across the Pennines and were extremely noisy even as the goals were flying in.

They started with ‘Johnstone's Paint Trophy, you'll never sing that' then indulged in some gallows humour with ‘we’re gonna win 6-5’ at 5-0 and ‘we’ve had a shot’.

Although it appeared that most of the empty seats in the ground were in the away end, as Barnsley did not quite fill their allocation with tickets priced at an outrageous £41, they were the only people singing for most of the game.

The away fans gave their players a huge standing ovation after the match which Clarke said his team did not deserve.

The supporters were clearly enjoying, regardless of the scoreline, a potential once-in-a-generation chance to see their team play at ‘the theatre of dreams’ as well as making a statement that they are loyal backers of the club. They now need to be repaid on the pitch in the coming games by the players and staff who must have been moved, and maybe made to feel guilty, by the sensational support they didn’t earn.

HOW WILL THIS IMPACT BIG MATCH AT BURTON?

It remains to be seen what impact this game has on the Reds going into Saturday’s game at Burton Albion, both in terms of morale and also fatigue after playing against a Premier League side who dominated the ball.

Although it might sound strange given the occasion in midweek, the game in Staffordshire is arguably more important as the Reds’ priority is promotion whereas the cup run was always just a bonus.

The Burton match is also big because, after two disappointing performances this week which have seen ten goals conceded and none scored, Barnsley need to get back on good form instantly. They have also been challenged by Clarke to repay their fans for what happened at Old Trafford.

The Brewers will be desperate to secure their first win of the league season, and may be more fresh after a week off.