Analysis of Barnsley's 2-0 loss at Huddersfield Town on Saturday. The Reds conceded in the 83rd and 96th minutes.
DUFF EASILY COMES OUT ON TOP IN REUNION
THE LAST time Barnsley fans saw Michael Duff, the general feeling was that they could not have been more proud of their team.
Duff’s Reds had just lost the play-off final in agonising circumstances at Wembley but performed superbly with ten men for 70 minutes at the end of a very enjoyable season in which they rebuilt the relationship between the club and the supporters.
This time - with Duff now an opponent - the Barnsley faithful witnessed another poor performance under Darrell Clarke which, instead of generating pride, brought forward more frustration, anger and, for some, an apathetic anticipation of a slip down the table into mediocrity.
The away fans initially directed their emotions towards Duff, with some sweary chants for the man who later said he had no problem with that and repeated that he made a mistake leaving Oakwell last year.
But he did, probably unintentionally, provide a withering takedown of his former club when he said: “We picked our most energetic team because we thought that, with our quality as well, would hurt Barnsley.” The Reds used to be the energetic, athletic high-pressing side but now they look comparatively slow and with no cohesive plan for pressing or attacking.
They followed a familiar pattern as they started fairly well – and were probably the better side for 20 minutes – but then faded very badly and could not find any kind of rhythm as poor passing and no attacking rhythm cost them severely.
If it had not been for goalkeeper Gaga Slonina, some good defending at times and poor finishing by the hosts, Barnsley would have been well-beaten after 50 minutes and, although they came back into the game slightly, they allowed Town to win it with two late goals.
The Reds have set an unwanted club record for conceding in the 76th minute or later in six straight games. They have conceded the most goals in the division in that period within games this season.
In the two games in the pink third kits – now part of an admirable drive to support Breast Cancer UK – they have been 0-0 at half-time and conceded five collectively after the break without scoring.
OFF-FORM HOSTS ALLOWED TO DOMINATE
Huddersfield, one of the favourites for promotion after dropping down from the Championship, had lost seven out of eight in all competitions including their last four league fixtures. But they were easily the better side in this match.
Duff has met current Reds head coach Darrell Clarke eight times in league games, winning seven and drawing one while the Reds have lost seven of their last eight games at the Terriers.
Huddersfield changed from two attacking midfielders and a holding player in previous games to the other way around, with Ben Wiles in front of sitting pair of David Kasumu and Joe Hodge who, for the most part, kept Barnsley’s defensive midfield two of Luca Connell and Matty Craig quiet. Connell made some big tackles early on and looked very motivated but could not control the game, while Craig was again guilty of loose passing.
Barnsley’s wing-backs were Barry Cotter, who has had some quiet games after a flying start to the season, and Georgie Gent, who made his first appearance since August and a third league start having been taken off after 25 minutes in his first then half-time in his second. Both were often penned back into a back five as Huddersfield dominated the play and had the more attacking wide players.
The Reds generally defended fairly well but will be disappointed with the opening goal and a few other chances. Due to the lack of protection in front and pace in the back three, they were cut open at times.
UNCLEAR WHAT BARNSLEY ARE TRYING TO DO IN ATTACK
It was difficult to work out what Clarke’s Barnsley were trying to do in attack. The pre-match line-up looked as if Davis Keillor-Dunn would either play behind Sam Cosgrove and Stephen Humphrys as a number ten or alongside Humprhys behind Cosgrove. But neither seemed to happen as Keillor-Dunn spent a lot of his time on the wing, as did Humphrys, while Cosgrove won ten headers but barely got the ball to his feet. In the press box, there was genuine confusion as to what system the Reds were trying to play.
Clarke puts the lack of attacking output down to an inability to keep the ball, which clearly has some merit. But, even when they do keep hold of it, there seems to be little clear collective understanding of what they are doing in attack as a team.
Clearly missing top-scorer Adam Phillips with a toe problem is a big loss but these issues have been plaguing Barnsley for most of the season.
There were some baffling moments such as when Fabio Jalo, who generally impressed off the bench, was booked for an outrageous dive, while centre-back Marc Roberts finished the game up front.
IMPACT SUB KANE SHOWS WHAT REDS HAVE LOST
Ex-Red Herbie Kane came on to boos from the away fans who sang a series of uncomplimentary chants about him and cheered wildly when he was booked for clipping former team-mate Mael de Gevigney when the ball had gone.
But he played a key part in the opening goal.
Kane has the ability to break opposition lines with his passing and movement - something the Reds now lack. They had hoped Kelechi Nwakali would prove an effective replacement but he is yet to feature.
The loss of Kane, Jordan Williams, Devante Cole and Nicky Cadden always seemed like a lot of talent and experience to head out of the door at the end of last season. It is coming back to haunt them now as their replacements – either from last season’s back-up players or new signings – are mainly yet to prove themselves.
Before the opening goal, the game had gone quite flat and looked to be drifting towards a stalemate, with Barnsley arguably slightly on top. But Kane suddenly won a loose ball 35 yards out on the right wing after Marc Roberts headed a long ball out. He then swapped clever passes with fellow substitute Freddie Ladapo before squaring to the unmarked Ben Wiles who was in yards of space to control the ball on the edge of the box and blast into the top left corner. Ladapo had dragged Roberts over to the left-back area and left a gaping hole in the middle of Barnsley’s defence with the midfielders caught out.
The second goal saw Nigel Lonwijk’s throw headed out by de Gevigney to David Kasumu who found the bottom left corner from 25 yards.
CONCERNS AFTER FIRST TEN GAMES
Barnsley have 15 points from their first ten games - the lowest tally at this stage of a League One season in four campaigns since the 2015/16 season under Lee Johnson. It is far from a terrible total but they will have to play much better to add to it regularly.
They could have gone up to second, at least temporarily, with a win in this lunchtime match, but instead slipped down to 11th. The table is less important, at this stage, than the performances which, in the first ten matches, have been generally disappointing.
While three early away wins in positive, those were a fortunate victory at Lincoln, an impressive thrashing of a Crawley team who played into their hands and a last-gasp winner at Burton. Crawley and Burton are in the bottom four. They have been well-beaten at Stevenage and Huddersfield while, at home, they have won just one of five with some deeply disappointing displays.
The Reds have played some good teams recently, with draws at home to current top six sides Wycombe and Stockport then this trip to one of the promotion favourites. They have two more tough-looking games, against Blackpool and Charlton, when they return from what should be a crucial two-week period of work in training with no league game. They desperately need to find an identity, confidence and consistency.
They now return to Huddersfield in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday and a much-changed team, including fringe players and youngsters, will at least try to bring a little bit of positivity back to the fans and club.
