Analysis of Barnsley's 3-1 win at Port Vale in the FA Cup second round. After Marc Roberts' goal was cancelled out, Davis Keillor-Dunn and Adam Phillips won it.
SOLID AND PROFESSIONAL WIN
SANDWICHED between Halloween and Bonfire Night, there were few scares or fireworks in this game - just a solid, professional performance by a Barnsley team who seem to be slowly finding their way.
Having taken seven points from the last possible nine in the league, this FA Cup tie was a fourth successive encouraging performance - if we ignore the EFL Trophy loss with a totally different team.
The Reds are starting to play much better and be a lot more consistent, gathering momentum going into an important few weeks when they need to add home wins to their excellent away record.
Darrell Clarke returned to the club that sacked him last year, the season after he got them promoted from League Two, but for whom he has plenty of affection.
He also has an unbeaten personal record against Vale as a manager, winning seven – including the last five – and drawing two of the nine meetings.
Vale, after being relegated to League Two last season, were top of the fourth tier and unbeaten in 11 games, including five straight wins. Darren Moore’s team are better than some of the sides the Reds have visited in League One this season - such as the woeful Shrewsbury who they beat a week earlier.
The Reds began the game well and took the lead but then struggled before half-time, with the hosts levelling and creating other chances. But a big save just after the interval by Ben Killip then a change to 3-5-2 just before the hour seemed to turn the game in the favour of Barnsley who were then in control.
REDS TAKE FA CUP SERIOUSLY AND GO THROUGH
Barnsley took this first round game extremely seriously, as shown in Clarke’s selection and his players’ performance.
They picked essentially their first choice team, with Josh Earl back from suspension in place of Donovan Pines in the only change from the previous league game, while Adam Phillips was fit enough for the bench after injury.
In contrast, Vale made six changes from their last league game, mainly in the forward and midfield areas.
The Reds value the FA Cup and know they are now one win away potentially from a glorious and money-spinning match with a big Premier League club. They also wanted to continue their momentum from the league with another game for their first 11.
It has to be said that the schedule helped, with this cup tie in the middle of a fortnight off from league games.
The second round will be in the middle of a two-week period which will also see them play four league games. They will have hosted Wigan and Reading in the week before then, after the cup tie, they take on two high-flyers as they visit Wrexham in midweek then welcome Birmingham. That is when we may see significant changes to the team for the FA Cup.
KILLIP SAVE A BIG MOMENT
The second half eventually became a dominant display for Barnsley but they could easily have fallen behind right at the start of it.
Ruari Paton’s free-kick was arrowing towards the bottom right corner when goalkeeper Ben Killip brilliantly tipped it onto the post after diving full-length to his left.
If that had gone in to make it 2-1 to the hosts, they would have had plenty of momentum with the crowd behind them and Barnsley, who finished the first half poorly, would have been in serious danger of going out of the cup.
That was the last time Killip was seriously called upon but it was a crucial moment.
The goalkeeper had given away the ball at 0-0 near his box but the Reds survived the goalmouth scramble.
He has helped them to two away wins since replacing the dropped Gaga Slonina between the sticks. It was important he and the back three played together again as they get used to each other.
There will be bigger tests to come for the former Hartlepool stopper but he will take confidence from that vital save.
Killip could do little about the home goal when Josh Earl made a mess of a left-wing cross and played the ball straight to Ronan Curtis who rounded the goalkeeper and fired in.
Corey O’Keeffe also impressed with two assists. He set up the opener with a free-kick then crossed for the second while running at full pace so crashed into the advertising hoardings and disappeared behind them.
Adding those two to his three league assists, it is an impressive record for someone who has not been a regular starter and often played on the left instead of his natural right. He appears to have the right wing-back spot nailed down now, with Barry Cotter - who was ahead of him in August and September - not even in the 20-man squad after a poor display in the EFL Trophy in midweek.
There were other decent displays from the likes of Mael de Gevigney, Jon Russell, Luca Connell and Georgie Gent.
GOALS FOR CENTURION AND BIRTHDAY BOY
Marc Roberts netted Barnsley’s first goal on his 100th game for the club then Davis Keillor-Dunn got what proved to be the winner on his 27th birthday.
It was the fourth goal of the season for both players.
That is particularly impressive for centre-back Roberts who has been a real threat from set pieces.
He headed home O’Keeffe’s dangerous left-wing free-kick from close-range after easily getting away from former Reds target Jesse Debrah. Goalkeeper Connor Ripley had come for the cross but missed it.
Barnsley’s second goal was after an excellent team move. They worked it quickly from left to right with crisp passes by Gent, Connell, Stephen Humphrys, Russell and then Phillips who put O’Keeffe in space on the right to swing in a cross which Keillor-Dunn deftly flicked into the bottom left corner.
The last time the Reds visited Vale Park, on Boxing Day, John McAtee was the star man. He was a late summer signing converted from attacking midfield into a striker - a similar story to Keillor-Dunn who has so far looked more effective playing up front than in a wider role, as has Humphrys. Keillor-Dunn now has three goals in his last four games.
PHILLIPS SUB AND FORMATION CHANGE PUT REDS IN CONTROL
Phillips’ introduction for Max Watters on 58 minutes, and a change to 3-5-2 from 3-4-3, improved the Reds’ attacking threat and ability to control the game.
On his return from injury, he played a crucial role in the second goal then sent in the wicked cross from which Debrah tripped Humphrys and referee Charles Breakspear awarded a penalty.
The home fans were furious with the referee for various decisions including that one as well as the free-kick and yellow card for a tackle by Brandon Cover on Gent which led to the opening goal. Both appeared to be fouls, although the booking may have been harsh.
Phillips converted the penalty, finding the bottom right corner for his sixth goal of the season - half of which have been spot-kicks. It was also his third goal in three trips to Vale Park with Barnsley.
To have a player of his quality to bring off the bench was a huge boost for the Reds and he made a strong case to start in the league in a 3-5-2 on Friday against Rotherham.
