Analysis of Barnsley's 2-0 home win over neighbours Rotherham United on Friday. Jon Russell and Stephen Humphrys netted for the dominant Reds.
DESERVED WIN IN ONE-SIDED DERBY
WHILE the owner of the visiting club was booing his own side from the directors’ box, Barnsley’s part-owner James Cryne, who was there, and the others around the world, must have been delighted with their team.
This was the most complete performance as the Reds have produced this season as they continued their good form and hinted that, with a rare home win, they could be getting closer to the complete package as a promotion challenger.
There is still work to do, and they will face much tougher opponents than this wretched Rotherham side, but it was a very encouraging Friday evening overall.
Barnsley dominated large spells of the game and, when they had to defend, restricted the Millers to only one chance.
They could easily have copied the 4-0 scoreline from 2016 but, after missing chances, kept their composure to avoid the late goals which have cost them this season and scored one of their own to wrap up the three points.
The away end of more than 3,000 booed their team regularly, from the moment they fell behind, and reacted particularly angrily to the regular misplaced or backwards passes. Even Rotherham owner Tony Stewart joined in with the booing in the directors’ box.
The Rotherham fans also sang ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt’ to their players and joined in with the home crowd chanting ‘sacked in the morning’ to Steve Evans, who was also the subject of more abusive songs from Barnsley fans as he suffered a third loss in three career games at Oakwell.
Missing ex-Red Mallik Wilks and prolific League One marksman Jonson Clarke-Harris due to injury, Rotherham were toothless in attack with striker Jordan Hugill booed off after he made it 12 appearances against Barnsley without scoring.
These two clubs are in the top three in the division for winning headers, and for long balls. But, although Rotherham tried to be direct and failed to break through Barnsley’s robust defence, the hosts played good football and are really starting to click in attack.
Six of Rotherham’s very experienced starting 11 were in their 30s and only one under 26, compared to six in Barnsley’s starting side. But the visitors were made to look past-it in this game.
Barnsley have not lost to the Millers in 12 meetings since 1982, winning the last five while conceding only one goal.
United have not won at Oakwell in 15 attempts since 1970 and only won once away against anyone in the league across more than two years.
Rotherham have gained promotion in their last four League One seasons but are starting to drop off the early pace.
The Reds are now eight points clear of the Millers who have played an extra game.
A TURNING POINT WIN AT HOME?
This was Barnsley’s second home league win in 13 attempts since February and their first clean sheet there in the league since a goalless stalemate with Darrell Clarke’s Cheltenham in March.
They are now unbeaten in six at Oakwell in the league.
A home win was the next big box to tick after they improved their performances generally over the last month and had won five out of seven away.
They were good for most of the previous Oakwell fixture against Charlton before collapsing late on but this time they saw the win through.
They now play home games against Wigan and Reading - who both have superb records at Oakwell - then title-chasers Birmingham, so it was vital that they got this win to build momentum and excitement in the long-suffering home supporters.
This win moved them up to fourth in the table before Saturday’s fixtures.
ANOTHER SET PIECE GOAL BREAKS DEADLOCK
When Jon Russell opened the scoring from a set piece, capping a good period of Barnsley pressure, Darrell Clarke immediately hugged his coach Conor Hourihane. The former Reds captain, who many would still like to see playing, is clearly still contributing to their success by working on their attacking set pieces in training. They have improved substantially in that area this season which could be a vital weapon in their top six push. This was their eighth set piece goal of the season.
Corey O’Keeffe, who was again impressive and could have had several assists, sent a left-wing corner perfectly onto the head of Russell who got in front of his marker. The close-range header was saved but the rebound was kicked in for Russell’s second goal in as many league games as he continues a fine run of form since turning from fringe player to starter. He had another good game on the left of a midfield three, with the Reds having switched from a two in previous games. Captain Luca Connell slotted back into defensive midfield nicely with the only real blemish for the Reds being his fifth yellow card of the season which will see him miss the trip to Cambridge.
Adam Phillips returned to the 11 after injury, in place of Stephen Humphrys, and
played some excellent crossfield passes to Georgie Gent on the left including in the build-up to the opening goal. Phillips was also very unlucky not to score, hitting the bar and being denied by one of two superb Cameron Dawson saves.
HUMPHRYS CLINICAL OFF BENCH
Humphrys had been on the pitch about ten minutes when he brilliantly smashed a low effort from the edge of the box into the bottom right corner.
It was terrible defending by Rotherham, who somehow allowed Ben Killip’s long kick to bounce through to the substitute.
He was the perfect player to bring on and the tired Millers defence struggled to cope with him.
Although he is not at that level yet, he does have similar characteristics to special half-time guest Adam Hammill in terms of his entertainment of the crowd and desire to score big talismanic goals.
Humphrys had been dropped to the bench with Davis Keillor-Dunn and Max Watters starting up front. Watters put in a good shift with tireless running and good hold-up play while Keillor-Dunn’s movement put him in position to have seven shots, at least one of which should have gone in.
They are all starting to chip in with regular goals now after a slow start to the season for the strikers’ department.
ASSIST, CLEAN SHEET AND BIG SAVE FOR KILLIP
Killip registered an assist and a second clean sheet since being brought into the team.
He barely had anything to do in this very one-sided game until the 72nd minute when Millers substitute Jack Holmes was picked out by a left-wing cross but denied at point blank range by Killip’s legs. It was Rotherham’s only shot on target or notable attack so would have been the ultimate smash and grab.
Killip had also made a big save at 1-1 in the FA Cup at Port Vale six days earlier.
The defence in front of Killip looked serene throughout most of a simple night for them. Marc Roberts, who made 13 clearances, and Mael de Gevigney, cruised through the game while Josh Earl was also a threat on the attack including putting off defenders for the second goal.
Left wing-back Gent made the most tackles and again provided quality delivery.
