After a poor week we were once again in must-win-game scenario. Despite the league table not telling the full truth currently, if we couldn’t beat Barnsley at home then a winter of struggle really did await us. As it turned out it was this game that was the struggle but in the end the better team (just) prevailed.
It was changes all-round once more for this game with Murphy, Lawrence, Brown and the surprisingly fit-again Cunningham all coming back in with Yorke dropping back in midfield and Collins moving across to left back. The left wing scenario is a strange one. Clearly Murphy’s substitute performance on Tuesday gave Keane the idea of playing him there today ahead of the more natural Wallace and Hysen, but it’s perhaps putting square pegs in round holes where it’s not needed. As it turned out Murphy’s performance was woeful.
Barnsley had absolutely no-one in their starting eleven that I had heard of before, which I think might be a first for me watching football. I’m not sure whether this is down to my worsening knowledge of football or a reflection on Barnsleys current plight. I hoped it was the latter and as the game turned out I think it was.
The first half was dreadful. I’d like to leave it at that as thinking of incidents to report will be difficult but I’ll try.
Nope I’ve sat for five minutes and tried to think but there’s nothing. It was that bad. We couldn’t put 2 passes together, couldn’t control the ball and when it was given away Barnsley were so bad they just gave it straight back. On the odd fleeting occasion we did get it wide and in space, Lawrence or Murphy would fall over, pass back to their full back or just not bother.
Last week at Preston I said Lawrence’s performance was probably the worst individual performance I’d seen from a Sunderland player for as long as I could remember. He and Murphy were battling it out for that dubious honour once more today.
At half time you wondered how this would now play out, would Keane have it in him to changed this around and get them going again? Ultimately this is what the manager is there for and what separates the greats from the also-rans.
The 2nd half started much better, the pace was quicker, passing better and all round more urgency. It appeared as though words had been said. The ball was reaching the wings quicker and thus giving them more space which stretched Barnsley and created space in the middle. While Lawrence and Murphy still weren’t doing great they did enough to get in some decent crosses and their keeper was forced to make some good saves, particularly from Connolly.
More and more we pressed forward. Yorke was spreading the ball about in the middle and while the play still wasn’t great you felt this Barnsley side where there for the taking. The best chance came around the hour mark. A ball from Lawrence fell to Connolly 10 yards out at head height. However he was in so much room, he decided to take the ball down and shoot but it went straight to the keeper. You could see why he did that but an instant header may have been better.
Just under 20 minutes left and Wallace came on for Murphy and was instantly more of a threat. He seemed up for this one and ran at the defenders whenever he had the ball at his feet. It was the other side that provided the first goal though. A ball through to Nosworthy down the right, he crossed in and Whitehead ran onto it perfectly to deflect it past the keeper.
Normally I’d be quite nervous that we’d give the lead away but I don’t think there was any danger Barnsley were going to score today.
Last 5 minutes and Wallace’s party pieces came out, he seemed to be full of confidence. Spurred on by the crowd (there’s nothing better in football than seeing a winger take on a full back) he took the ball down the left, skinned 2 of their defenders, got to the touchline and put in a great cross. Chris Brown gave his nod of approval. 2-0
So a vital win gained but the last 10 minutes can’t disguise the fact it was a very poor game overall. With sterner teats to come the players need to start to play like that from the off and not have to get a rollicking every half time.
I’m not sure what makes you a better manager. Having your side play well from the off or, if you have a side playing badly, having the ability to turn it round in the second half. Both is the obvious answer but you can’t constantly keep fire-fighting half way through the game.
Man of the Match – Dwight Yorke
Report by marcopaul
