My report and player assessments

I suppose the first thing to say is that today we saw our manager making a change for the better, rather than desperate like-for-like substitutions that either keep the team shape the same, or unbalance it altogether. I felt sorry for Ryan Williams - we've all been waiting for him to get fit and to start firing up the team a bit like he did last season, but it didn't work today. Maybe he isn't fit, or maybe it just wasn't his day. He certainly didn't seem to know how to find a red shirt, or perhaps no one was making the runs for him, so he was wasting just about every ball he played. Whatever it was I was a bit shocked to hear so much criticism coming down on him from people around me in the ESL, near the half way line. Give him a chance, for goodness sake. It was his first game in goodness knows how long and he will need time to get up to speed. Like the rest of our YOUNG players - give them a chance, and they will come good.

It worked today because the manager realised his mistake in dropping SSW. He came on and was outstanding for me, and deserved at least one goal. He gave their defence problems from the first minute he was on the pitch. So, on to the player assessments:

Townsend - hmm, not quite up to his performances against Scunny in the two cup games but he made up for his mistakes later on. Made some good solid saves after that error and I would give him another go next week. He nearly got caught out coming out to head the ball away early on but the mix up with Nyatanga was a shocker. Maybe both players were to blame but I think he should have stayed back a bit and then he could have collected a simple headed back pass. By the way, did anyone else think that our chasing defender could have made a bit more effort to catch it? Probably being harsh there but it seemed to roll in a bit slowly. Can't remember who it was but if it was Alfie Mawson he more than made up for it afterwards.

Wabara and Smith - proper full back performances from both. Very impressive at both ends of the field and WHAT A GOAL from Reece! There just seemed to be nothing on at all and he just bent it in with the outside of his boot from 20 yards, right into the top corner. Fantastic goal. Best I have seen Smith play this season. Assured, skilful on the ball - well done George!

Nyatanga and Mawson - brilliant centre back performances from both, apart from Lewin's header at the wrong end. He was there for CH's floated cross again though. How many times has that combination resulted in a goal for us? Great header. Alfie was class all through - every touch of the ball was top drawer. He had a couple of charged down efforts on goal as well. He is going to make MILLIONS for us when he goes. Hope it is not too soon.

Williams and Harris - as I said, too soon to make an assessment on Williams. He wasn't up to it today and was rightly subbed after only 29 minutes. Pass after pass went astray so he will have to work hard to get his place with so many good midfielders at the club. Harris had another frustrating afternoon for me - he looks the part but doesn't go round the outside often enough. I hate to see wingers cutting inside but at least he has the pace and guile to worry the defenders. He's another of our young crop who will get better as he goes along.

Scowen and Pearson - the "enfants terrible" again! Both lucky to stay on the pitch (with the referee we had today - SHOCKING!). I think both have had their cards marked by the referees' union and that idiot today couldn't wait to yellow card Pearson. It was his first foul but, then again, he could have got a red for it. Both had cracking games though and that run of Scowen's for our fourth goal was sublime. Pulled their defence all out of shape and unlucky not to score himself.

Hourihane - deservedly man of the match. Not sure what he is eating these days but he is playing like a man possessed at times. Proper tackling, tracking back, all the stuff that he doesn't really have to do because, basically, he is our "goal machine". If he doesn't score he provides the ball for others to do so. Could be tricky keeping him next January so I am just enjoying him while he is here. No boos for CH from me - never have been, never will be.

Watkins - when I saw the team I predicted him at centre forward and scoring a hat trick. The one he did get was a great finish with just a hint of offside so it was nice that the linesman kept his flag down. Perhaps Marley was just so fast but he ended up with half of Oakwell to run into and then pick his spot. He did so with skill and accuracy and it got us back into a game we might have lost.

SSW - got over an hour from the subs bench and he worked ever single minute he was on the pitch. He won just about every header that he went for and, more often than not, found a red shirt with his knock downs. He should have had a penalty when he took it far too wide of the goal but SURELY the keeper caught him. Need to see that again. Was it him that had that rasper of a shot late on that the keeper tipped over as well? Great centre forward performance anyway. You just cannot leave a player like that out.

Jackson and Bree - went on fairly late for Wabara and Harris. Nothing much to report, but nothing done wrong either.

So, to summarise briefly, it was a cracking result and once again there was some lovely football played. I just don't get this idea that we are boring to watch. I don't go to see Barnsley play expecting 90mph football for 90 minutes. Sometimes it's a bit ponderous. Often balls are sprayed wide or backwards instead of forwards. But that's how it is, unless you are a top team. You play some good stuff, you play some poor stuff.

I can't see how anyone could go home dissatisfied today. I'm glad I was there and I want more of that every week - win, draw or lose!

 

Thanks for that. Missed today's game being on holiday so looking for as much feedback as I can get especially after a result like that.

Looking forward to seeing the highlights on player now

 

Thanks princey. Pretty much how I saw it too. A cracking result against a very good Swindon side.

 

I thought Swindon played some neat football but they never really had a genuine attacking threat. I honestly never felt like they were going to hurt us.

 

Good read. Couldn't get today so much appreciated

 

Thanks for your appreciative comments.

I thought Swindon were pretty much like they were last season. Passing back to the keeper and along the back line constantly. Difference though was that they didn't have Nathan Byrne there to hurt us. Comprehensive win for us, all day long.

 

Exactly. We'll probably lose at Blackpool next week just to bring us all down again. Or we might win 3-0!