Terrific atmosphere that day. Remember walking into town and pubs were bouncing even pre game. The roof nearly came off after Winnall's solo second.
There used to be a cracking video on YouTube that someone had taken on their phone of the Barnsley fans celebrating the 2nd goal, breaking into a chorus of Winnall's on fire, a brief silence, and then pandemonium when he scores the 3rd. Ive tried to find it recently but I can't.
And yet people call him vile names and refuse to acknowledge what a great striker he was for us. I’ll NEVER criticise a player who moves on after giving great service for a couple of seasons or more.
Hourihane, Roberts, Mawson, Winnall, Fletcher, Toney, Brownhill, Scowen .... etc etc etc. What a feckin team !!! And what might have been. Funnily enough I didn't see any tip tap fannying across the back line, mainly forward thinking play and excitement. Wonder if we'll see that tomorrow?
It's been done to death ........ but the facts are few criticise his service and his qualities as a striker; several criticise the manner of his departure. At the end of the day he has apologised for it himself and says he could have done things different.
In the replays after Winnall's first, did the summariser say "you back off Tom Bradshaw, that's what he can do" .......
I didn't feel sorry for Warsaw Fc of course, they and everybody else knows the rules of top two for automatic, or its the Play offs. But with the form we were in at the time, and seeing as they were pipped to 2nd place, wasn't it nailed on!. I reckon 99% of us just knew/felt we were going to beat them, and that wasn't over confidence or arrogance was it.
Good times. No home game has lived up to it since and the only two in the same league was the Leeds game the season after when Hourihane scored that free kick and Wednesday last season. Granted, Derby at home last season, Fulham at home under Stendel and that Sheff United game when Bradshaw bagged two late on were all good but they don’t seem to make these as often anymore.
We'd just put 4 past Wigan at their place who had gone up champs..Everyone knew we had a good side and whoever we played in the semi's and final we were going to beat. No one had any doubts. Sadly that feeling isn't here this time.. but you never know 6 points over Easter may put a different slant on it.. but it's the hope that kills you.