Matchday Megathread, Northampton Town v Barnsley

It was yet another tough watch, but had key moments of quality in terms of the DKD goals. His first was a joy to watch. The second, you never doubt him from there. And fair play to Humphrys - who I really don't rate - because his contribution there was complete perfection.

But yeah. Quite hard to watch for the most part. Still deservedly ahead and comfy until our usual self-inflicted implosion in the last quarter. Shocking error from O'Keeffe, which summed up his second half, and to be fair, his recent form. I think he's been one of our better performers this season but he's flagging at the minute. Chance for Lembikisa?
Then Maël's silly tackle. Just unnecessary really, like Roberts a few weeks ago. I'm a fan of his, but maybe a little rest will do him good. It certainly looks to have helped Roberts. I'm also keen to see McCarthy get a proper go before his contract is up. Ideal opportunity for that now.

Can't say anyone other than DKD and Roberts shone tonight. But I don't think anyone was dreadful either. It was just a scrappy, ugly game lit up by DKD with Robbo in particular proving key to thwarting the constant aerial bombardment. Oh, and Smith. I thought he settled down after that early mishap. Didn't worry me or anything. So that's a plus.

But the key positive is three points. On the road. I watched BFC for years away from home and getting a win was as rare as rocking horse sh*t. We've gone from 10 points adrift of the top six to just four points. And even this old cynic can't grumble at that.

Oh, and we definitely missed Luca. And we will do big time on Saturday. Not a game we can really afford to lose, so let's hope there's some thinking caps on the coaching team's heads this week. Old Darrell loves a cap.

Up the Tykes x

 

Oh and just to end my comments.

I have zero issue in Smith being our number one either.

He looks comfortable and assured.

Quite how we were looking to send him on loan for experience I don't know. Maybe the training staff think that's the best course. But he doesn't look out of place

 

Bizarre how quickly we dropped 10 points adrift and how even more quickly, we reeled it in to 4 points.

Funny old game.

 

And of the teams narrowly above us Bolton are away at Wrexham. Charlton v Leyton Orient and injury ravaged Huddersfield away to Stevenage.

We could close the gap further this Saturday so tonights win was hardly a dead rubber.

 

Imho very poor game of football with smaller and smaller pockets of good play. Very welcome 3 points but we looked poor against a poor team.....and we still continue with flashes of "pub play" that makes me scream.
A poor league.... with poor teams.
We made it hard work in the end....and we knew we would.
Positives...... 3 points and Mark Roberts.

 

Not my argument but I was appalled more by him bottling a shot in the first half.

 

I wasn’t being funny or aggressive. Just didn’t understand the point.

We’re now closer to the Play Offs. So what? Doesn’t mean we’re in serious contention for promotion does it? No different to a week ago.

 

Hopefully you've not got a ticket for it.

 

I’m not being funny but, so what? You’re not seriously suggesting we’re in with a shout of promotion?

We gave that up some time ago.

 

I have indeed.

 

Had a good season imo. Reminds me of devante the last few seasons top scorer consistently good great at duffs high press, then people would take pleasure in picking his game to pieces. Strange.

 

I dont think we're good enough but just got to keep going until the mathematics say no.

 

I think good season is more than pushing it.

Better than last season definitely. I don’t rate Clarke really but even he’s seen that to use Russell it has to be a bit further up; Collins insisted on playing him deeper and he just wasn’t effective at all.

He certainly has flashes - there’s some ability there - but for me it’s only in sparse moments, and they are adjoined by far too many games of doing little positive - and, whilst repeating myself, not being fully committed in challenges for the ball. That’s the thing that annoys me. Absolutely anyone can graft and put the effort in. He doesn’t maximise his ability - or even close to it.

I really don’t think he’s as bad as you make out I do - he has some attributes - but they aren’t enough to cover his failings and for me it leads to a player that isn’t very good, on a consistent basis.

Though when you compare him to people like O’Keeffe and Humphrys on their current form he’s like a prime Iniesta.

 

I think Clarke had his lucky cap on today not his thinking cap. If he'd subbed when he should have Okeefe wouldnt have been on the pitch to drop the bollock.

 

Stats

Touches:
Roberts 67
Earl 62
de Gevigney 55

Aerial duels won:
Roberts 15
de Gevigney 7
Phillips 5

Tackles won:
Russell 4
Phillips 2
Nwakali 2

Pass completion percentage:
Keillor-Dunn 90%
Phillips 78%
de Gevigney 71%

Shots:
Keillor-Dunn 2 (both on target)
Humphrys 2 (1 on target)
Russell 2 (1 on target)

Best three players from WhoScored:
Keillor-Dunn
Roberts
Humphrys

Best three players from Opta:
Keillor-Dunn
Smith
Russell

 

Having sat through that tonight I can only say it's a Labour of love supporting Barnsley, apart from two well taken goals the rest of the game was diabolical.
If this is full testimony of DC and his team of coaches ability to coach then the future looks very bleak indeed.

 

Hoping they stay up and Posh go down

 

I agree with what you say about Collins playing him in the deeper role when it was basically hanging him out to dry and didn't suit him. Abit like everytime connell has played further up the pitch this season and Nwakali has played the holding role connell has had a mare.


Anyways enjoy the win.

 

We are 4 points off 6th with 13 games left.

We have been poor this season but you take what you can in football.

It's not over until it's over.

 

Chuffed with that. Absolutely coasted through until 80th minute thanks to 2 excellent DKD strikes then O'Keefe decides to gift them one back, and was convinced we'd throw it away once MDG was sent off for what looked like a yellow card challenge at worst. Very good resolve shown again by those on the pitch, especially with another absolute pisstake amount of stoppage time. I mean 9 minutes ffs.

Frozen my ballocks off but now on a warm train home following a win. We could have nowt to play for and I'd still be happy with that. You reds.