[BFC SITE] "It wasn't to be for us tonight" - Darrell Clarke reviews defeat to Charlton...

Fixtures

• Charlton Athletic Vs. Barnsley - Tue, Mar 04 2025, 19:45

Darrell Clarke gave his appraisal of the Reds' 1-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic at the Valley on Tuesday evening.


A Charlton free-kick converted in the twelfth minute was the difference maker as Barnsley's three-game unbeaten streak came to an end in the capital.

Our Head Coach believes the game was always going to be a tough task for the Reds following three successes out of three in a week and a long trip South.

"It's a frustrating night," he began. "I try and be honest each time. I think it was one game too much, picking up a lot of tired bodies, tired legs in there. We're asking them to go again. I thought we started the first half well, on the front foot. We gave an error away for a goal that gives them something to hold on to and the impetus. Then we're losing key players during the course of the game as well, so it's a frustrating evening. Against a good team, I think they played us at the right time as well. If I'm honest with you, with the problems we've got, we just have to keep going, stick together, keep going and try and bounce back Saturday.

"There's no problem about togetherness. The group gets on fantastically well. We've just come to a difficult place to come with a lot of problems. We started the game really well. I think we give a sloppy goal away. I think if we score in that first half, I think that changes the complexion of the game. But it was, it was often huff and puff second half, without much clinicalness."

The injuries and suspensions have piled up for the Reds in recent weeks, added to today unfortunately with the early substiution of Josh Earl and Adam Phillips.

A casualty from our last home game, Lincoln City, was Georgie Gent, who will face a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an Achilles injury. Clarke bemoaned the absences but emphasised that it can not become an excuse for the Reds.

"It's a game where you want to be at your strongest, that's for sure," continued Clarke. "It wasn't to be for us tonight, a frustrating evening. I'm not going to be too critical of my players. We huffed and puffed but never really got anything going. We have a couple of long-range shots. Davis Keillor-Dunn has worked himself a great opportunity, that potentially changes the game. Maybe a game too many in a short space of time. With the injuries and suspensions, we've got to be able to regroup now and try and get a fit eleven on the pitch Saturday.

"Georgie Gent looks like it's a serious one. Looks like a season-ending one for him. We've got Phillo (Adam Phillips) that starts the game but struggling. 'Early' (Josh Earl) comes off injured, and we've got the other boys that are not in the squad that are injured. But we've got to get on with it. Connor Barratt came on, I thought he had done well. Difficult for a young kid to come into a game like that. I thought he did quite well, didn't make any errors. It was a tough night for us. So there are positives, but obviously, the quicker we get ourselves fresher and the bodies back, the better."

"It's a game we want to bounce back at. We'll get the bodies rested up and we'll count the numbers ready for Saturday. I'm sure our home fans will be coming in numbers to support us."



Fixtures

• Barnsley Vs. Blackpool - Sat, Mar 08 2025, 15:00

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"There's no problem about togetherness. The group gets on fantastically well."
Did he read this forum before saying this?
Shame about Gent though, we seem to be running out of 'players'.

 

He's talking gibberish. That second half was as bad as I've seen. About numbers too. Twelve games to go four points off Play-Offs everyone should have been chomping at the bit.

Repeating myself did that second half look like a team 4 points off Play-Offs? Have a few shots FFS.

Connell had both our efforts. Roberts had a throw (that wouldn't have counted).

Was tosh. Pretty much like this interview. Night folks.

 

So we've lost Gent unfortunately, for the season. And there are also other players with knocks etc, and we only have kids to replace them with.
Even 'Peppi' Guardiola couldn't work under these restrains, so what is Daz Clarke supposed to do ?.

 

Agree, 2nd half we never looked interested in winning. Even some of the throw-ins well in their half ended up with Smith after a couple passes.

 

Clarke definitely reads the BBS

Our injury list now is as bad as Huddersfield who had another couple tonight.

 

Losing key players is always going to be an excuse, but if the others can’t stand up and take the baton in a forward direction, why are they getting a wage?

 

Who cares ?. There you go again with the weird thing about Hudds, and their injury list.