Defensive Coach - Andy Barlow

Any chance of getting him in permanently down at Oakwell? He was with us for a week, and we looked much improved at the back, well all over the pitch. The strikers chased players down, pushing them back into their own half. Mcindoe and Devaney did loads of running. As soon as we lost the ball, they both pulled deep helping out the full backs. We still look a bit dodgy with high balls into the box, but everybody threw themselves in front of the ball. Half of the team looked dead on their feet by the end. But still kept chasing, particularly brian howard who went flying into a challenge in the last couple of minutes which kept them deep in their own half. Fantastic. Keep it up.

Not sure what happened with the substitutions. Hayes went wide, then went off, although richards looked more knackered. Then Wright came on and played wide. Half of the team looked confused by this, but I thought he did ok, kept pressuring them, and got forward when he got the chance.

 

Major difference Saturday was the workrate put in by the 2 centre forwards and the 2 wide men. McIndoe's been doing it all season but devaney upped his contribution too, which 1st half especially made us a more solid defensive unit.</p>



Hope this Barlow chap's kept on in some form if that's his handywork.</p>

 

Agreed.

Particularly enjoyed Wright giving Breen some verbal and the w.anker hand sign.