My report - I wonder if there has ever been a more reluctant lap of honour?

You would think they had all been sent out for one last walk round the prison yard before facing the firing squad. They took an age to come back out which, let's be honest, ruined the whole idea. By the time they eventually came the 12,000 crowd had diminished to, maybe, 2 or 3,000? Not sure, but the stands were extremely thinly populated, and that was a huge shame. The way these players have turned around the season deserved better than that. But, then again, you could understand plenty drifting away in disappointment after that 98th minute sucker punch. Plus, I repeat, they took FAR too long to come back out. There was no rampaging crowd on the pitch, so why did it take so long?

There was one who came on and acted the fool at the Ponty End. Top marks to the guy who came on and dragged him off though. Wonder if they knew each other? Apart from that everybody stayed off the grass and thank goodness for that, just for a change. Anyway, a few notes about the match.

Within minutes it was clear that they had potentially the best two players on the park - Nicky Shorey and George Moncur. Moncur would be my top choice as a midfield signing next season. He's 23 and cruised around the pitch like the West Ham graduate that he is. Lovely goal as well. Nicky Shorey showed his premier league and England pedigree. He got two caps in 2007 and was probably unlucky not to get more. He's 35 but showed his experience down the left wing every time he went near the ball. Sadly, for all his recent heroics, George Williams was a long way behind him in that. This looked like his worst game for us, and with Scowen on the other side doing nothing much either, our defence looked shaky yesterday. Thank goodness the two centre halves and the keeper had decent games, though you would have to question the last goal. Poor marking and beaten at the near post, so not exactly covering themselves in glory there.

Midfield - good grief! Why has Hourihane adopted this almost sweeper-like role? He spends more time taking short passes from defenders (and then giving it back) than he does upfield where he can do some damage. Brownhill might do a lot of "dirty work" but he's no better than Scowen for me, so I don't really see the point. Hammill and Isgrove - the usual really. Adam floats in a lovely cross and can score brilliant goals, but his output yesterday was sub-standard, and not for the first time recently. Is he "running on empty", like a few others? Lloyd was a willing runner, as ever, without really threatening anything.

Up front, thank goodness for Ashley Fletcher. He took his goals brilliantly but I fear that's the last time he will play at Oakwell. He was doing plenty of "saying goodbye to the fans" stuff right at the end so I reckon he's gone (play-offs excepted, of course). He's been a good signing and I would love to see him back. Sam Winnall - I can't bring myself to call him SSW today - was poor and, not for the first time lately. He's a goal scorer and a willing worker but something has gone wrong with this player lately. Perhaps he is playing when unfit, who knows. He was looking like 25 goals-plus a few weeks ago. Not now.

Surprising choice of players of the year by the way. Winnall gets 20 goals yet not in the running? Hammill has been our talisman since the York City game, but I wouldn't have given him the top prize. Goal of the season yes, but not POTY. Popular lad though, so that must be why he got it. Alfie Mawson had a good result with the awards - well deserved.

So, what next? I was stupid to make my light-hearted 5-0 prediction the other day. Colchester were better than that. But we all know that was a game to be won yesterday, no matter how decent the opposition. The chances we missed were unbelievable. The referee's performance - YET AGAIN - was abysmal. The urgency from minute one was not there, again. What is it with Barnsley lately? Why can't we rip into teams for the first twenty minutes and get a couple of goals ahead?

The way we finished yesterday was baffling. Stroking the ball around as if we were six-nil up. Shocking tactics Reds, and if those two points cost us sixth spot then you should hang your heads in shame. On the other hand though, we have tossed away a few others recently, so it's not all down to one result. Whatever happens next week it's been an incredible season. From the depths of despair and boredom to the dizzy heights of a Wembley win and a promotion push. For that let's thank the players and club for a great effort.

 

Winnall is knackered he's grafted solidly for 53 games this season.

 

I was thinking at full time that I was glad that it wasn't me having to go and do a lap around the pitch after that 98th min goal and I wasn't even playing. I felt like walking out at full time and struggled to bring myself to clap when they came around as I was feeling so disappointed at that moment.

 

That's exactly how I felt. We fought the feeling of total disappointment and waited for about ten minutes for the players to come back out but when they hadn't appeared we just drifted away along with many others.