Brian Glanville at The Valley Football is an illogical game, and there was no real logic at all about this result. It would have looked worse if Barnsley at the death had scored, as they should have, in a game that seemed lost until the very last minute. Charlton had set the pace, even been dominant for most of the match, but they ultimately paid the price, and it could have been higher, for failing to make the most of their chances. They had beyond doubt the two best, most influential players on the field in the two bright busy little men, Andy Reid and the Chinese international Zheng Zhi. Between them, with Reid repeatedly coming off the left wing where he was supposedly playing, the two of them dominated the midfield. Alas for Charlton, they found insufficient response, both from their strikers and from their wide players. Significantly, it was Reid who gave the able Barnsley keeper Heinz Muller most to do in one way and Zheng who, having just cleared the bar with a header in each half, eventually scored the solitary Charlton goal. Multimedia * Football League highlights * Ahead of the game email Multimedia * TheGame: online and kicking * Fanzine fanzone - your say Multimedia * Ahead of the game email * Fanzine fanzone - your say * Live: football match tracker That came as late as the 82nd minute, whereupon Barnsley and their two lively substitutes Kim Christensen and Martin Devaney came suddenly and exuberantly to life and equalised. Then, with seconds to go, Grant McCann missed what seemed a simple chance to win the match. Manager Simon Davey exonerated him, emphasising that the ball had come to McCann’s weaker right foot. “This season,” said a contented Davey, “we’re are competing with teams that have just come out of the Premiership but we’ve got to keep working hard on the training ground. The spirit at the moment is fantastic.” Alan Pardew praised Barnsley for their coherent football: “I thought they came and played and made the pitch too big for us. After the goal we thought, ‘Thank God for that’ and they capitalised on that.” From the beginning, it was plain that Reid was going to be the major thorn in a Barnsley side that was steadily forced back into defence the longer the match went on. On nine minutes Reid hit the bar and as the game wore on he was foiled by Muller. On the half-hour Zheng sent a header just over from Reid’s corner. Towards the end of the first half, Barnsley threatened briefly as Nicky Weaver turned Jamal Campbell-Ryce’s effort round a post. In the 82nd minute Zheng put the home side in front after Reid’s cross was headed back across goal by Chris Iwelumo. Barnsley suddenly came to life and from from Brian Howard’s corner, Anderson De Silva’s header was saved by Weaver. On the brink of full-time, Christensen converted Devaney’s right-wing cross. Then McCann missed his sitter. Star man: Andy Reid (Charlton Athletic) Player ratings. Charlton: Weaver 7, Mills 6, Fortune 4 (Sodje 32min, 6), Bougherra 6, Powell 6, Ambrose 6 (Thomas 72min), Zheng 8, Semedo 6, Reid 8, Iwelumo 6, Varney 6 (Todorov ht, 6) Barnsley: Muller 7, Foster 6, Nyatanga 7, Souza 6 (Christensen 83min), Werling 6, Campbell-Ryce 6 (Devaney 83min), De Silva 6, Howard 7, McCann 6, Odejayi 6, Mostto 7
and the guardian Barnsley brings Davey delight Jason Tomas Sunday October 7, 2007 The Observer Charlton were kicking themselves over their failure to obtain the win over Barnsley that their play and the number of chances they created deserved in a 1-1 draw that allowed Watford to increase their Championship lead over them to four points. Barnsley's present position in the top six would have been difficult to envisage when Simon Davey was promoted from the role of their youth academy head coach to that of first-team manager, initially on a caretaker basis, last November. They were second from bottom then and eventually finished 20th. Davey made 14 signings this summer and their performances have been transformed as well. Article continues The most successful of the newcomers, their German goalkeeper Heinz Muller, who was bought from Norway's Lillestrom, and Brazilian central defender Dennis Souza, who was picked up on a free transfer from Belgian club Charleroi, certainly needed to shine at Charlton. It was no more than the home team deserved when, after twice hitting the woodwork, Zhi Zheng put them ahead eight minutes from the end. But Barnsley emphasised their resilience through a stoppage-time equaliser by substitute Kim Christensen - his first goal in English football following his move from Odense - and even came close to a winner through Grant McCann.
And a report focused on us from the Telegraph - good read Barnsley serve up a new Brazilian blend By Andrew Warshaw at The Valley Last Updated: 11:04pm BST 06/10/2007 Charlton Athletic (0) 1 Barnsley (0) 1 Ten years after their brief flirtation with the Premiership, Barnsley are on the rise again with a multi-national squad and a little-known manager who are collectively proving the surprise package of the Championship. Football fans' forumadvertisement While it wasn't quite like watching Brazil — the mantra made famous by the Barnsley fans during their one season in the top flight — the Yorkshire side came through their toughest test to date yesterday by snatching a last-gasp point to stretch their unbeaten run to six games. Packing your squad with foreign imports in order to save on transfer fees and wages may improve team's overall technique but can be a risky business in terms of passion and commitment. Yet as Manchester City have proved, it all depends how quickly the players gel and Barnsley manager Simon Davey, who brought in 14 new summer signings, has fashioned a confident and coherent side. It's a far cry from last season when Barnsley finished 20th after being embroiled in a battle to beat the drop that culminated in a 7-0 drubbing at West Bromwich. "Credit has to go to the players, especially after we started the season with a 4-1 defeat," said Davey, who was promoted in January from his role in charge of the club's academy. "I watched all the new players before we signed them and from day one they've got on well with no friction," he said. ''There's a great spirit in the side." Yesterday there were eight nationalities in the Barnsley line-up including two Brazilians, two Germans and a Peruvian. But it was a Dane, Kim Christensen, who came off the bench to smash home an 89th-minute equaliser eight minutes after Zheng Zhi had headed Charlton in front. The home fans had seen their team strike the woodwork twice and dominate the second half during which Heinz Muller was excellent between the posts for Barnsley. Even so, Grant McCann almost won it for the visitors with virtually the last kick of the game only to fire wide of an open goal. "This was a great yardstick in terms of how far we've come from last season," Davey added. "We are competing now with teams that have come out of the Premiership but we need to keep our feet on the ground." Charlton, meanwhile, remain second behind Watford and are now unbeaten in eight games. "We were always liable for something nasty happening at the other end after we scored," said manager Alan Pardew. "But I liked Barnsley's attitude. They could easily shut up shop as so many teams do." Just like watching Brazil? Not quite but the visiting fans repeated the chant just the same.
hows your other half at the moment?! off in to sheffield this afternoon - just washing my barnsley shirt for the occasion!!
Thoroughly miserable and wanting Allen, Laws and everybody out! Going to computer fair in Sheffield so I am wearing my Barnsley shirt!
it appears as though the telegraph reporter was watching the same match as Charlie Nicholas from SKY Times and Grauniad reporters could have been in the same card school as the BBC1 reporter and couldnt be arsed to watch the football