<div class="ds-headline" id="ds-headline">McCann has eye on return to top flight </div><div class="ds-firstpara" id="ds-firstpara">Barnsley's new signing hopes Oakwell experience can fuel Premiership and Irish ambitions Barnsley 1 Ipswich Town 0 Championship Robert Gledhill at Oakwell</div><div class="va-bodytext" id="va-bodytext">IRISHMAN Grant McCann is on a treble mission at Oakwell – to keep Barnsley in the Championship, revive his international ambitions and return to the Premiership. One of four new faces brought in on deadline day by chairman Gordon Shepherd, McCann drove in the game's only goal in the second minute of stoppage time to give Barnsley only their second win in 11 Championship matches. It was a quality goal out of context with the match and was Barnsley's only strike on target throughout – Ipswich manager Jim Magilton confessinng: "It was an awful game. There was no football played, and I thought we were poor." McCann, however, was delighted by the result. "I'm really tired – you always seem to be on your debut – but I'm over the moon about the goal," said the 26-year-old, whose expected £100,000-plus move from Cheltenham will be completed in January. "The ball came in the box and I had not gambled all day but this time I did and I fired it home. "Overall we could probably have done better but I had heard that they had been playing well but not getting the results so I'm sure any Barnsley fan will take it." McCann, 26, is hoping the step up from League One will help him add to his nine Northern Ireland caps and he thanked former Cheltenham team-mate Martin Devaney – ironically dropped from the Barnsley squad – for making the phone call to ask him if he was interested in a move. "It's a big challenge moving up to the Championship – you can see the difference immediately and see how confident everyone is on the ball. "There is a lot more to come from me because I got a dead leg in the first half and I will have to see how it is for Tuesday's game against Southend. "My main aim is to keep Barnsley up but I want to start a few more games for Northern Ireland and I need to be playing at as high a level as possible at 26. "I began at West Ham as a youngster and played four or five times but then we lost 7-1 at Blackburn and I scored an own goal and after that Glenn Roeder decided to rest me and I went out to Cheltenham." McCann prefers to play in central midfield but replaced the departed Michael McIndoe on the left flank as caretaker manager Simon Davey rang the changes – fellow loan duo midfield man Ronnie Wallwork and striker Leon Knight also starting. McCann said of Davey: "He's been great with the lads and you can see the organisation he brings to set plays. I have been really impressed with him." Davey, stepping up from Academy manager following the sacking of Andy Ritchie in midweek, said team selection had been his responsibility alone and that the decision to drop Brian Howard had nothing to do with the midfield man's backing of Ritchie. "When you look at the record over the last 10 games, changes had to be made," he said. "I changed things round and I think I made the right choices. I picked the team on merit after two or three days training and we needed to freshen it up." Davey even showed he would not be swayed by the fans who chanted for the introduction of the inspirational Howard as the game drifted along aimlessly. Instead, Davey brought on West Ham prospect and left winger Kyel Reid for Paul Hayes on the right and it was from the youngster's cross that Alex Bruce could only head out into the path of match-winner McCann. Later, Davey confessed: "I don't think I have slept for the last four days after the board asked me to take charge. I suppose it did come as a bit of a shock but I am pleased with the way it has gone." Of his chances of remaining in charge beyond this week, Davey was diplomatically non-commital, though he did say: "Every coach and every player wants to work at the highest level. I am ambitious but I will take things as they come." Having brought in Ryan Kidd as his No 2 rather than any of the existing Oakwell staff, it could be that Davey is in line for more than a short stint in charge as Barnsley seek a 10th manager in eight years. Left-back Bobby Hassell (ankle) is a doubt tomorrow. robert.gledhill@ypn.co.uk Barnsley: Colgan, Hassell (Austin 73), P Reid, Kay, Heckingbottom; Hayes (K Reid 81), Togwell, Wallwork, McCann; Knight, Nardiello (Richards 63). Unused substitutes: Howard, Letheren. Ipswich Town: Price, Bates (Garvan 66), Bruce, DeVos, Harding; Roberts (Williams 73), Walton, Legwinski, Richards; Lee, Macken (Haynes 59). Unused substitutes: Naylor, Supple. Referee: E Ilderton (Tyne and Wear). MATCH FOCUS HERO Grant McCann: Despite carrying a 'dead leg', still had enough energy to drive home the winner in stoppage time. VILLAIN Brian Howard: Was it only a coincidence that he was dropped after backing sacked manager Andy Ritchie? KEY MOMENT 76th minute: Barnsley's Nick Colgan tips over a goalbound effort from Ipswich substitute Gavin Williams. REF WATCH Eddie Ilderton: Must have been his easiest match of the season – must also have a masochistic streak after ordering five minutes of stoppage time. ENTERTAINMENT Some improvement in the second period after what must have been the worst half of football seen at Oakwell in a long time. 4/10 VERDICT New faces and a new man in charge – but will it be enough to keep Barnsley in the Championship? WHO'S NEXT Barnsley v Southend United, Championship, Tuesday, November 28, 2006.</div><div class="va-date" id="va-date">27 November 2006</div>
