Barnsley 1-1 Scunthorpe

How can any game with two goals be that boring? I mean really? How many clear chances were there? Two, in my memory, they both went in. The reason for this awful spectacle is simple, we played badly. An off-game. It happens. It doesn’t mean that we’re any worse suddenly, it doesn’t mean Robins is a bad manager, it just means we went away disappointed not to take more.

Scunthorpe didn’t look like a good side, but they looked effectively utilitarian. They broke us down well, and stopped Anderson playing at all. Although Doyle and Colace, back together, stood firm in front of the defence, Grant McCann excellent work further back gave them some ineffective possession. The game flowed in that vein right from the start, Scunny having a lot of deep possession, but no bite, while when we get it we rarely manage more than long balls at Macken. Anderson was under a lot of pressure; he dealt with the left back as well as McCann, Wright, and even Togwell. Meanwhile, Hammill remained with just the full-back, Hayes far too lazy to track back that far. But, we never got it out there. I don’t understand why, the few times Hammill got the ball, we nearly scored. He was the most effective player in our team, but he did little. The few chances of the first half fell to us, but there was little of note.

The second period wasn’t brighter at all really; more of the disappointing same. Our goal was good, Dickinson’s powerful clearance being picked up wide right by Bogdanovic, who manages to get goal side of his man and hack a low cross in, for the woefully unmarked Hugo Colace to gleefully slide in first time. Honestly, I thought that was it. Scunthorpe didn’t seem to have the attacking movement or guile to unlock a defence now containing Darren Moore and Shotton, following Fosters injury at half time. However, I forgot one thing. Grant McCann. His set pieces were deadly accurate, no surprises when a clever pin-point corner to the near post was headed on, forcing an unbelievable reaction save from Steele, only to see Hayes succeed in his sole aim; to score a goal without having to run. Normally, us drawing at the end of a game, at home even, brings a flurry of activity. What we got was more of a dribble. Scunthorpe didn’t want it, we were playing poorly. No tricks, no surprise, just long ball after long ball; until the stands began to beg for two or three passes.

I’ve seen 0-0 much more exciting than this. The defence wasn’t bad. Foster went off at half-time having taken a knock to his head (presumably for stitches). It was a shame, at half-time he was my MOTM. However, Moore did a decent job bar a couple of unfit looking moments. Kozluk had to deal with little, but had a lot of distribution to work with, a task I thought he under achieved at. Dickinson was sublimely effective, shutting Hayes’ efforts on the wings out, while even getting forward to give Hammill support on the rare occasions he received a pass.
The creation in midfield was our problem. Macken and Bogdanovic both had a lot of good touches, but Anderson was stifled, and we had an allergy to passing the damn round thing to Hammill. Colace and Doyle did the usual immaculate job of breaking up attacks, and the argentine deserved a goal. The real problem in the game was the attack. Off-games happen, and this was a spectacular example of that. We didn’t create much, and didn’t take obvious decisions.

Scunthorpe? I thought the Iron tried to pass it well, but had a lot of League 1 players. That bracket doesn’t include McCann. He was the best player on the pitch, running Scunthorpe’s limited team, and creating all their good attack with his set pieces. I’m very interested to know your thoughts on our ex-players here. Hayes looked as bad as he always was at that level, while Togwell didn’t get much to deal with. I’d take neither of them back, but I’d take McCann back now with open arms. He’d bring something different to us, and something worth having.
Ratings
Foster: 8 – Dealt with every thing pre-half-time. Had a black eye to deal with post-half-time.
Dickinson MOTM 9- Another great performance, Sign him up.
Hammill: 7 – What rating do you give someone who did is all right, but hardly did anything.
Colace: 7 – Good finish

People seem to want to find fault here. Don’t; hang off, clam down. There was no mismanagement here, just a bad performance. A boring performance. Boggy’s substitution was strange, but I don’t mind it. He wasn’t happy, but this is a busy time, and taking him off yesterday keeps him fitter, especially since he had a ‘tight groin’. Anyway, Hume’s a worthy replacement.

Meanwhile, we are being heavily linked to the free signing of Ivorian Defender Steven Gohori. Very heavily, everyone is at it. Apparently Robins flew to Borussia and used the personal touch on the current Borussia Mochenglanderbach player to convince him we are the right club. Nothing confirmed, everything alleged. Watch this space.

So, I think this could be diplomatically described as an unworthy performance. The game was flat, as was our team. But, it’s easy to get over. I believe that the arrival of both more serious opposition and 6,000 Geordies is sure to liven us back up.

Category: Match Reports