Derby 2 Barnsley…3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Oli | September 16th, 2009

We won, we won, we won, WE WON. And AWAY, too. Oh, how good that feels. The performance was just the kind the team required to see us end a run which the victims of our determination would have been proud of during their record-breaking attempt at the top flight. We have now, officially pulled ourselves off the foot of the table, and god-knows, we deserved it.

Mark Robins installed in the players an appreciation of the manager that Davey never really did. Every man was playing for more than just the team, that’ll come later, he was playing for his individual place, and it worked. Right from the kick off we saw attackers closing down, and we saw the ball being pinged around the surface. The first Derby goal took away some of the drive, and a lot of the confidence. Up steps a man who doesn’t do low confidence, Adam Hammill, with what Nigel Clough has described as ‘outstanding’ and a ‘wonder goal’. The scouse rocket receives the ball, about 40 yards out, takes a big touch between two defenders, and smacks it. 35 yards. Top corner.

And really, it all kicked off from there. We began passing; the 18 year old Butterfield and Emil Hallfredsson began to run the show. It took until the second period, and on 56 minutes, the Icelander gets the ball just in the Reds half. He starts running, and carries on, and on. The shaved midfield maestro lines up a shot at 25 yards, then produces a beautiful Cruyff turn back onto his right peg, before rolling it through for the running Andy Gray. One touch to the left, second touch bottom corner. 2-1.

Time eventually crawls through to the big 90, and then it goes on. For 8 minutes. Heart in mouth, and probably nails too. But, it wasn’t like that. The player who we thought was least likely to get a goal comes off the bench. No not Kayode, Anderson. Yep, 90:00 +2, and Butterfield, who really, really, needs a nickname, sets him up. One-on-one, and manages to dribble round both the keeper and a defender, before finally tapping the damn ball in. Ah well, got the job done. Got the game dead…

…or not. 90 +5, and Shaun Barker heads in a corner. The man in the middle, Nigel Miller, had been consistently inconsistent all game, and general surprise ensued as he blew the whistle on exactly 98 minutes. Not that I’d know, I was too busy cheering.

Derby are an average Championship team, so scoring three goals at Pride Park is no mean feat. But conceding two a game is not good, it’s not even close to good. Robins needs to address our defending of crosses, now. Right now. But, is it because of the individuals? How about a few ratings

David Preece: 5 – He’ll just about do, but I’ve been far from impressed, and he gets the basics right, but my heart stops every time he starts making a decision about a cross. We need Steele back.

Emil Hallfredsson: 9 MOTM – Who is this man? Where has he come from? What does he want at Oakwell? Clearly, he must be lost, or perhaps he has been brought to us by a higher power. A higher power like, say, Reggina. Here’s what you do, everyone goes to say thank you to this here Reggina fan. That’s right, off you go.
Jacob Butterfield: 8 – For an 18 year old, his decision making is wonderful. Great range of passing, and also great vision. Definitely deserves a place.
Adam Hammill: 8 – GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

So, a really excellent performance then. The attack looked talented and dangerous, even if the defense was as shaky as the San Diego Fault. I’m not saying, or thinking, that we are there yet though. And neither is Mark Robins, as you will see in my next post. Barnsley match report here, and the BBC one, which will eventually gain the highlights, here.

So, roll on Swansea City, and roll on a chance to get a bit of momentum against an off-form welsh team.