Barry feels the heat after his big night out
INJURED or not, as a nocturnal activity before your team’s latest attempt to claw back some integrity from a wretched campaign, visiting the nightclub Snobs is a poor decision. Gareth Barry spent his Friday night at Birmingham’s best-known student music venue and posed for pictures with some fresh-faced revellers. Snobs was showing Middlesbrough v Wolves and Derby v Sunderland, but nobody is trying to sell the idea Barry was scouting for future Championship fixtures. It was just plain odd to discover that the 37-year-old, sidelined with a knee problem, was whiling away the hours at a place synonymous with teenage kicks. Alan Pardew admitted it was ‘unwise’ less than 24 hours before the Burnley game, and following the 2-1 defeat, the different standards of professionalism at the two clubs right now appear obvious. While Burnley advance with clear focus under the leadership of Sean Dyche, West Brom are unravelling in a swirl of bad performances and worse PR. Barry was a contender for West Brom’s player of the season but he has become a lightning rod for angry supporters since his part in the Barcelona taxi episode. It is doubted whether he will wear the club’s shirt again. Barry did not break any rules by going out on Friday and reported for medical treatment as expected the following morning. He cannot be blamed for the loss to Dyche’s team either. But avoiding further agitation of a fractious crowd is surely the minimum requirement. An unsavoury chant about Barry was aired in response to his trip to the nightclub and some West Brom fans in the Smethwick End even threw season tickets on to the pitch in disgust at an eighth successive Premier League loss. Chief executive Mark Jenkins wrote in his programme notes: ‘We have to accept the criticism about where we find ourselves. I intend the summer will see us conduct an overhaul which will re-set the club’s operating manual and establish a fresh structure and vision for the longterm.’ He said the league position was ‘hurtful and a blow to our self-esteem as a club.’ For Burnley, the picture could hardly be rosier. A third win in a row was secured by a superb strike from Ashley Barnes and a second by Chris Wood (above). Salomon Rondon’s goal was inconsequential. James Tarkowski insisted Burnley will not get carried away. ‘Football can change very quickly, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse,’ he said. ‘You’ve only got to look at a club like West Brom, who have been up and around the top 10 for years and are struggling now, so you’ve got to enjoy it while you can.’ WEST BROM (3-5-2): Foster 6; Dawson 6, Evans 5, Hegazi 5; Nyom 6, Livermore 5, Yacob 6, Brunt 5, Gibbs 5 (Phillips 46min, 6); Rodriguez 6 (Burke 74, 5), Rondon 7. Subs not used: Myhill, McClean, Gabr, Krychowiak, McAuley. Scorer: Rondon 83. Booked: Yacob. Manager: Alan Pardew 5. BURNLEY (4-4-2): Pope 7; Lowton 7, Tarkowski 7, Mee 7.5, Ward 7; Lennon 7, Westwood 7, Cork 7, Nkoudou 6 (Hendrick 69, 6); Wood 7 (Vokes 77), BARNES 8. Subs not used: Lindegaard, Taylor, Marney, Bardsley, Long. Scorers: Barnes 22, Wood 73. Booked: Pope, Cork, Barnes. Manager: Sean Dyche 7. Referee: Lee Probert 7. Attendance: 23,455.