Barnet boss Currie celebrates in front of the stand that bears Uncle Tony’s name
Coulthirst
BARNET caretaker-boss Darren Currie was bursting with pride after this giantkilling win.
Currie, nephew of Sheffield United legend Tony Currie (right), only took over at the National League club following John Still’s retirement and could hardly contain his delight in a famous victory in front of the stand that bears his uncle’s name.
Shaquile Coulthirst’s first-half penalty was the only goal, but Barnet fully deserved their victory.
Currie said: “I’m so proud and honoured. I’ve only been in the job one week, but I’ve always believed in these players.
“All I ask them to do is pass the ball around. Then get it back if you give it away. We wanted them to play with no fear and they were outstanding – every one of them. We had a game plan where we knew they’d have the ball, so for the first 20-25 minutes we needed to grow into the game at a stadium and in an atmosphere we don’t witness very often.
“We didn’t want to fall behind, but we showed confidence and no fear.”
He met his uncle afterwards, adding: “He told me he was very proud of me, he felt we deserved it and had played very well. It is special.
“He’s my uncle, he’s a legend up here in Sheffield and a legend to m e , in football and as a family person – it means a lot to me.
“He’s lived in Sheffield all his life so I’ve not seen him loads over the years, but we spent lots of time on the phone while I was making my way in the game. He was a massive help to me and I even had a couple of trials with Sheffield United.” With 85 places between the clubs in the football pyramid, striker Coulthirst was the best player on the pitch.
He found willing partners in wingers Medy Elito and Ephron Mason-Clark, who ran themselves ragged before all three were replaced by equally effective substitutes. Even before Coulthirst calmly slotted a penalty past Simon Moore following Richard Stearman’s foul on Mason-Clark, the visitors had been denied a goal by the assistant referee’s offside flag. Early in the second half, Dan Sweeney had the best chance to add to Barnet’s lead, but stood on the ball three yards out with the goal at his mercy.
The Blades, third in the REF: Championship, fielded a second-string team and played with none of their usual skill, passion or aggression.
The introduction of captain Billy Sharp and tricky midfielder Mark Duffy improved the quality, but they failed to create a clear-cut opportunity.
Sharp stabbed one effort wide and Mark Cousins pushed a weak Clarke header on to the bar. Blades boss Chris Wilder admitted: “We 100 per cent deserved to lose, I have no complaints. They were the better team.
“I told the boys not to leave by the main entrance, they should sneak out as they don’t deserve to go out of the front.” SHEFFIELD UNITED: BARNET: