Super Dike strike fires Tykes into seventh heaven
AN American missile propelled Barnsley into the record books with a magnificent seventh win in a row.
On-loan MLS striker Daryl Dike was only granted a UK work permit because he made his USA debut in a 7-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago 24 hours before joining the Tykes from Orlando City.
But he’s proved mighty handy since making his debut in the FA Cup against Chelsea last month.
That narrow defeat has proved the launchpad for a charge which has seen them catapult themselves into the thick of the promotion race.
Dike’s sensational goal on 49 minutes – his third in four games – deserves its own place in the club’s hall of fame.
There looked nothing on when the striker, 20, took a pass from sub Carlton Morris.
But in a flash, he unleashed a 22-yard thunderbolt which flew past startled Birmingham keeper Neil Etheridge into the top corner of his net.
What a pity no fans were there to witness one of the most spectacular goals seen at Oakwell in years.
No Barnsley side in history has enjoyed a better winning run at this level, while boss Valerien Ismael claims he cannot recall seeing a goal quite like Dike’s rocket.
“In 29 years in football, I haven’t seen a strike like that,” he said. “It was unbelievable. I was right behind it and when the ball went in, it was a great feeling.
“That’s a big win for us because they made it difficult and we had to stay strong. This is what you can achieve when you believe.
“Everyone has the same vision and everyone is hungry.
“We will have a clear picture of the table just before the international break.”
Birmingham are embroiled in a grim fight for survival as Rotherham need to win just one of their three games in hand to send them crashing into the relegation zone.
And Blues manager Aitor Karanka knows his side need to buck up their ideas to stay in the division.
“It is impossible to score a goal if you do not shoot on target and we did not have one shot on target,” he said.
“I don’t know why. It is not as if I tell them not to shoot.”
Blues skipper Harlee Dean had the two best chances of the first half.
On six minutes, the centre-back should have broken the deadlock when he met Gary Gardner’s freekick but headed wide.
Twenty minutes later, Dean was again off target when he met Gardner’s corner.
Barnsley struggled to scale the heights of recent weeks and needed something special to break their opponents’ resistance.
And boy did Dike provide it!