YOUNG TYKES TAME TIMID PUSSY CATS
BARNSLEY boss Paul Heckingbottom saluted his young guns after they tore Sunderland apart.
The hosts were great value for the margin of their victory, their first against the Black Cats since 1998.
Two of Barnsley’s goals came from Ike Ugbo, 18, and 19-year-old Harvey Barnes, loanees from Chelsea and Leicester respectively, while George Moncur slotted in a third.
Heckingbottom said: “Whenever we take on players from Premier League clubs we just want to play a big part in their development.
“We bring them here in the hope that they do well, then it benefits both the player and then us of course.
“Ike and Harvey are both doing great jobs for us here so far.
“I’m delighted for the lads, some of them have come such a long way in a very short time.
“We got what we deserved, definitely, but I’d told the players before the game that we needed to take our chances when they came.
“We had to be brave against a very good side, but all the lads have shown they’ve got the qualities you need at this level.”
Two goals inside four minutes just after the halfhour mark swung the game firmly into the Tykes’ favour.
Recalled striker Ugbo broke the deadlock, crashing home from close range after a low, drilled cross from Barnes.
It was Barnes who doubled the lead spectacularly soon after. The Tykes’ full debutant volleyed home superbly from 15 yards after Adam Hammill’s cross wasn’t cleared sufficiently.
The Black Cats threatened early on when George Honeyman’s dangerous cross was almost turned into his own net by Adam Jackson.
Lewis Grabban also went close for the visitors, but they left the field at the interval to a crescendo of boos.
If anything the Sunderland performance was even poorer in the second half as the Tykes enjoyed their day in the sun.
Brad Potts almost made it 3-0 with a screamer from just outside the box, while Barnes was unfortunate as he saw a looping header go over.
The victory was wrapped up midway through the second half, and it was another supremely crisp strike from the hosts.
Ugbo neatly played in Moncur, and the former West Ham young- ster was assured in beating Robbin Ruiter from 15 yards.
The dissent from the visiting fans went up a notch or two, and after the game Black Cats boss Simon Grayson didn’t mince his words.
Grayson said: “For the first 25 to 30 minutes we were the dominant side, but after that point and the two quick goals which came against the run of play, Barnsley were on top throughout.
“There’s no doubt Barnsley deserved to win. They tackled harder, they ran harder and their players put their bodies on the line when required.
“It’s just not acceptable for us to lose in that manner – it’s not acceptable for the players to put in a performance like that. They need to work much harder for the shirt, I know that.
“It’s not been particularly good from us so far this season, but it’s a big learning curve for all the players.
“I can understand the fans’ reactions, they’re entitled to their opinions.
“It’s up to us to turn that negativity round now, and we will do.”