Sub Jack’s goal secures epic win in poor game and shows Barnsley’s strength in depth
Fleetwood Town 0, Barnsley 1
WHEN the Barnsley matchday squad was announced, the general feeling was that it looked extra strong – including a bench which would supply Michael Duff with plenty of options.
Three hours later that proved to be the case as one of the substitutes, Jack Aitchison, headed in a 90th-minute winner to secure three points the visitors deserved after not being at their best but the superior side in a fairly dull match.
Aitchison was one of several players who had returned from injury recently which, along the addition of new signings late in the transfer window, created a deep and competitive squad which will be needed as Barnsley attempt to challenge near the top of League One across 46 games.
His goal continued to show that the Reds have strikers capable of scoring regularly while they were able to leave top-assister Luca Connell on the bench and, despite the loss of Conor McCarthy for the season, still look fairly well-stocked defensively.
The Reds now have more away points, in six games, than in all of last season while they equalled the tally of wins from the relegation campaign in their 11th fixture.
Although performances in their most recent games have not been sparkling, the results have been impressive as is their position of fifth.
They have won their last three away games without conceding for the first time since early 2016 at Shrewsbury, Bradford and Swindon.
As with every away game this season, they visited a side who had not lost at home this season.
They defeated a Fleetwood team who started the day just three points behind the Reds, with a game in hand, had the second best defensive record in the division and their only loss was on the opening day.
But the hosts only had one chance of note and – to deal with Barnsley – they had to make mid-game changes to their style of play, to a more direct approach, and formation, to three at the back, then seemed very content with 0-0.
Barnsley were excellent in the first 20 minutes, penning their hosts in with frantic pressing and playing some high-quality football with a succession of fine crosses which whizzed across the face of goal. But they did not score and the game went very flat, with strong winds hindering good football and home defender Toto Nsiala in fine form.
The expected gruelling battle against a side bossed by former Celtic warrior Scott Brown was in danger of turning into a pedestrian stalemate.
The away side were frustrated with each other at half-time, as Duff stood with his staff in the showers listening to the players argue before having to step in and calm them down.
The head coach said he saw that passion as a positive and it may be music to the ears of many Reds fans who, last season, endured a side who played with very little character and spirit. Duff said his long-serving staff commented that such an honest discussion has not happened for some time.
That emotion was not immediately obvious on the pitch in the second half and Duff was soon screaming at his team to find a higher tempo again which they did towards the end, partially due to changes, before eventually netting to delight the roughly 1,200 away fans.
After the imperious Mads Andersen won a header, and James Norwood cleverly nudged the ball into his path, Aitchison returned the ball to Norwood then sprinted into the box to meet an excellent leftwing cross and head in.
Aitchison, one of Barnsley’s smallest players, has lost all 21 aerial duels this season but, when left alone by first Ipswich in August then Fleetwood on Saturday, he has arrowed fine headers into the broom right corner. He says they are the only times he has headed the ball for the Reds.
The Scot seems to clam up less when he gets a headed chance, perhaps because it is so far from his area of expertise that he feels no pressure.
If he can be as clinical with his feet then he could score plenty of goals. A last-gasp winner against a side managed by his former Celtic captain Brown will only help with that.
Duff, in the build-up to the game, had shown him a highlights reel of all his chances and his recent performances in training, telling him to stay between the posts and act like a striker.
Aitchison, along with Norwood and Devante Cole who put in good shifts after each scoring three in four, were not seen as an ideal strikeforce a month ago but eight goals between them in six games is testament to their hard work and ability as well as Duff’s coaching and man management.
There were good performances throughout the side. Brad Collins – back in goal with a face mask after his recent injury – had no saves to make but dealt with Fleetwood’s few crosses or long balls well. The one time he was beaten, by Shaun Rooney’s volley late in the first half, Robbie Cundy cleared off the line. Cundy was part of a back three who all produced very good performances.
Liam Kitching returned from suspension in place of former Fleetwood man Tom Edwards who had not trained last week as his partner gave birth.
Kitching won the most headers while Andersen made nine clearances.
Both wing-backs were dangerous with their crosses, especially Nicky Cadden on the left early on.
Jordan Williams was beaten a couple of times but made the most tackles and got forward well, particularly in combination with the lively Luke Thomas who had a long-range shot saved early in the second half.
In the centre, Herbie Kane was one of the weaker players. Although he made some good touches – and the most interceptions with three – he often looked ponderous on the ball and lost it in key areas. He will have to improve to keep his place with Adam Phillips and Connell in contention.
Josh Benson is pretty much guaranteed a start currently and was very unlucky not to score a fifth goal of the season.
Benson almost opened the scoring when, after brilliantly jinking past two men on the edge of the box in the tenth minute, his shot took a huge deflection and looped onto the left post.
Benson’s left-wing corner then nearly went all the way in but goalkeeper Jay Lynch clawed it out of his bottom left corner.
Norwood did have the ball in the net in the second half, latching onto Phillips’ fine long pass and finishing. But it was flagged offside, with Duff later saying his analysts’ footage showed that to be wrong. Norwood – who played in the middle of a front three flanked by Cole and Thomas – was a threat throughout, with four key passes including the assist for the winner. He could have helped break the deadlock minutes earlier when he headed to Cole who nodded straight at the goalkeeper from close range. It was a frustrating afternoon for Cole who was replaced minutes later, having been subjected to sweary chants from the home fans at his former club.
Eventually he watched from the bench as Barnsley beat Fleetwood for a fifth time in a row.
Barnsley (3-4-3): Collins, mark out of ten: 7;
Cundy 8, Andersen 9, Kitching 8; Williams 6, Kane 5 (Phillips 69mins), Benson 7, Cadden 7 (Larkeche 81); Thomas 7 (Martin 69), Norwood 8, Cole 6 (Aitchison 86). Unused: Walton, Edwards, Connell. Yellow cards: Kane. Goals: Aitchison 90.
Fleetwood (4-2-3-1): Lynch; Rooney, Nsiala, Devlin, Andrew; Vela, Warrington; Macadam (Hayes 90mins), Batty (Lane 77), Morton (Gomes
77); Muskwe (Garner 70). Unused: Stolarczyk, Johnston, Baker. Yellow cards: Devlin, Macadam, Warrington, Garner.
Referee: Samuel Barrott (West Yorkshire).
Attendance: 4,024.