Barnsley Chronicle

PA malfunctio­n only time home crowd get excited during miserable loss

Barnsley 0, Exeter City 2

- By Doug O’Kane

THE MOST exciting and memorable moment for Barnsley fans from this dismal afternoon was when the PA system inexplicab­ly started playing ‘Dakota’ by The Stereophon­ics during the second half.

Many supporters started clapping along, with the game ongoing, then booed when the song was turned off after about 20 seconds.

Given the hosts’ performanc­e, a more appropriat­e choice from the Welsh rock band might have been ‘More Life In A Tramp’s Vest’.

If that sounds harsh on a team who had been unbeaten in seven and won their previous four, it tallies with Michael Duff’s descriptio­n of his side as ‘lifeless and limp’ while adding: ‘No hunger, no energy, no quality.’ He also suggested his players ‘played with an ego’.

The Reds, who conceded poor goals on 35 seconds then three minutes after the break, were very flat while their passing was poor and they seemed to lack a clear strategy in attack – often resorting to hopeless long balls.

They certainly missed the relentless energy of Luke Thomas whose horrific training ground injury the previous day, Duff said, might have been a ‘contributi­ng factor’ if not a full explanatio­n for the dip in standards. That makes some sense, but it is only really an excuse that can be used once.

Excitement over a possible promotion push may have been dampened and, while it is too early to tell either way how good they will be this season, they cannot afford many more days like this.

As bad as Barnsley were, Exeter deserve plenty of credit – especially teenager Jay Stansfield who netted his first career goals for the club where his father Adam had been playing when he died of cancer in 2010.

Due to injuries, Exeter could only name six substitute­s, four of whom were untested teenagers.

Most of their players had spent the vast majority of their short careers in League Two.

They had four academy players in the starting 11 and another four on the bench.

While both starting 11s averaged 24 in age, Barnsley’s was far more experience­d at higher levels.

Exeter manager Matt Taylor left for Rotherham last week after four years in charge, in which he had gained promotion from League Two.

Barnsley said they would prepare for a side full of motivation and aim to match that – something they totally failed to do.

Duff said the main difference was that his forwards didn’t chase the ball and run in behind like Exeter’s did.

James Norwood started by taking the knee when the Reds had agreed not to, then quickly getting to his feet while laughing.

He then headed wide a right-wing Jack Aitchison cross wide unmarked eight yards out in the third minute, which could have been an immediate leveller. Norwood also saw a Nicky Cadden cross from the left hit him at the back post but it drifted across goal and wide.

He had a series of very long-range shots including one of which he fell over while scuffing, while his passing was often poor.

He was called a ‘City reject’ by the away fans after barely playing in a two-year spell in Devon as a youngster, but did nothing to shut them up.

Norwood was taken off before half-time, with Duff saying he could have removed any of the forwards. 0-1 Barnsley are yet to settle into their shape after half a minute when Jack Aitchison loses the ball just inside his half to Archie Collins who sends it to the edge of the Reds box. Sam Nombe touches it to Jay Stansfield who impressive­ly finds the bottom left corner from just outside the area.

0-2 A header down the right by an Exeter defender is collected by Nombe who powers easily past Mads Andersen’s very weak attempted tackle. Tom Edwards doesn’t follow Stansfield who is left totally unmarked to meet Nombe’s low cross and has yards of space to take a touch in the six-yard box and tap in.

Beaten: Barnsley in action in their 2-0 home loss to Exeter City.

Pictures: Keith Turner.

He was replaced by Adam Phillips who joined Aitchison as one of the number tens behind

Devante Cole who moved to the central striker role.

Phillips was played through by Aitchison seconds later but hesitated and was tackled, then made little impact for the rest of the game.

Aitchison was at fault for the opening goal, having been brought in for the injured Thomas after netting a last-minute winner the previous week.

The Scot then was Barnsley’s best player, and the only one who looked likely to make something positive happen with several impressive passes and pieces of skill.

But he missed a big chance in the 80th minute when he blazed over ten yards out after Robbie Cundy flicked on a Tom Edwards throw.

Cole – who worked hard after a slow start and won the ball regularly – also missed chances either side of half-time.

He tackled visiting goalkeeper Jamal Blackman who recovered to block the shot on the left of his six-yard box.

Then Cole robbed a defender on the left of the box but shot high and wide while off balance 12 yards out, seconds before the 2-0 goal.

In midfield, Herbie Kane again struggled to impose himself while Josh Benson had his worst game of an otherwise very good season – often playing balls forward to no one, although that may have been partly due to the lack of runs by the forwards.

Exeter’s midfield was Harper Collins, a major book publisher, and Rekeem and Archie looked ready to write a new chapter while Barnsley’s midfielder­s never seemed to be on the same page.

Left wing-back Cadden put in some good crosses for chances and saw a curling effort from just outside the box well tipped over by Blackman at 2-0.

But he also struggled defensivel­y and with tracking runners.

Right wing-back Jordan Williams was taken off at half-time with a hamstring injury and replaced by Edwards who does not have the same pace and dynamism, while he was partly at fault for the second goal within minutes.

Mads Andersen also made a rare error for that goal, as he too had his worst game of an excellent season.

Andersen also headed over a left-wing Cadden corner eight yards out when he should have scored at 1-0.

The other centre-backs Cundy and Liam Kitching – who had the most shots with three – and goalkeeper Brad Collins all had fairly solid games.

But Exeter were better and could have scored more.

Jake Caprice curled wide from the right of the box after a fine move then Sam Nombe headed a rightwing cross off-target before, at 2-0, Jevani Brown shot wide when well-placed and substitute Harry Smith missed a huge one-on-one chance.

But it didn’t matter as Exeter cruised to victory.

Barnsley (3-4-1-2): Collins, mark out of ten: 7; Cundy 7, Andersen 6, Kitching 7; Williams 5 (Edwards HT, 5) Kane 5 (Martin 62mins), Benson 5 (Connell 70), Cadden 6 (Larkeche 62); Aitchison 6, Norwood 4 (Phillips 37), Cole 6.

Unused: Walton, Tedic.

Exeter (3-4-1-2): Blackman; Key, Sweeney, Hartridge; Caprice, Harper, Collins, Sparkes; Brown (Cox 90+2); Nombe (Chauke 90+2), Stansfield (Smith 70). Unused: Brown, James, King.

Yellow cards: Brown.

Goals: Stansfield 1, 48.

Referee: Martin Coy (Durham).

Attendance: 10,384 (475 from Exeter).

 ?? ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom