Stendel sees familiar win as Reds change formation and beat poor visitors
THE LAST man to get Barnsley promoted out of League One, Daniel Stendel, was given a hero’s welcome when he was introduced to the crowd at half-time on Saturday.
The popular German, back as a guest of retiring club chaplain Pete Amos, must have recognised some of what he saw on the pitch – a comfortable home win for a Reds side who looked too good for their League One opponents.
That had not been the case for much of this season, especially during the winless and goalless four-game run through most of October.
Stendel never lost at Oakwell in League One but Duff has already suffered three harrowing defeats there, winning just one in five before this game.
Both Stendel and Duff took over after relegation from the Championship. But, whereas the Reds were financially able to keep a very strong third tier squad together in 2018 having only narrowly gone down, Duff arrived amid major changes throughout the club.
Star players were sold off – something Stendel would experience only after promotion – and Duff is still working on rebuilding confidence after the worst season in half a century.
As well as Stendel, at Oakwell on Saturday was the most legendary Reds boss of them all – Danny Wilson – plus board member Julie Anne Quay.
The pressure was on Duff after some worrying results and performances, with big expectation to beat a lowly side ahead of two weeks without a league fixture, but his side were much improved and gained a comfortable victory.
The first half was dull but the Reds, although not at their best, controlled the game and got the vital opener through Devante Cole.
After the break, they created numerous chances before eventually substitute Josh Martin secured the win in the first ever meeting of the clubs.
It must be pointed out that this was one of the most winnable matches the Reds could possibly have played at this point.
Newly-promoted Forest Green were third-bottom, had conceded the most goals in English football and not won away since opening day.
The Gloucestershire club are very environmentally-minded – a carbon neutral and vegan business – but were given a Barnsley chop and they always looked likely to ‘net zero’.
Their fans chanted for their manager to be sacked as their only two shots were well wide in the second half while they were carved open often.
For the second game in row, Barnsley were older than their opponents who averaged 23 in age to the hosts’ 24. Other than former Premier League striker Connor Wickham, who was very quiet, none of the visitors’ 11 had started a game at a higher level than the Championship, while only captain Baily Cargill had played more than 25 League One games.
The Reds did not press as much as usual, went more direct, and were happy for their possession-based hosts to have lost of the ball.
That may not always work against sides with different styles but it was the right approach to beat Forest Green.
They also changed system.
Barnsley started the season with a 3-5-2, having worked on it all pre-season but abandoned it after the harrowing opening day loss at Plymouth Argyle.
They have since used two in central midfield with, at first, a number ten behind two strikers, then two attacking midfielders behind one striker and sometimes a flat front three.
But, after the injury to key man Luke Thomas and some very disjointed attacking performances, they returned to 3-5-2.
It might not be right for every game, but the Reds now have flexibility to change shape when needed.
The 3-5-2 worked on Saturday as it stopped the counter-attacks that have hurt them in some recent games, with an extra man in the middle, made them more balanced in general and also got the best out of most of their players.
At Plymouth, they did not have enough players bursting from midfield into the box but this time – admittedly against much worse opponents than the current leaders – they got far more bodies in the opponent’s area.
Luca Connell played a holding role after replacing Martin in the 11, anchoring the team excellently.
That meant Josh Benson and Herbie Kane had more license to drive forward.
They both looked more comfortable in those roles, shuttling up and down their respective sides.
Kane’s energy and hard work caught the eye, as did Benson’s clever build-up play.
The 3-5-2 also meant that the wing-backs had the freedom of the flanks, with no wide forwards next to them and two strikers to aim for, while the extra man in midfield gave them more security to stay wide and attack.
That was exploited superbly by the fit-again Jordan Williams, on the right, and Nicky Cadden on the left.
Williams set up the opener – drawing him level with Connell as the top assist-maker on three – and was the best player on the pitch in the first half, surging forward with some excellent runs. He had replaced Robbie Cundy with Tom Edwards moving from wing-back into the back three.
Cadden does not have the same pace and dynamism as Williams but his crossing is outstanding, and he was extremely unlucky not to register at least one assist as he created several fine chances.
The former Forest Green man, who helped set up the second goal, probably had his best game for the Reds.
Another advantage from the change in system was that James Norwood and Cole played together as a two up front and offered much more of a focal point to the attacks.
Cole summed up Barnsley’s more direct style as he only completed six passes in 78 minutes but won six headers, with one hitting the back of the net for a crucial opener.
He is not a natural targetman but has been one of Barnsley’s better attackers this season despite often playing in a wider or deeper role.
Norwood has been a lot more hit and miss but, like Cole, was better in a front two.
He missed some big chances but was much more threatening than in previous games.
Norwood was booed throughout by the smattering of away fans, who sang some profane chants about their former player who had celebrated provocatively against them after scoring for Tranmere in the National League play-offs.
He seemed to enjoy their fury and later tweeted: “Thanks to the 13 of you making the trip and for the three points.”
Cole and Norwood were taken off on 78 minutes as part of a quadruple change.
Their replacements Slobodan Tedic and Martin combined for the second goal – a positive sign that the Reds do have strength in depth in attack.
They had chances throughout, but especially in the second half.
Centre-back Liam Kitching – who had a very good game against his old club – could have scored a hat-trick, although none were simple chances.
He headed off-target from fine crosses by Cadden and Williams and also saw a shot hacked off the line after the visitors could not clear a corner.
Norwood also came close several times. He had a goal ruled out for offside early on, then fired well over 15 yards out after a fine run on the left before shooting straight at ‘keeper Lewis Thomas five yards out from a wicked Cadden cross.
Kane volleyed a difficult chance over at 1-0 just inside the box after Norwood headed down a Benson cross. Benson saw a weak close-range shot saved after good work by Kitching but thought he had been fouled.
Williams watched a volley from 12 yards out deflect just wide of the bottom left corner after Cadden sent in a fine cross. Cole nearly scored a similar goal to his opener but his close-range header from a Cadden cross was well-saved.
Tedic should have made it 3-0 when he robbed Cargill of the ball and went clean through but was denied one-on-one. In the end 2-0 was enough to steady the ship and take one small step for Duff towards, eventually and ideally, emulating Stendel in getting Barnsley out of this league.
Barnsley (3-5-2): Collins, mark out of ten: 7; Edwards 7, Andersen 7, Kitching 8; Williams 8, (Cundy 78mins), Kane 7 (Phillips 78), Connell 7, Benson 7 (Jalo 86), Cadden 8; Cole 8 (Martin 78), Norwood 7 (Tedic 78). Unused: Walton, Larkeche. Yellow cards: Kitching. Goals: Cole 15, Martin 84.
Forest Green (3-5-2): Thomas; Bernard, Cargill, Marques; O’Keefe, Bunker (McAllister 58), Hendry, Peart-Harris (Little 58mins), Boyes (Fiabema 68); Wickham (Matt 68), March.
Unused: Burnett, Casey, Robertson.
Referee: Bobby Madden (East Kilbride).
Attendance: 9,551 (189 away fans).