BARNET AND OLDHAM GET IN ON THE ACT
By HIs own admission, Darren Currie has been known mainly as ‘ Tony Currie’s nephew’ for most of his life.
yesterday it was uncle Tony taking the reflected glory as sheffield United’s ultimate legend saw his club humbled by the much lesser-known member of the football family.
It was a dazzler of a performance and result for Darren and his brilliant Barnet team.
These teams are separated by 84 places in the football pyramid but it was hard to tell which was which as Barnet won comfortably to become the only nonLeague side left in the competition.
Despite making 10 changes to a line- up he later defended as stoutly as he lambasted his shadow squad, Blades boss Chris Wilder had a side packed with experience.
Barnet ran them ragged from the start in a way that the scoreline nowhere near reflects and it was the first time the Blades had lost to a non- League side at Bramall Lane.
shaquile Coulthirst’s match- winning penalty midway through the first half was scant reward for the Bees as they swarmed forward at every opportunity.
Wilder, whose club sit third in the Championship, added to the sting in a scathing attack on ‘arrogant’ players. ‘I’ve told them not to walk out through the main entrance but find a side door to sneak through,’ he rapped.
But Wilder gave due credit to Barnet, whose 966 travelling fans celebrated in almost as much disbelief as joy.
A jubilant Currie Jnr joined his players on the pitch at the end and Tony also visited the away goalmouth to pay his respects.
‘Uncle Tony was a massive help to me as a young boy and tried to get me to sign here a couple of times,’ said the Barnet boss, now unbeaten in three matches but refusing to count on claiming the position.
‘I was Tony Currie’s nephew... then I got my own name.’
If he hadn’t before, he has now. Barnet were outstanding tactically, sucking in a sluggish home side and repeatedly pinging balls in behind them. Coulthirst, ephron Mason-Clark, Jack Taylor and Medy elito made pacy and skilful thrusts.
The Blades identified the problem, but could do nothing to turn the tide even after Mark Duffy and Billy sharp — big players Wilder had wanted to keep on the bench — were thrown on. only one save was demanded of Barnet keeper Mark Cousins, who tipped a Leon Clarke header on to the bar in the closing stages.
‘Uncle Tony said we deserved it and he’s proud of me, as I am of my players,’ said Currie Jnr. ‘every single one played their part perfectly and we could have won by more.’
Whether he intended it as a dig or not, Currie added another thrust when he was asked if he had considered resting players. ‘I don’t go in for resting players,’ he said. ‘If they’re tired they can go to bed early.’
Wilder defended his wholesale changes as essential after seeing his virtually unaltered senior side slog out three successive victories over Christmas and with big games to come.
He also insisted his second team should have been more than good enough to win.
‘our fans should have booed louder,’ he said. ‘It was one of the biggest disappointments I’ve had in my time here.’