SEASON REVIEW - 2008/2009

AUGUST 2008

THE Reds had enjoyed a stable summer off the field for the first time in an absolute age as Barnsley manager Simon Davey quietly went about strengthening his squad for the forthcoming Championship campaign.

In came Hugo Colace, Mounir El Haimour, Darren Moore and - for a fee in excess of £1m - striker Iain Hume. It was not the massive overhaul of recent years and the Reds looked leaner and fitter for the campaign ahead. However, it was always going to be a tough opening month for the Reds as Heinz Muller, Anderson de Silva, Martin Devaney, Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Hugo Colace missed out through injury and international red tape.

Things kicked off at Queens Park Rangers as Barnsley locked horns with the world's richest club on opening day. Striker Hume made an instant impact as a Reds played by grabbing the opening goal early in the first half but a double by Fitz Hall before half time broke the Reds hearts and made it a long and disappointing drive back to South Yorkshire. Marciano Van Homoet's second half dismissal only made it worse.

The Reds looked to kick things off again on September 12 with a Carling Cup tie away at Crewe Alexandra. Things did not really go to plan as, although the Reds had the better of the play, a pair of penalties condemned the Reds to another defeat and dumped Simon Davey's side out of the Cup at the first hurdle.

Skipper Brian Howard grabbed his first goal of the season the following Saturday at Oakwell as the Reds came from a goal down to level against Coventry City. Again the visitors never really read the script and Julian Gray's second half winner stole the points. On loan winger Gary Teale made his Barnsley debut against the Sky Blues while Hume' s late red card cost the Reds any chance of a comeback.

At trip to promotion favourites Birmingham City was not the best way to follow three straight defeats but the Reds gave a great account of themselves at St Andrews and it could have been so different had Diego Leon's 30 yarder hit the back of the net and not the bar. Kevin Phillips and Gary O'Connor's first half goals were enough to win the game.

Barnsley needed a lift and a hard fought win at Oakwell against Derby County on September 30 was just what the manager needed. Hume's stunner opened the scoring while Stephen Foster grabbed a second just moments later to give the Reds all three much needed points.

The win lifted the Reds up to 18th place in the table heading into September.

SEPTEMBER 2008

SEPTEMBER started with a tricky trip to the West Coast to face a Blackpool side who were the bookies favourites to be scrapping at the wrong end of the table with the Reds.

Barnsley were boosted by Hugo Colace's international clearance and the Argentine made an instant impact with an outstanding debut at Bloomfield Road. The only problem was that the Reds just could not find a way through Blackpool and were stunned late in injury time by Steve Kabba's sensational winner.

A midweek clash with Cardiff City followed on September 16 and the Reds were caught cold by the Bluebirds and Peter Whittingham's 14th minute goal settled things. It had not been the best of starts to September and the Reds needed a lift.

Manager Simon Davey gave his strugglers a massive boost at Southampton four days later when Heinz Muller and Anderson de Silva made their long-awaited comebacks from injury. Both started the game at St Mary's and put in outstanding shifts in a goalless draw. It would have been the perfect return had Iain Hume netted in the closing seconds but the striker blazed wide of an open goal.

Things did not go to plan in front of goal again when Norwich City came to Oakwell on September 27 as Jon Macken's missed penalty cost the Reds all three points. Again it finished goalless as Barnsley just could not find a way through a stubborn Canaries outfit.

Barnsley followed the draw with Norwich with a tough trip to Ipswich Town three days later. The game will be remembers only for Reuben Noble Lazarus' first team debut in the dying moment to become the Football League's youngest ever player. Muller had a night to forget as the Reds let in three without reply at Portman Road and ended the month second from bottom.

OCTOBER 2008

AFTER a very sticky opening two months, the Reds were in a bit of a mess heading into the first South Yorkshire derby of the season.

Simon Davey's side had not played badly during August and September but had found results elusive and were practically propping up the table when Doncaster Rovers came to town. Things looked to be heading further towards the mire when Brian Stock netted a controversial first half penalty to open the scoring. Darren Moore's sending off early in the second half looked to have condemned the Reds but Barnsley bounced back magnificently and Stephen Foster, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Jon Macken and Iain Hume ran in late goals to rock Rovers.

It was a great catalyst and the Reds really should have taken things forward when they went to Crystal Palace on October 18. It did not work out that way and the Reds capitulated in front of the Sky cameras to a 3-0 defeat. Ben Watson (2) and Shefki Kuqi grabbed the goals.

Sheffield Wednesday were next at Oakwell on October 21. Barnsley bounced back from their Palace nightmare with a stunning derby day victory. Hume put the Reds on course early on and a Campbell-Ryce penalty wrapped things up in the second half.

The Reds made home advantage count again four days later when high-flying Bristol City were the visitors. Barnsley were on top for most of the game but again could not find that killer touch to turn one point into three.

October ended to a trip to Doncaster with the home side still smarting from being thumped at Oakwell earlier in the month. Again it was the Reds who ended a keenly fought contest with smiles on their faces as Macken netted a first half goal to take all three points and keep Simon Davey's side out of the bottom three.

NOVEMBER 2008

BUOYED by an away success at Doncaster Rovers, the Reds made the trip to Charlton in high spirits in the opening week of November.

Their growing confidence was matched by a stunning performance at The Valley as Simon Davey's side blew away Charlton in the first half. Jon Macken (2) and Darren Moore were on target in a fine 3-1 win. It was one of the best away day displays in a while.

Sheffield United were next for the Reds at Oakwell on November 8. It was a fateful day for the Reds that will be remembers for all the wrong reasons after Chris Morgan's despicable elbow on Iain Hume left the Barnsley striker with a fractured skull.

United were one up at that point after James Beattie had tapped in before Hume left the field. Beattie netted a controversial second from the spot although Kayode Odejayi pulled one back late on. News of Hume's tragic injury inflicted by Morgan's atrocious and unpunished challenge filtered through on the Monday morning. It left Oakwell in shock and very, very angry.

Barnsley had to make do without their £1m front man when Watford came to Oakwell the following Saturday. It was one of the longest weeks in recent memory but it ended on a high as Stephen Foster and Miguel Mostto were on target in a much-needed 2-1 win.

There was more controversy a week later at Preston as the home side's opener should never have counted as Neil Mellor's barge on Dennis Souza went unpunished. Jamal Campbell-Ryce made a game of it in the second half but there was late, late drama as Sean St Ledger plundered an last minute winner.

Macken put the Reds on the road to victory again two days later as he opened the scoring at Oakwell against Burnley. Campbell-Ryce and Diego Leon netted to open up a three goal lead but the Clarets fought back late on and a double from Martin Paterson set up a very tense finish in front of the Sky cameras. Barnsley hung on in there to pick up three vital points.

A trip to Nottingham Forest on November 29 saw the Reds go in search of a hat trick of wins. They probably should have had them as well after creating and missing a host of chances at the City Ground. In the end Joe Garner's header was enough to give Forest a win and easy the pressure on then boss Colin Calderwood.

DECEMBER 2008

WITH Christmas fast approaching the Reds needed a gift to really get their Championship campaign off and running.

The thought they had it at Oakwell in the first week of December as Jimmy Kebe's dismissal gave them a great chance to rock Reading. It wasn't to be as Brynjar Gunnarsson grabbed a winner for the promotion-chasing Royals late on.

Barnsley made the long trip to Swansea on December 9 looking to bounce back from the Reading defeat. Jon Macken and Jamal Campbell-Ryce looked to have put the Reds in a match winning position but a late collapse allowed Jason Scotland to net twice and snatch an undeserved share of the spoils.

A visit to promotion hopefuls Wolves was next on the agenda and it all went wrong in the first half as Bobby Hassell put the ball past Heinz Muller to give the home side the advantage while Kevin Foley added a second to put a little gloss on the result late on.

Barnsley needed to bounce back and the visit of Plymouth Argyle gave the Reds that opportunity when Simon Walton was sent off midway through the first half. Anderson de Silva and Campbell-Ryce netted the goals to salvage three much-needed points.

A Boxing Day trip to Burnley got off to the best possible start when Jamie Cureton hit the back of the net early on. Gavin McCann levelled before Campbell-Ryce, with a little help from McCann's boot, snatched the winner in the second half.

Cureton was again on target as Barnsley closed out 2008 with a point at home against Preston. The on loan striker opened the scoring before a very, very controversial free kick late on levelled things. The Reds ended 2008 in 16th position.

JANUARY 2009

THE New Year started with a real cracker of a FA Cup tie away at West Ham United. Barnsley gave it their all against the Premier League side but in the end were beaten 3-0 by the Hammers. There would be no repeat of last season's cup heroics.

It was back to the league on January 10 as Southampton came to Oakwell and shocked the Reds with a 1-0 win. David McGoldrick's late goal rocked Barnsley back on their heals and it was a blow that would take a while to recover from.

The Reds were again reeling a week later as they lined up against relegation rivals Norwich City. With Jamie Cureton recalled to the Canaries a few days prior following the dismissal of Glenn Roeder it was inevitable that the striker would play a starring role in the game. Cureton netted one of four Norwich goals as the Canaries ran riot.

It did not really get any better ten days later when Ipswich Town came to Oakwell and raced into a two goal lead inside ten minutes. Ex-Sheffield United striker Jon Stead bagged both goals and, although new signing Daniel Bogdanovic pulled one back, it was all too little too late for the Reds.

January's disappointment continued at Bristol City as the Robins won 2-0 as Barnsley crashed to a fifth straight defeat in the month.

FEBRUARY 2009

FEBRUARY was a strange month for the Reds and they faced just three matches due to international breaks and a real cold snap in South Yorkshire.

Simon Davey's side were down on their luck after losing five in a row through January and needed a lift. That came on deadline day as Michael Mifsud, Andranik Teymourian and Adam Hammill all joined the Reds fight.

The trio were all in action for the first time on February 17 at Sheffield Wednesday as the Reds made the enforced break count with a blistering performance and thoroughly deserved win. Jamal Campbell-Ryce grabbed the only goal of the game as Simon Davey masterminded a historic double over the Owls.

After the euphoria of Hillsborough, the Reds were brought crashing down to earth a few days later when Charlton arrived at Oakwell and managed to grind out a point in a dour goalless draw. Barnsley just lacked that cutting edge, that final pass or killer touch to bury Charlton.

They found that in the first half against QPR on February 28. Bogdanovic was on target to open the scoring early on to settle a few nerves. Although Damien Delaney levelled it, there was an inevitability about the Reds and Anderson de Silva snatched the winner.

MARCH 2009

MARCH started with more controversy for the Reds at Cardiff City as the Bluebird took advantage of a debateable red card for Andranik Teymourian to run out 3-1 winners on the night.

Jon Macken netted the Reds goal at Ninian Park as the Reds had the play off chasers rocking before the referee buckled under pressure from the home crowd to give Andranik his marching orders.

The Reds were right at it a week later against Birmingham City in a keenly fought clash at Oakwell. It was a real cracker and could have been even better after Michael Mifsud had broken his Barnsley duck in the second half. Martin Taylor levelled the game late on.

Blackpool were next at Oakwell in a real six pointer on March 14. Things did not really go to plan as the Seasiders shocked the Reds to win courtesy of Wade Small's second half stunner.

Barnsley needed something and they were back in business three days later against Crystal Palace. Although Shefki Kuqi had put the visitors in front, the Reds never let their heads drop and stormed back with Jamal Campbell-Ryce, a John Hills own goal and Michael Mifsud taking all three points.

The Reds went to Derby on March 21 in good spirits and it showed as they pass, passed and passed County off the park. The final touch was missing though as the Reds failed to deliver in the final third and two more points went begging.

APRIL / MAY 2009

APRIL 2009 was arguably the biggest month in the Reds recent history as Championship safety hung in the balance.

The Reds had three vital points in their grasp when Jamal Campbell-Ryce headed them into the lead against Nottingham Forest. Campbell-Ryce had a great chance to make it two from the spot but his missed penalty and Rob Earnshaw's late leveller meant another two home points went begging.

The Reds were at Sheffield United on April 7. The game was overshadowed by Chris Morgan's shocking elbow on Iain Hume six months before but the Reds kept their emotions in check to put up a brave fight against the promotion chasing Blades. Barnsley's resistance was broken on 81 minutes when John-Joe O'Toole netted. Arturo Lupoli grabbed a second for the Blades after the multi-ball system mysteriously disappeared to slow the game down.Campbell-Ryce missed from the spot and, although Daniel Bogdanovic grabbed one back, the Reds just did not have enough to get a deserved point.

Barnsley again had a vital win stolen from them at the death at Vicarage Road on April 11 after Jon Macken had put them in front against a poor Watford. Heinz Muller's clanger in stoppage time gifted the Hornets a point.

Easter Monday saw Swansea City swagger into Oakwell as they looked to continue their promotion charge. Ashley Williams put them one up inside two minutes; Jordi Gomez doubled that in the first half and then a real howler from Muller gifted Jason Scotland a third. Bogdanovic's penalty late in the game was not enough.

Barnsley needed to be shaken up and Reds boss Simon Davey did that at Reading the following weekend dropping Muller and Campbell-Ryce. In came Luke Steele and Hugo Colace and the Reds ground out a priceless point at the Madejski Stadium.

The Reds dropped another two points three days later after Bogdanovic had put them into the lead against Coventry City. A very, very controversial late penalty handed the home side a share of the spoils.

Championship safety was again in the Reds grasp when Wolves came to town on April 25. Again the Reds went in front, this time through Macken, but yet again a late leveller gave the visitors a point.

In the end it all came down to the final day. The Reds went to Plymouth looking for a point while Norwich City travelled to relegated Charlton. Barnsley did the business as they came back from a goal down and Adam Hammill and Jamal Campbell-Ryce sparked a party on the South Coast as Championship safety was secured.

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