2009/2010

From the depths of despair in August to daring to dream of a play off push by March, 2009/2010 was the ultimate rollercoaster season at Oakwell as Mark Robins arrived to stamp his authority on the club.

AUGUST 2009

EXPECTATIONS were high at Oakwell as the Reds prepared for another season of Championship football.

Buoyed by a last-day escape back in May, the Reds kicked off the 2009/2010 campaign with a mouthwatering South Yorkshire derby at Hillsborough against a Sheffield Wednesday side fancied to improve this time around. Things did not really go to play as Jermaine Johnson and Michael Gray put the home side two up before the break as the Reds went in shellshocked.

Barnsley showed tremendous fighting spirit to silence Hillsborough with a stunning second half comeback as Jacob Butterfield and Jon Macken levelled things for Simon Davey's side.

The Reds were on the road again three days later with a tricky looking trip to Lincoln City in the Carling Cup. They needed a late, late goal by substitute Daniel Bogdanovic to book a place in the second round.

Hopes were lifted heading into the first home league match of the season against Coventry City on August 15 but goals from Leon Best and Clinton Morrison handed the Sky Blues all three points. Rob Kozluk's dismissal midway through the second half did little to help.

Things went from bad to worse at Oakwell just days later as Preston arrived and snatched all three points with a clinical finishing by Paul Parry, Neil Mellor and Jon Parkin.

Barnsley's rocky start to the season continued at Leicester City on August 22 as Matty Fryatt's goal midway through the second half heaped more pressure on the Reds.

There was some success though for Simon Davey's side in the Carling Cup at Reading as two Daniel Bogdanovic goals, including a last minute winner from the spot, sealed victory.

Reading were the opponents again on August 29 at Oakwell and it was a fateful day for Davey as his side crashed to a 2-1 defeat which ultimately cost him his job. Barnsley were left without a league win in August, although there were bright spots in the Carling Cup as victories over Lincoln and Reading had set up a Fourth Round date with Premier League side Burnley.

The Reds headed into September rooted to the foot of the table and without a manager leaving the Oakwell hierarchy searching for saviour…

SEPTEMBER 2009

HIGHLY-rated Rotherham United manager Mark Robins was the man the Reds turned to in a bid to turn around their fortunes.

Robins and his staff arrived at Oakwell on September 9 and immediately got to work transforming Barnsley's fortunes.

Things did not really get off to the best start as a narrow defeat at Watford highlighted everything that had gone wrong at Oakwell in the first month of the campaign. The Robins' effect was in full swing just three days later as a stunning performance - backed with goals from Adam Hammill, Andy Gray and Anderson - blew away Derby County in a thriller at Pride Park.

The Reds backed up the fine win at Derby with a hard-fought point against fancied Swansea City before entertaining Burnley at Oakwell in the Carling Cup on September 22. Barnsley supporters were given a real treat as Jon Macken, Anderson and Hugo Colace bagged a goal apiece to help dump the Clarets out of the competition on a memorable cup night at Oakwell.

Barnsley then travelled to QPR buoyed by the arrivals of Nathan Doyle, Ryan Shotton and Carl Dickinson but were on the wrong end of a 5-2 reverse although they could have easily had something from the game with a little more luck in front of goal. Andy Gray and Stephen Foster netted for the Reds.

The Reds finished September in some style with a thumping and deserved 3-1 home success over promotion chasing West Brom. Adam Hammill, Iain Hume and a Martis OG handed all three points to the home side.

Barnsley finished the month out of the bottom three and set for a charge up the Championship table. And then there was the small matter of Manchester United in the Carling Cup.

OCTOBER 2009

BARNSLEY kicked off October in style with a well-deserved victory over Ipswich Town at Oakwell.

As normal, things never really went to plan and it took a late, late winner from Jon Macken to settle the game. The Reds made it three wins in a row with an outstanding smash and grab raid at Doncaster Rovers the following week. Adam Hammill netted the only goal of the game following a fine defensive display.

The inconsistencies that would blight the Reds charge up the Championship table were highlighted in October as a late defeat at Nottingham Forest was followed by a controversial reverse at Oakwell against Bristol City where Ryan Shotton saw red. Adam Hammill and Daniel Bogdanovic were on target against the Robins.

Manchester United were next in town for a hotly-anticipated Carling Cup clash on October 27. In the end fine finishing by Danny Welbeck and Michael Owen saw off Mark Robins' brave side but the Reds earned huge plaudits following a fine display against the Champions.

Things quickly got back on track at the end of the month as Daniel Bogdanovic and Jon Macken hit a goal apiece in a 2-1 success at Peterborough.

Barnsley ended October on the up and in 17th position.

NOVEMBER 2009

NOVEMBER November was a strange month at Oakwell with just two matches played.

Barnsley ground out a controversial point against Sheffield United on November 9 in front of the Sky cameras as two harsh Blades penalties cost Mark Robins' side the win. Anderson and Daniel Bogdanovic were on target for the Reds.

The Reds were back in action at Oakwell a fortnight later as Carl Dickinson's thunderbolt of a free kick deep in stoppage time claimed a notable win over Cardiff City. It just might have taken the slightest of deflections though.

The final test of the month came at Plymouth on November 28 and the Reds were simply magnificent as Mark Robins' side battled back from a goal down to storm into a 4-1 lead before the referee amazingly and controversially called a halt to the game due to the rain. It was an outrageous decision and one that cost the Reds a sure three points.

Barnsley were making huge strides in the right direction and ended the month in 15th place.

DECEMBER 2009

WITH the Reds still seething after the disappointment of the Plymouth abandonment, Mark Robins took his side to in-form Blackpool at the start of December.

Things started poorly as Pool snatched the lead but another stunning fight back was capped in the second half by late goal from Bobby Hassell and an Andy Gray penalty to win the match. The Reds returned to Oakwell on December 9 but were held by Scunthorpe despite Hugo Colace's opener in the second half.

Oakwell's biggest crowd of the season saw promotion favourites Newcastle United twice take the lead against the Reds on December 12 but goals from Emil Hallfredsson and Bobby Hassell salvaged a well-earned point.

It was all square again just before Christmas as the Reds made the long journey to Crystal Palace and went in front courtesy of Daniel Bogdanovic's early goal. Victor Moses' stunning over head kick levelled things after the break.

The Reds ended 2009 in fine fashion with another barnstorming Oakwell display to send Middlesbrough packing. Trailing to Justin Hoyte's fluke, Barnsley hit back through Stephen Foster and Hugo Colace to take the points.

It had been a great December for Mark Robins and his in-form side as they went through the month unbeaten and ended the year mid-table.

JANUARY 2010

THE Reds revival had been stunning under the guidance of new manager Mark Robins and expectations were high heading into the New Year.

Things did not get off to the best possible start though in 2010 as defeat in the FA Cup at Scunthorpe followed by reverses against Coventry City and Sheffield Wednesday put the skids under things a little.

Barnsley needed to bounce back and they did it in fine fashion with a stunning win at Oakwell against promotion-chasing Leicester City on January 26, Hugo Colace was on target for the Reds in a fine overall display.

The Reds slipped up at Reading in late January but ended the month in 14th place in the table.

FEBRUARY 2010

FEBRUARY kicked off with a daunting trip to Preston North End. The Reds were boosted by the deadline day arrivals of Filipe Teixeira from West Brom and Burnley's Jay Rodriguez and both were to play a huge part at Deepdale.

The Reds were simply magnificent and turned in one of their finest performances of recent seasons to annihilate North End. Anderson's stunner set things going early on and a Michael Hart OG doubled the Reds tally midway through the first half. Andy Gray and Rodriguez - with his first touch as a Barnsley player - completed a 4-1 rout.

Barnsley needed to back things up at Oakwell on February 6 when struggling Watford were the visitors. Emil Hallfredsson settled things midway through the second half to give the Reds maximum points from a fine week.

Amazingly, talk of the play offs was rife amongst supporters but defeats by Middlesbrough, Plymouth and Scunthorpe put the skids on a Barnsley charge. However an outstanding display away at Cardiff City on February 20, capped by two fine Daniel Bogdanovic goals, and a narrow victory over Blackpool a week later summed up the Reds up and down start to the New Year, which saw them again flirt with the top six.

The Reds ended February in ninth position in the table - just four points off the top six.

MARCH 2010

MARCH was a big month for Mark Robins' side as they looked to push on and fight it out in the promotion race. It was amazing really after such a poor start to the campaign and testament to the new manager and players that they started the month just four points outside the top six.

A trip to Newcastle United threw a spanner in the works especially after the Reds had done magnificently against the Magpies for the opening 42 minutes. The game turned in controversial fashion just before the break when Peter Lovenkrands cheated to win a soft penalty. The referee was conned by Lovenkrands' blatant dive and, to compound the Reds misery, also sent off keeper Luke Steele. Newcastle ran out 6-1 winners in the end but it could have been so different.

A goalless draw against Crystal Palace at Oakwell was followed by another fine, fine Barnsley performance on March 16 as Nottingham Forest came to town and were blown away by Robins' Reds. Daniel Bogdanovic netted twice to take the points against promotion chasing Forest.

A soft defeat at Ipswich Town meant the Reds lost ground in the race for sixth place and they came out second best in an amazing eight goal thriller at Ashton Gate on March 23. Barnsley were in front in the first half but ended up on the wrong side of a 5-3 scoreline after a match that could have ended six or seven apiece.

A disappointing home defeat by Doncaster on March 27 was followed by a hard-fought goalless draw in the re-arranged game at Plymouth four days later to leave the Reds in mid-table, having smashed the 50 point barrier before the end of March.

APRIL AND MAY 2010

WITH the 50 point barrier smashed at the end of March and survival virtually assured, the Reds entered April in buoyant mood.

A hard-fought but deserved point at Sheffield United on April 3 meant the month started on a high note but back-to-back home stalemates against Peterborough and Derby meant a stuttering end to the season. Iain Hume was on target twice against Peterborough in a 2-2 draw while the Reds and Derby played out a goalless encounter that finally, mathematically, ensured survival. It was a massive achievement for a side stranded adrift at the foot of the table after the first six matches.

Unfortunately, the Reds took their foot off the gas a little in the closing stages of the campaign and a defeat at Swansea was followed by a disappointing home reverse against QPR in the final match of the season at Oakwell.

The final match of an eventful season was at promoted West Brom. Barnsley turned in a real performance to whet the appetite ahead of the summer to throw a spanner in the Baggies promotion party. Hugo Colace netted the opener before Graham Dorrans levelled with the last kick of the game. It was harsh on the Reds but there were enough positive signs to point to a very bright future at Oakwell.

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