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 player 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.

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