A QUICK look at tomorrow's game.
Barnsley Team News
Barnsley midfielder Hugo Colace is a big doubt for the game after struggling all week with a calf problem. The Argentine will be given every possible opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of the big match at Carrow Road. Luke Potter (knee) and Liam Dickinson (ankle) are both sidelined through injury.
Norwich City Team News
Norwich midfielder Andrew Crofts is expected to be fit to line up for the Canaries after missing Wales' Euro qualifiers with an ankle injury. Striker Simeon Jackson is also expected to be included in the Norwich squad after returning from international duty with Canada. Michael Nelson, Steven Smith and Zak Whitbread are all sidelined through injury.
Last Time Out - January 17, 2009 - Carrow Road
NORWICH CITY 4 (Hoolahan 55, Cureton 75, Clingan P 87, Russell 90)
BARNSLEY 0
IT was 72 years since the Reds last won at Carrow Road and Barnsley's chances spectacularly blew apart in a dismal second half capped - typically - by Jamie Cureton's killer goal for the Canaries.
Reds boss Simon Davey again rang the changes with Anderson, Diego Leon and Rob Kozluk - including face mask - returning to the starting eleven at Carrow Road. Mounir El Haimour, Stephen Foster and Cureton were missing from the defeat against Southampton. Cureton started the game for Norwich after being recalled by the Canaries earlier this week. Jamal Campbell-Ryce was also in the starting eleven despite intense speculation surrounding his future in the last 24-hours.
Both sides started quickly in a cauldron of noise inside Carrow Road although it was the Reds who should have taken the lead with just four minutes on the clock as Anderson's pass sent ex-Canary Maceo Rigters clean through and the Dutchman did well to get to the ball before David Marshall but prodded the ball wide of the target.
Cureton had his first sight of goal on six minutes as he met Lee Croft's cross but planted a difficult header well wide of the goal. Cureton was in again a minute later as he raced onto Ryan Bertrand's deflected pass but Heinz Muller was quickly out to smother the danger.
Rigters tested his shooting boots again on eleven minutes as he cut in from the left touchline before bringing a smart low save from Marshall with a well-drilled strike. The home then were a foot or so away from taking the lead just a minute later as Darel Russell met Croft's corner but his strike was hacked away off the goal line by Bobby Hassell.
Barnsley had Norwich stretched on 15 minutes as Rigters sent Campbell-Ryce away down the left. The winger did well to cut into the area and stand the ball up at the back post but his cross just beat everybody and the chance went begging. Anderson then led the Norwich defence a merry dance on the edge of the box a minute later before shooting but Marshall managed to get his angles right and made a smart save.
Norwich put the Reds under pressure on 20 minutes as Wes Hoolahan sprang into life on the left hand side. The little winger burst past his man and though before picking out Russell but Darren Moore was in the right place to make a fine, last gasp block.
Leon's foul on Sammy Clingan earned the Spaniard a booking on 22 minutes and it could have been even worse had Mark Fortheringham's free kick not flew a foot wide of the post. Leon was very lucky just a minute later as he checked Hoolahan out of play on the far side of the pitch and could quite easily picked up a second booking.
Campbell-Ryce did well to open Norwich up on 29 minutes as his fine cross dropped invitingly for Jon Macken to smash first time but the striker took a needless touch and the chance was gone. At the other end Gary Doherty headed high over the bar seconds later after beating Moore to Croft's outswinging corner kick.
Hoolahan then stung Muller's hands on 37 minutes after letting fly from 30 yards but the big German was never in any real trouble and coolly dealt with his effort. Russell then should have been booked just seconds later after a ridiculous dive under a challenge by Dennis Souza.
The Reds survived a big penalty appeal three minutes later as Hoolahan's corner bounced up and struck Anderson in the area but referee Simon Hooper was unsighted and gave nothing. Russell then saw a goalbound shot well blocked by Souza in stoppage time as City came on strong in the closing stages of the half.
The first real action of the second half saw Kozluk upend Croft right on half way to pick up a booking. Norwich broke well on 49 minutes and gave Russell a chance on the edge of the box but the striker could not find the target from 18 yards.
Leon's game was over on 51 minutes as his recent injury problems took their toll and he was replaced by youngster Jacob Butterfield.
After being so solid for the opening 558 minutes, the Reds defence went walkabout as Norwich picked them wide open with the simplest of flicks by Russell that sent Hoolahan in between Souza and Moore. The winger easily rounded Muller before rolling the ball into an empty net.
Barnsley had a chance to strike straight back on 58 minutes after the Reds won a free kick right on the edge of the Norwich area. Anderson smacked his shot into the wall. Butterfield could do little better with the rebound under pressure.
The Reds striker problems worsened on the hour mark as Rigters pulled up with what looked like a recurrence of his hamstring problem and was forced out of the action. Kayode Odejayi replaced the Dutchman as Barnsley looked to add something new to a goal-shy attack.
Norwich went close to a second on 64 minutes as Hoolahan again gave the Reds the run around and cut in from the right but planted his shot into the sidenetting.
Referee Hooper let the home side off on 66 minutes as Croft scythed through Kozluk on the touchline. The referee inexplicably kept his yellow card in his pocked despite booking Kozluk and Leon earlier in the game for less.
Barnsley pushed on and Butterfield dragged one wide of the mark on 69 minutes before Kozluk almost pressed the self destruct button a minute later as he presented Cureton with the ball 22 yards from goal but thankfully Muller was alert enough to grab the striker's shot.
The Reds committed footballing suicide on 74 minutes as Moore inexplicably opted to shepherd a long through ball back to Muller. The ball was never, ever going to reach the keeper and Cureton nipped in between the pair of them and lofted the ball over the German into the net.
The visitors never let their heads drop though and Macken thought he had pulled one back on 78 minutes as he met Marciano Van Homoet's cross with a powerful volley that looked goalbound only for the ball to strike Doherty on the six yard line.
A woeful second half looked to get even worse for the 1,000 or so travelling fans as Matty Pattison went over in the area under the slightest of challenges from Van Homoet on 86 minutes. The referee pointed to the spot and Clingan easily beat Muller to wrap up a convincing win.
It became embarrassing in stoppage time as David Bell was given time and space to pick out a cross from the right hand side of the area and Russell, who had worked hard all game, rose highest to power his header past Muller.
NORWICH CITY: Marshall, Otsemobor, Croft (Bell 88), Clingan, Cureton (Lupoli 82), Doherty, Hoolahan (Pattison 80), Grounds, Fotheringham, Russell, Bertrand.
Subs: Nelson, Cort.
BARNSLEY: Muller, Van Homoet, Souza, Moore, Kozluk, Hassell, Campbell-Ryce, Anderson, Leon (Butterfield 51), Macken, Rigters (Odejayi 62).
Subs: Steele, El Haimour, Potter.
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)
Assistant Referee: Mike Blackledge (Cambridgeshire)
Assistant Referee: David Margetts (Essex)
Fourth Official: Matthew McLaughlin (Bedfordshire)
Attendance - 24,685
REDS boss Simon Davey gave his thoughts following a dismal afternoon at Norwich City.
Simon said: "It was always going to be difficult to come here this week but that does not excuse our second half performance. That was unacceptable and it is not something we are used to. We paid the price for some poor defending and it was a shambles.
"There are no excuses and all those goals could have been avoided. We had a decent first half and had some chances but 45 minutes like that is unacceptable. It was surprising to capitulate like that and it is the first time it has happened this season. We will have to look at that and that starts on Monday morning.
"I am not happy with the defending and it gave us an uphill task. It was a terrible 45 minutes and the worst half of the season. That is something we cannot repeat. Barnsley Football Club are not like that any more.
"It is a terrible scoreline".
The Gaffer - Paul Lambert
FORMER Colchester United boss Paul Lambert was announced as the new manager of the Canaries on August 18, 2009, succeeding Bryan Gunn.
The former Celtic and Borussia Dortmund star has also managed Livingston and Wycombe Wanderers after a successful playing career which saw him pick up a UEFA Champions League winners medal with Dortmund in 1997.
The former Scotland captain arrived at Carrow Road on a rolling contract having resigned from his position at Colchester United.
Lambert took the reins at the Colchester Community Stadium in October 2008, leading the U's to a mid-table finish in League One. He has started this season with two wins from two in the league, including the 7-1 defeat of City at Carrow Road on the opening day.
Previously, he was in charge of Wycombe Wanderers for two years, leading them to a historic semi-final League Cup appearance in January 2007. Wycombe beat Premiership sides Fulham and Charlton Athletic en route to becoming the first fourth tier side since Chester City in 1974-75 to reach the semis. It also marked the first time in the Club's history they had progressed beyond the second round of the competition.
The Chairboys drew the first leg against Chelsea at Adams Park, but Chelsea's class shown through at Stamford Bridge. Lambert guided Wycombe to the play-offs in 2007-08, but after losing 2-1 on aggregate to Stockport County, he resigned from his post.
His first managerial appointment was north of the border with Scottish Premier League side Livingston in June 2005.
The 40-year-old former midfielder began his playing career with St. Mirren and won his first winners medal with the Saints in 1987 as a 17-year-old, when they beat Dundee United at Hampden Park in extra-time in the Scottish Cup Final.
Lambert moved to Motherwell in 1993, before moving abroad to join Borussia Dortmund three years later. The Scottish international midfielder made history with the German side when they defeated Italian giants Juventus 3-1 in the UEFA Champions League Final in Munich, in 1997. In addition to setting up Karl-Heinz Riedle for the opener and nullifying the threat of Zinedine Zidane, Lambert became both the first British player to win the Champions League since its format change and the first British player ever to win the European Cup with a non-UK team.
After one season in Germany, the Paisley-born Lambert returned to Scotland with Celtic, where he went on to win four Scottish Premier League titles, two Scottish Cups and two CIS Insurance Cups, as well as captaining the side to the 2003 UEFA Cup Final - which ended in a 3-2 defeat to Portuguese side Porto after extra-time. Lambert spent eight years as a key figure at Celtic Park before moving into management with Livingston.
Lambert won 40 international caps with Scotland, scoring once - including playing in the 1998 World Cup in France - and made over 650 appearances at club level.
Star Men
John Ruddy
GOALKEEPER John Ruddy joined City from Everton in a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee in July 2010.
The St Ives-born 'keeper came through the youth ranks at Cambridge United, where he made 43 appearances in all competitions after making his debut as an 18-year-old in the 1-0 away win over Leyton Orient in May 2004.
He joined Everton in the summer of 2005 for a fee of £250,000 and benefited from loan spells at Walsall, Rushden & Diamonds, Chester City, Stockport County, Wrexham and Bristol City, making a further 43 appearances.
His Everton debut came in February 2006, after 'keeper Iain Turner - deputising due to injuries to Richard Wright and Nigel Martyn - was sent off in the ninth minute for handball outside his area against Blackburn Rovers at Goodison Park. Ruddy replaced James McFadden and went on to keep a clean sheet as they beat Rovers 1-0.
The 6ft 4in stopper spent the end of the 2008-09 season on loan at Crewe Alexandra and made 19 appearances in League One. Last season Ruddy was on loan at Scottish Premier League side Motherwell, who finished fifth. He made 37 appearances there, including the goalless draws against both Celtic and Rangers.
Grant Holt
STRIKER Grant Holt was Bryan Gunn's fourth signing of the day on July 24, 2009, joining from League Two side Shrewsbury Town on a three-year deal with a one-year option.
Holt topped the League Two goalscoring charts in the 2008-09 season, scoring 28 goals for the Shrews.
The Carlisle-born player began his career on the non-league scene with Workington before first tasting league football with Halifax Town in 1999. After leaving the Shay he dipped back into non-league with Barrow before his goals took him to Sheffield Wednesday in 2003.
It was with Rochdale that he really came to prominence and his 34 league goals from 75 league outings between 2004 and 2006 won him a host of admirers. A £300,00 move to Nottingham Forest followed in January 2006. He scored 17 goals in his first full season at the City Ground as Forest made it to the League One play-offs. Holt also figured in Forest's promotion campaign the following season.
He made a club record £170,000 move to Shrewsbury in the summer of 2008 and his 28 goals played a major part in the Shrews progressing to the League Two Play-off Final where they lost 1-0 to Gillingham at Wembley.
Holt bagged his first, second and third City goals in the 4-0 away win over Yeovil Town, in the first round of the Carling Cup - his second match for City in August 2009.
The striker became only the fifth player in City history to score 30 goals in a season - not achieved since Ron Davies 46 years previous - in the 2009-10 League One title-winning season. Combined with Wes Hoolahan and Chris Martin, the trio scored an impressive 67 goals.
Simeon Jackson
STRIKER Simeon Jackson joined the Canaries on July 15, 2010 for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract, with the Club having a further one-year option.
The Canadian international had become one of the most sought-after players outside the top two divisions after topping the goalscoring charts at the Priestfield Stadium during the two previous seasons.
Recruited by the Kent club from non-league Rushden & Diamonds, Jackson hit 21 goals in all competitions in 2008-09 as Gillingham won promotion from League Two via the play-offs. Jackson was very much the hero of the Gills' play-off success - he scored both goals in a 2-1 semi-final victory over Rochdale and then proceeded to score the only goal of the game at Wembley as the Gills sealed their elevation to League One at the expense of Grant Holt's Shrewsbury Town.
Despite Gillingham's swift return to League Two, Jackson still notched 16 league goals in 2009-10 as the club battled to maintain League One status. He also scored his first international goal as Canada triumphed 1-0 away to Cyprus in an international friendly fixture.
Wes Hoolahan
THE Republic of Ireland international midfielder was Glenn Roeder's second summer signing of 2008, joining from Championship side Blackpool.
Born in Dublin, Wes started his career with Shelbourne, winning three League of Ireland championships and was named PFAI Young Player of the Year in 2002/03.
He also played 15 Champions League qualifiers before moving to Scottish side Livingston in 2005/06.
The following season Hoolahan joined Blackpool on loan, which was subsequently made permanent. In the two seasons at Bloomfield Road the creative midfielder scored 16 goals in all competitions.
Wes opened his Canary account in the 4-0 win over Barnsley at Carrow Road in January 2009 and followed that up with a stunning 30-yarder in the next game against Southampton.
The playmaker formed an impressive trio with strikers Grant Holt and Chris Martin, who combined scored 67 goals in 2009/10 as City gained promotion back to the Championship.
Officials
TBC
"We have been match sponsors numerous times and have thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality that Barnsley Football Club offer. We would have no hesitation in recommending businesses to take advantage of a sponsorship package this season. Since getting involved with Barnsley FC the awareness of our business has risen significantly."
Kevin Beckett, C K Beckett
COMMERCIAL BROCHURE 2010-2011
CLICK HERE FOR TICKET INFORMATION FROM OAKWELL!!!
CLICK HERE TO SHOP ONLINE
©WWW.BARNSLEYFC.CO.UK 2010 RNK
GET THE EXCLUSIVES FIRST - Subscribers to our official SMS service are the first to hear all the big news from inside Oakwell. Be the first to know about all the latest exclusive news from Oakwell next time by signing up to our text service today - click here for more.
Try mobile.barnsleyfc.co.uk - The official website is now available on your phone, for when you're on the move.
