Scunthorpe United v Barnsley

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Football League Championship

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Williams, Jones, Mirfin, Raynes (A.Wright 72), Togwell (McCann 72), Sparrow, Woolford, J.Wright (O'Connor 72), Hayes, Hooper.
Subs not used:
Lillis, Milne, McDermott, Forte.

Barnsley :
Steele, Moore, Foster, Trippier (Hassell 35), Dickinson, Colace, Filipe Teixeira, De Silva (Bogdanovic 61), Hammill, Doyle, Gray (Rodriguez 69).
Subs not used:
Preece, Butterfield, Potter, Macken.

SULSESC REPORT

by Martyn Girdham at Glanford Park

DON'T you just love it when the Iron get a rare last minute winner?

Especially when the scores are level at 90 minutes and are still level nearly five minutes into the four extra minutes that are added on.

Yes, I did say five minutes into the four that were added on.

Up steps United's man of the season (for the second year running in my eyes), Paul Hayes, to hit a glorious winner that could have gigantic implications come May.

Phew, it takes a bit of sinking in. I guess the majority of SULSESC members were at home glued to Sky Sports News, the internet or some other media and thinking "here we go again."

You know the script, seen it all before and, yes, we all know what happens next. United go in front, the opposition go at us hammer and tongs (is that right or have I done a 'Brian' and mixed up my metaphors?), and it seems only a matter of time before they equalise. All out attacking by the opposition means United get chances on the break, on this occasion poor old Hoops predictably squandered two one-on-ones. Making it all the more inevitable that a late defensive Iron cock up would mean at least two points dropped. Up steps (or rather falls down) Jones and we are hanging on just as per expectations.

Only tonight it would be different. How anyone criticises Hayes (and plenty do) is beyond me. The guy is class, head and shoulders above the rest of the squad in terms of skill, working opposition defenders, creating chances and scoring his quota of goals. If we are to hang onto him at the end of the season, it will only be because his family life in North Lincs means more to him than the fat cheques that will inevitably be waved under his nose.

End of rant and time for the 'lazy Hayesy' brigade to hit back, no doubt.

What else is there to say?

Okay, I'll comment on what seemed pre kick-off (and still does) a strange team selection.

To put it mildly, I am not the biggest fan of either of our right-backs but talk about square pegs in round holes. Raynes does not look a full-back, is not a full-back and I doubt will ever make a full-back. He had a 'mare' by all accounts (didn't they all?) at Leicester but still gets chosen over a fit-again Andrew Wright. Amazingly we got away with it, just as we have on many occasions in recent years, when good old 'heart on his sleeve' Cliffy has worn the No. 2 shirt.

Okay, pedants, as far as I'm concerned, a right-back is No. 2, a centre forward is No. 9 and a left winger number is No. 11, always has been and always will be.

End of latest rant!

Whilst I'm in the mood, I'll have another go, a cold winter and bleedin' fuel charges are making me miserable as I am at home most days and have to put the heating on.

So, a late United winner warms the cockles so to speak, aided by the free car park that is the Berkeley Hotel and a couple of pre-match, hand pulled pints of Sam Smiths for 2.84. No, not a pint, that is the price of TWO pints. Damned landlord has put the prices up since the Wednesday match a few weeks ago. Still I suppose that is why there is three per cent inflation.

Where was I?

Oh yes, team selection. The only area of the team where we really do have a selection dilemna is midfield. We all know Josh Wright and O'Connor were good signings and combined with the other midfielders available, give us lots of options. However, last night the pairing of Togwell and Josh Wright in central midfield seemed strange as they are workhorse, holding types of player. Where was the creativity of a McCann or O'Connor?

Still, what do I know, it takes a combination of Nige, Crosser and Bara to decide on that.

Anyway Nige must have been listening, as relatively early in the second-half he made all three substitutions I wanted, all at the same time!

Josh Wright had a poor game by his high standards, Toggers was dogged against his old team, Matty Sparrow more than did his bit in a rare outing, Woolly foraged on the wing and at least is prepared to shoot and Marcus looked the part again. Joe had little to do, Jones was, well, Jones and Mirfin held the back four together as he does.

McCann (a frustrating player if ever there was one) brought some passing quality to the team and escaped with a yellow after committing a shocking challenge as soon as he came on.

Hayesy spun and flashed a superb effort past the post prior to that late winner. How Barnsley fans must hate the sight of him, he has been the scourge of his former club this season, scoring three goals against them to earn two wins and a draw. And to think United fans called him a Judas when he left for Oakwell and berated him on his return!

The future?

In my previous SULSESC match report, on the Preston game earlier this season (which I rate as the best overall performance I have seen from United in the past 47 years - honest!) I said the following: "Here's to another 12 or so repeat performances in the 39 games that remain. Now that would see us safe. Mind, we said the same a couple of years back and a winter slump set in. This time maybe, just maybe, it could be different. Believe!"

Well, we have gained seven wins since then and are exactly on track for the 12 I said would see us safe.

Extensive research of league tables past shows we should be safe on 52 points, so another 16 points needed from 15 games. The only team to get relegated from the Championship this Millenium, having amassed 52 points, is Leicester City, who two years ago were accompanied in the relegation zone (I'll shoot anybody who says drop zone) by United on 46.

This time around, we really are on target to survive. Late goals are going in our favour (we have rescued a few draws too with late goals), the players have more confidence in their own ability, especially at home, and the fixture list shows plenty of 'winnable' home games. Okay, our defence is a shambles much of the time but we really do stand a decent chance unless we regularly mess up at GP.

"This time maybe, just maybe, it could be different. Believe!"