Leaving the pitch at the final whistle, Big Mick puffed out his cheeks as the fans saluted him with another rendition of "Super Mick". Did he think it was a point gained or two lost. Under the circumstances - two down with ten to go - you might think it's a point gained. Looking at the game as a whole, it's more likely to feel like two dropped.

I like Oakwell as a ground but today it was increasingly cold and the swirling wind had a real impact on the game. Town started sluggishly with a number of long balls being misjudged by Chambers and Berra in particular in the wind. After a lucky escape for Town when Hunt miscontrolled on the edge of his own area, the home side struck the opening goal on about 12 minutes, O'Grady allowed to turn too easily when moving away from goal as his shot beat a flat footed Gerken at his far post. Barnsley had some threatening moments, Gerken punching one dangerous cross away but Town went closest to a goal when Cresswell's excellent free kick struck the post midway through the half. A number of corners and half chances for Town resulted in nothing as several players, including McGoldrick, snatched at shots and Smith headed one great chance wide just before half time. Barnsley had been the better side despite the fact that Gerken hadn't really had that much to do. Quite simply, we hadn't made Steele in the Barnsley goal do enough either.

Town came out with more fire in their bellies in the second half and the misjudgements of the Town players in the first half now seemed to plague the home players making the impact of the wind more obvious. Five minutes in, Nouble was withdrawn and replaced by Anderson. To be frank, Nouble had been very poor, his control just not good enough, his touch clumsy and his contribution negligible. Hunt came more into the game and Town started to dominate. Hunt drove at the Barnsley area from the half way line, running out of steam at the final moment and Tabb was unable to hit the target from 18 yards as Town turned the screw. Anderson fired wide from six yards after a terrific move in which Town passed the ball as well as I have seen them this season. Skuse fired wide from the edge of the area and really should have opened his Town account as he blazed over from 10 yards shortly after. Other chances fell to Murphy and Anderson but two good saves from Murphy denied Town a deserved equaliser. More scuffed attempts from Town and several corners saw Town increasingly frustrated as Hunt pulled the strings impressively and McGoldrick continued to look impressive with his hold up and link play. Anderson had made a positive impact on the game but all seemed lost when a rare foray from the Tykes resulted in deflected free kick from the right side of the box finding its way past Gerken and into the Town net just seconds after Green had come on to replace Tabb on with 15 to go. Cruel on town who really should have been ahead but credit to the team, they did not give up. After a couple of corners, Smith nodded Anderson's looping ball goalward, O'Brien blocked and Berra pounced to volley home from five yards with just nine minutes left on the clock. A minute later, Hunt missed a golden chance to draw Town level as he met a cross from the left about six yards out but somehow managed to put the ball agonisingly wide. A minute or so later, with Town piling forward, McGoldrick was fouled about 22 yards out on the right side of the box. Cresswell tapped the ball to his right and McGoldrick's well struck flew into the Barnsley goal via a wicked deflection for 2-2. Fully deserved but Town went hunting for the winner. Hunt, the star man for me, pulled a cross back and debutant Green really should have scored from 10 yards but his shot was a little scuffed and blocked. One decent effort from Barnsley was saved by Gerken and in the final two minute of the five added on, Town looked as though they had settled for the draw. Mick has always maintained a point away from home is a good point. Maybe today, he might feel it should have been three.
Gerken - no real chance with with either goal although he looked flat footed for the first
Chambers - an average performance by the skipper
Cresswell - good today. Defensively solid, and pushing forward and combining with Hunt in particular
Smith - very solid. Probably should have hit the target in first half with headed chance
Berra - also solid and another goal! That's three so far.
Tabb - industrious and a reasonable performance
Skuse - should have scored but he is integral to the team
Hunt - second half he ran the game. Should have scored and also lucky not to have been boked in the first half
Nouble - poor game for Frank and Mick knows it, taking him off after 50 minutes
McGoldrick - he is a good player, great touch, great feet and we need to extend his contract soon!
Murphy - solid work fro Daryl and he made an effective contribution in the second half
Anderson - much better from Ando. He looked a threat and a vast improvement on Big Frank
Green - could have a been a dream debut but he looked comfortable

A long read I know but maybe you got something out of it.

16

These are the riches of a draw (again)

Town lined up at Oakwell unchanged. We are likely the most unchanged squad in the division and we were predictable in our 433 to start as we were pedestrian. Nouble on the right and Murphy on the left of McG offered less than the sum of their parts as each side lined up with a Hunt at #12 and a Hunt in midfield more often than not.

Town's Stephen stood out in what seemed to be a free role, from the other 21 on the sodden sand and clay concoction that lay beneath the sprawling green. His free role one of the few highlights in a first half so abject, I dare not speak too much about it.

Defying the works of Newton, each touch, each pass, each ball to the snarling heavens felt the wrath of god's breath and the ground's bounce as player and fan alike misjudged it's path almost unequivocally. Town's only real contribution came from a Nouble drive on the left, easily caught. A McG shot poorly struck well wide and one not a lot else.

Barnsley meanwhile treated us to the Chris O'Grady show in ten easily leaden seconds. Stealing a march as Smith stood up well, the mohicaned striker turned and dragged it back as he stabbed hopefully early doors. He pierced a hole in Town as the lead came from nothing. Barnsley really should have lead by two but their best chance was a mere scramble, Town shooed and shoved away from nothing. As far as 45's go I plead the 5th. Like the simple-minded Gump I simply refuse to dwell on today's first half. That's all I have to say about that.

Sweet and tender home again, Mick's half time rally obviously rollicked and rocked Town into action and out of glacial inertia with clouds unleashing increasing volume in time with the travelling Tractor boys and girls. Our Frank was not long for this swirl of hoof and huff. Hauled off after one half-hearted run forward early in the second. The graft replaced by the elusive guile of Ando. Matching the Tykes tighter 442.

Town moved the ball in almost Bermudian triangles. Such was the space they were afforded as they flighted forward in midfield but lacked any destructive power. Hunt now a left winger not a left-alone maverick still worked his simpatico with fellow Irishman Murph as they lead the charge in Town's better play.

The time-bending Steele was forced to flex and fly at a double stop from strikers McG and Murphy with impressive athleticism between reluctant goal-kicks. The loose ball fell to Skuse who failed to put Barnsley to the sword with a decent drive wide.

As the reds faced a missile crisis of their own making, pressure began to tell. Crosses were flicked and flung across goal between crisp interchanges of not very much. Hunt again was involved as Smith saw a brilliant header dashed from the line for another corner.

This was all long after Skuse missed a sitter. The deep lying playmaker was played in barely spitting distance from goal. Maybe he was too proud as Cole refused to keep his head down and blasted an easy chance high and wide from an impossible lack of discipline and distance.

Town would then make changes as a freekick was given. Surprise package Green exploded from the bench to replace Tabb. The recent kick up the ass appears to have hobbled the midfielder who was booed and barracked for a sideways ball moments before he cut short a barrage of blue-coloured forward momentum. The foul on the edge of the Town box was agonisingly despatched. Pole-axed by Cywka, the home side's sub at the break stunned the large away section with a finish well beyond a helpless Gerken.

Town were quick to counter again and again but without instinct neither basic or killer. The neatness of the build-up forgotten as our new addition went all RonalGreenio nearly trapping a ball over the top extravagantly before failing to find a man or mark worthy of the touch.

The Suffolk side looked to lack much punch until Smith again had a header blocked on the line. This time there was no tight angle to see it bounce behind. Instead Braveheart Berra tore a long shank into some part of the net. Hurrah and that! 2-1 and the game was alive with what seemed like little left in it. Innit.

Quieter performances from McG and Cresswell were no less effective all of sudden. The bearded baldy was hauled down cheaply minutes later. A similar distance but more centrally than the set piece which lead to Barnsley's second. Town fans howled as the wind had been doing all day. Freekick.

The talisman hung around while the ref paced and Town fans around me puttered and shivered. BANG! He tw@tted it like an unwanted and unrequited love. Rippling the net like a dolphin amongst tuna it was a second goal for us worthy of acclaim far beyond much else in the 90. Was it deflected? Who cares? 2-2, and the game's death was seemingly and suddenly upon us. That is until 5 minutes of injury time was announced.

I'd be lying if Town's momentum continued. In a game where all laws of physics were moot, the volume of Town attacks decreased as Barnsley cradled the ball back and forth towards Gerken. Tame shots and timid passing was enough to expunge any doubt that Town were well served with a point at full time.

On a ground where anything can happen and so often have for Town, in conditions where anything could have happened today a point on the road is a stolen kiss on Lady Luck's face. To say Mick and his men deserved it maybe churlish. To impugn an impotent performance such as today's pointless. Unlike Town.

5

Apart from the televised game and the away game at Bolton, yesterday was only the third game attended this season, and taking into account the swirling wind and surprisingly firm pitch which added to the difficult playing conditions, the overall quality of the game was reasonably fair to good in parts of

2

Taking in account the swirling wind, surprisingly firm pitch which gave all players problems in controlling them ball, the overall quality of the game was fair to good, and in parts; Town were very good.

Town did not start the game with any great levels of energy, but as the second half proved, the wind was a major factor in the game, but it was pleasing to see Town keep the ball 'on the deck' for much of the second half and for me, showed the potential that the team has to offer.

Barnsley's first goal was preventable as the scorer was given too much time and space and from my viewpoint in the East Stand (home supporters' area), Gerken was unsighted and not at fault for their second goal.

Town's goals were deserved, and whilst Barnsley could or should have added to their tally, Town on another day and with a wee bit more luck could have had four or five.

Too close; Nouble had a poor game (lack of control and poor making wrong decisions) and Tabb was industrious without any end results. MM's substitutions realised positive results and both Anderson and Green provided excellent movement of the ball and added momentum to the attacking qualities of the team.

2