Town extended their unbeaten run to fifteen games with a comfortable 2-0 win over promotion rivals Barnsley at Oakwell. Town lined up with Jim Magilton back after injury and with Wayne Brown replacing the injured Mark Venus.
Barnsley started the stronger but it took only a few minutes for Town to start looking the stronger of the two sides. After this it was all Town for the remainder of the half, although there were few clearcut chances. New man Stewart had a shot blocked, Gary Croft had a go from distance whilst Barnsley rarely threatened Both sides went in at the break without scoring with George Burley the happier of the two bosses.
The second half started as the first did with Barnsley in the ascendent. Once again though Town took only a few minutes to start dominating. As usual for Town they had the vast majority of the possession with Barnsley's assaults on goal few and usually of the long shot straight to Richard Wright variety.
Just before the hour mark Town went ahead. James Scowcroft turned a defender and moved deep into the box from where he looped the ball right-footed over Kevin Miller into the net. It was a lovely-looking strike, although there are suggestions that he may have been trying to cross rather than shoot. Either way Town were one up.
Whilst the Town fans were still leaping up and down and cheerig the first goal Marcus Stewart made the first repayment on his fee. A lovely through ball from Jim Magilton sent both David Johnson and Marcus Stewart scurrying through. It was the former Huddersfield man who latched onto the ball taking it past the two Barnsley centre-halves and calmly rounding Miller and slotting the ball home. It was as good a way to open your account as there is and it as good as broke Barnsley's spirit.
The remainder of the game saw Barnsley attempt to put on pressure but with very little result. Richard Wright had little to do and the Town defenders were solid. Coming forward Town looked impressive and David Johnson came close to scoring on a couple occasions.
A fine performance then with the whole side looking impressive. Jim Magilton ran the show in midfield showing how sorely he had been missed in the last couple of games. Marcus Stewart looked good, although clearly playing with his team-mates for the first time. He showed some very good touches and by the time Richard Naylor replaced David Johnson the two of them seemed to be developing an understanding.
An important reasult against a rival then and the unbeaten streak now extended to fifteen games things look very good for next week's home game against another rival, Marcus Stewart's old mates Huddersfield Town.
R Wright 8 Little to do, but did it all well
Croft 7 Did well
McGreal 9 Another excellent performance
Mowbray 8 Nothing wrong
Brown 8 Distribution has improved
Clapham 7 Did well against Hignett
Holland 7 Usual combative performance
Magilton 9 Ran the show
Scowcroft 9 Classy as ever
Johnson 8 Did well despite not scoring
Stewart 9 Excellent goal on and excellent debut
Sean Friars has expressed a desire to go on loan at a lower Division club. He said he needs first team football at this stage of his career and has asked George Burley for a temporary move.
Roy Stephenson, Town's outside-right during the 1960-61 and 1961-62 Championship winning seasons died at the end of last week. He was 67 and had been suffering from cancer for some while. Our condolences go to his family.