This was a compelling game in a crucial stage of the Latics season. As forecasted on this site on Friday night, Barnsley came to play and they did not disappoint. However, I must hold my hands up and apologise to any Tykes followers as I didn't give anyone other than Sheron and Dyer in the Barnsley team, any credit. Now the names of Mulligan, Crooks and a few others are etched in my mind and I honestly believe that Barnsley are in a false position. This tough, vital win for the Latics should not be underestimated.
It's no surprise though that with Josh Low back, love him or hate him, the side has much more balance and composure. True, that attacking element is making the defence slightly more vulnerable than in the past, especially on Low's right berth but the youngster's attacking mind helped the Latics to score a crucial winning goal and arguably he should have had another one before his 2nd half strike.
The problem with Low is that he frustrates fans with his often blatant feebleness. But when he skips away, his pace is frightening and defences struggle. Combine that with Eyres' wizardry and the excellent link up play between Wiggy and Wayno and the Latics do look rather potent these days. And it's no surprise that Wayno is getting more of a look in on goal these days, as are others. The future might be looking brighter after a gloomy month or so. And with this win, Cardiff's defeat and Crewe's lack of a game, the Latics have finally handed the pressure over. In essence, the Latics are probably 4th favourites to get 2nd spot regardless of looking at tough fixture lists for the other 3 challengers and because of that fact, the pressure is off the Blues. Maybe now we can produce some good football and who knows, maybe 5 more wins is possible.
Focusing on this display though, the Latics were well worthy of their victory. Many individuals played consistently well throughout, however there has been a noticeable drop of form in Fitz Hall recently. The possible return of Clint Hill within days rather than weeks is a timely boost and maybe it is what Hall needs, but who could you leave out between Haining, Hall or Armstrong? It's interesting to see, but the defence wasn't at it's usual best on Saturday. Fortunately, others in the side retained plenty of possession and thus, the Latics back 3 needed to be on their toes only sporadically.
Passing and moving was in abundance and especially pleasing from the hosts display was the amount of diagonal balls which set either a winger off down a wing, or even sent Josh Low clear of the defence on 2 occasions. Eyres and Wiggy supplied these to great delight and the way it so easily turned a nothing situation into a deadly attack was exciting stuff. Maybe Dowie had seen a tape of Barnsley and cooked up this tactic, but wherever it came from it often caused problems. This sort of stuff has been missing at Boundary Park, what with the direct style we were previously deploying. Has it changed now because Low is back, or is it as I deliberated a month or so ago that there was an obsession with our unbeaten away run and thus Dowie did not want to tinker with this direct style? Make your own minds up on that.
For large spells of this game however, the Latics controlled and cajoled. They did well at tempting out the Tykes defence with clever passing and the term, turning possession into goals was the only X factor missing at times. Fortunately though, the hosts gambled enough in pushing forward and in the 2nd half it paid off. Copious amounts of possession had threatened to frustrate, but a whiff of inevitability started to flow into the Latics attacks. For the first time since the beginning of the season, fans could sense a goal for the Latics, rather than for the visitors and that factor alone helped to see out a close win.
Immediately from kicking off the Latics pressured. Barnsley had little time to think, but if anything was going to be the hosts own downfall it was an obvious nervousness between goalkeeper and defence. This gave the Tykes a scent of a goal, however the home side quickly put paid to that.
After much opening pressure from the Blues, the Latics' first serious attack heralded the opener. Just eight minutes in, Haining threaded a sweet ball forward for Andrews to run in behind the defence and collect. From the right edge of the box, nobody expected him to shoot, yet with unbelievable accuracy Andrews managed to slot it against the side netting, just inside the far post. That was Andrews' 10th goal of the season and even Taylor must have thought he had it covered. The angle looked far too great, but somehow the swerve misled the former Wycombe stopper, as it flew past to land just inside the goal. 1-0.
It was as though the Latics could now step up a gear and their lead almost gave the side an air of cockiness. Wiggy and Wayno were moving off each other superbly and against some excellent defending, the hosts had a great deal of the play but chances were still few and far between. Then that uncertainty at the back crept in as Mulligan was allowed time to slip Dyer in down the Latics left edge of the box. Shooting past Miskelly, Dyer forced the Latics keeper to stoop low shot and turn his effort around the far post. Nothing came from the resultant corner.
The Latics retaliated. A fast flowing move forward saw Low send Andrews through a huge gaping hole in the Barnsley defence. The opening scorers shot was blocked and rebounded back to Low who had followed up but from the penalty spot he could only snap at it and shin the ball wide. Another quick move caught Barnsley short seconds later and this time it was Andrews providing. An exquisite ball from the by-line looked certain to be powered home by Duxbury who was storming in to meet it, but from 6 yards Crooks made a death-defying header to save a goal. That inspired Barnsley.
With another moment of lapsed concentration on 22, Fitz Hall did his player-of-the-season hopes no good whatsoever when he inexplicably lost possession allowing Barnsley to attack and Sheron to find Mulligan. Low had failed to track the Barnsley player and the visitor smashed home past a helpless Miskelly. 1-1.
For a short period after the goal the Latics looked very nervous and the home crowd became its usual state of unrest. In testament to the Blues though, that didn't last past the half hour mark and eventually the hosts gained control again and this time began to look very dangerous.
On 33, a long ball forward caught the Tykes defence sleeping and as Andrews powered in to beat Taylor to it, the Latics striker took a heavy punch to his face as the keeper fisted clear. Andrews lay hurt in the over-zealous challenge, but the ref waved play on and Murray volleyed the lose ball over. Then on 36, Wijnhard's quality long range pass found Low freely running clear on his right flank. Setting himself perfectly, he ran in with only Taylor to beat but amateurishly skied the ball over. It made Peter Kay's effort in the John Smiths advert look like a decent strike of the ball. And on 40, Eyres' superb free-kick looked in all the way, but Taylor superbly palmed the ball from the top corner.
With the hosts breaking forward at every chance now, the game had opened up nicely. And within seconds, the play was down the other end as Sheron headed Dyer's cross against the bar. To end the half, Barnsley had another half chance as Donovan crossed for Sheron, but he couldn't get enough power behind his turn and shoot. Miskelly needed to be alert to claim though.
In truth, the half had been pretty even with chances, but the Latics unquestionably had the better chances and much more possession. Thankfully, they returned back onto the pitch with this and Dowie's half-time talk worked a treat.
Just a few minutes into the half, the Latics had the most blatant penalty turned down. Going for a cross, Low got a ridiculous shove in the back but the referee showed he had little bottle to give it. On 50, Duxbury then had a decent shot blocked before finally, the hosts resumed the control they demanded. From another exquisite ball, all of which epitomised the Latics ethic off passing the ball with perfection, Eyres picked out another free run by Low on his flank. This time, Low hit the ball early, driving it under Taylor and past him into the far corner. A great finish. 2-1.
The Latics now had to see this out to a victory, but anyone associated with Boundary Park this season knew it would be a nervy affair. And on 61, hearts were in mouths as Miskelly came for a ball and 2 defenders charged him to the ground. The referee failed to whistle until Miskelly feigned injury. The ref was beginning to frustrate - it was a blatant foul but it now seemed typical that it took Miskelly's play-acting to get the foul.
As full time approached, the sting and urgency disappeared from the play. And with it, the attacking advantage moved over to the visitors especially when the lively-looking Betsy was introduced. However, with the hosts looking happy to accept what they had, all was focused on defending and thus Barnsley struggled to create. The game started to become a non entity.
As time ran out for the hosts, they still had 3 decent efforts though. First Miskelly saved a low drive and seconds later he had to watch as Sheron volleyed over a corner ball when unmarked on the penalty spot. Finally, Betsy had a great injury time chance, but in the end it just wasn't enough for the Tykes.
Dowie admitted afterwards that this was one of those games with which he held more fear than usual for. However, in truth, every game until May (be it the start of May or the end of it) is a cup final. The Latics realistically are in the play-offs and most probably aren't in the top 2 chase. However, with a fixture list favouring the Blues, surely this season has another twist of fate. Most of our fate this season has been injuries and suspension, so surely we are due some good fate. If so, it has to start with a win against a side we have never beaten and have dumped us out of the FA Cup for 2 years running. Let's get some revenge against Cheltenham by helping seal their fate back to Division 3, whilst helping our own towards Division 1. It's a tall order and we know it - but now, the pressure is on Crewe and Cardiff. Let's see if they can handle it!!!