Analysis from Barnsley's 3-1 win over Stevenage at Oakwell. David McGoldrick opened the scoring then Davis Keillor-Dunn struck twice either side of an away goal.
LOWEST LEAGUE CROWD FOR YEARS BUT BIG PERFORMANCE AND WIN
The official attendance of 9,823 was the lowest for a league game at Oakwell for more than three years but the Barnsley fans there witnessed a fine win which continued a much more enjoyable season to be a home match-goer with the Reds.
The last time as few fans officially attended was in December 2022 against Burton Albion near the start of a remarkable run of 13 wins from 14 home games, after which they won just nine then six respectively in the following two seasons.
This was a seventh home win of the season so they have already surpassed the final tally of the last campaign with 11 to play. It might seem like low-hanging fruit to achieve that, while there are other issues to sort out such as the defensive record and the away form which is far worse under Conor Hourihane than his predecessors.
But home wins are the lifeblood of any football club and, while there have been highs and lows, Oakwell is slowly becoming a more hopeful place under Hourihane which people are starting to enjoy visiting more.
This win was a fine response to the thrashing in Cardiff and kept Barnsley 15th but increased the gap to the relegation zone from three to five points. If they can also beat Northampton on Tuesday, serious talk of a relegation zone will fade at least for now.
SMART GAMEPLAN CARRIED OUT WELL
Both teams had taken 17 points from the previous 17 games, and had won one of the last eight.
Stevenage were seventh but they did not look like a promotion contender in this game.
The Reds played with real confidence and skill as they created regular chances in the first hour against their overwhelmed opponents who had the division’s best defensive record going into the game but could easily have conceded twice the number they shipped. Having raced 2-0
up, Barnsley recovered from conceding an awful goal, scored a vital third just after half-time then showed good game management in torrential rain on a sodden pitch.
Barnsley have been fortunate in their recent home wins with Leyton Orient’s Tom James and Blackpool goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell gifting them goals. This time it was Stevenage captain Carl Piergianni’s turn to lay the opener on a plate for David McGoldrick while the visitors also defended the next two poorly - but the Reds deserved the win thoroughly.
They abandoned the back five they had used in recent weeks which Hourihane said he did not like, and used a 4-4-2. They had two strikers posing a threat, a right-footed winger on the left and left-footed winger on the right, who both caused problems, and a more balanced midfield with one holding player and an attacking ball-carrier. Their defence was far more solid and no nonsense.
They rattled Stevenage, not letting them pump dangerous long balls forward, while they left two players up the pitch from set pieces to reduce the numbers in their box.
It was a smart gameplan carried out well.
FRONT TWO DO THE DAMAGE
David McGoldrick returned from injury to play up front with Davis Keillor-Dunn who sometimes dropped deep into a 4-2-3-1.
They started the first nine league games of the season together, although with one on the wing, but had only been picked in the same 11 twice in the league since.
It worked brilliantly as McGoldrick scored his fourth goal in three games and ninth of the season in all competitions then Keillor-Dunn struck twice to take his tally to 16.
They are two impressive forwards at the level but Barnsley will also need more depth if they are to play two up front regularly.
Keillor-Dunn was outstanding, scoring two excellent goals and creating other chances.
He and Reyes Cleary both seemed to linger slightly longer than the other players when applauding the delighted home fans after the final whistle. It remains to be seen if they will stay beyond Monday’s transfer deadline and either’s exit would be a serious blow.
Cleary registered his eighth assist of the season, with no one claiming more in League One this season.
CONNELL ERROR BUT BETTER OVERALL
Luca Connell began this game superbly and was at the heart of many of Barnsley’s best moves, spreading some spectacular pinpoint passes.
But he underhit one to Jack Shepherd near his box which led to Stevenage pulling a goal back late in the first half.
It continued a week of mistakes by the Barnsley captain who gave Cardiff three goals on Tuesday after returning from suspension.
It was completely against the run of play and was not the first time this season that Barnsley had controlled a game before doing something daft. But the response from the team and Connell was impressive as the Reds went on to wrap the win up while their captain made the most interceptions and some important clearances.
The goal meant that, across a full year, Barnsley’s only home clean sheet was in the 5-0 win over Luton in November.
OTHER STRONG PERFORMANCES
There were good performances throughout Barnsley’s team.
Eoghan O’Connell and Jack Shepherd produced one of the more assured displays of a Barnsley centre-back pair all season, protecting Owen Goodman who was barely tested in goal.
Corey O’Keeffe was initially loaned out because Barnsley were going to play a back four while Tennai Watson played out of position at left-back. But they both had solid matches. Watson made the most tackles, including one that earned him an early booking. He then got away with pushing Bez Lubala after a scuffle in the Barnsley goalmouth which saw four yellow cards brandished, although it was in response to a hand to the face which could have seen the Stevenage man sent off.
Scott Banks had a fine debut, adding a physical presence and a direct running threat which has been missing on the right wing. Banks - who replaced the ill Adam
Phillips - set up the third goal and nearly scored a fourth.
Patrick Kelly had probably his best game in the deeper central midfield role, constantly driving the team forward and playing penetrative passes.
