By Red Army
August 12 2015

  Barnsley reached the second round of the league cup with a penalty shootout victory at League One rivals Scunthorpe United.  

The match finished 1 – 1 after extra time before youngster James Bree despatched his penalty to send the reds through 7 – 6.

It was an improved performance from the reds who took the lead when Scowen scored from the spot on 47 minutes.

Madden ensured that the game would go to extra time and ultimately penalties as he equalised for Scunthorpe on 52 minutes also from the penalty spot.

Former reds boss Mark Robins moaned afterwards that Scunthorpe had been the better team but I remember seeing some terrible Barnsley performances with him at the helm when he though that we had been the better team.

The grit shown by the reds to grind out this victory and hold their nerve in the shootout perhaps shows that I had a big overreaction to an opening day defeat at a Chesterfield side who made the playoffs’ last season.

The team at Scunthorpe did seem more balanced with Bree at right back and Scowen in his favoured central midfield position.

Another point worthy of note is that it was an improved performance that came with Hourihane on the bench and only introduced after 89 minutes.

Coincidence? Or are the reds a better team without a man who scored and created so many goals last season? Reds fans what do you think?