By Red Army
June 29 2020

A bore draw at Oakwell and other results mean that Barnsley’s survival hopes hang by thread as we enter a crucial period in our bid for Championship survival.

The game was a poor advert for Championship football and a nil - nil draw was the deserved result.

We however can take some positives as we had to a must win game against Blackburn on Tuesday night.

Walton again looked assured in goal. I hope he can continue this form and become the Barnsley number 1 for years to come.

In front of Walton the defence was again solid. Two clean sheets in two games since the Championship returned is pretty impressive, especially given how poor our defence has been for the majority of the season.

Sollbauer and Andersen were excellent and Ben Williams also impressed again. I am particularly pleased for Andersen and hopefully he will now have the much needed confidence to continue this form. Perhaps playing without the pressure of the fans in the stadium has been just what he needed, whereas the rest of the team seem flat because of it.

For me Ludewig and Ritzmaier need dropping on Tuesday. Both were awful against Millwall, particularly Ritzmaier. What does he even do? What qualities does he have? He was way off the pace in this game, he always is but this was particularly bad even for him.

Palmer impressed but faded again which is to be expected for a young lad playing only his second game. He looks tidy on the ball and is willing to get stuck in. Hopefully he will have a big future at Oakwell.

Dead balls aside Mowatt was excellent. All over the pitch, getting stuck in, passing the ball well and even when he did give it away he won it back almost immediately. If you could add Hourihane’s dead ball delivery and goals to Mowatt then just how good would he be?

Back on to the dead ball situation, even though the quality isn’t always there, whoever else seems to try and take over does even worse so the calls by many fans to take him off them are fine but I’d like to hear and alternative rather than just say take him off them.

Simoes got himself in to the space between the defence and midfield many times and we found him with a pass. Unfortunately this wasn’t the game for him as Millwall’s physicality was too much for him and they were able to muscle him off the ball more often than not.

I think he has a bright future but just needs to be stronger at times and bulk up slightly without it affecting his pace.

Woodrow and Brown just couldn’t really get in the game again and it was the same for Chaplin when he came on.

I would have taken 4 points from the opening two games before a ball was kicked but this feels like a missed opportunity for 3 points which we could have really done with given the other results.

I don’t think we need to make many changes for Tuesday but I would make a few. I’d continue with Walton in goal and the same back three. I’d bring Jordan Williams and Odour in as wingbacks.

Palmer and Mowatt in midfield with Styles given the chance in the number ten. I’d also go Woodrow and Chaplin up front. Both seem off form but those two are the only players we have that are likely to score.

Three points required on Tuesday that’s for certain.

Reds Ratings:

Walton              8

Sollbauer          8

Andersen          8

Williams            7

Ludewig            4

Ritzmaier           3

Palmer              7

Mowatt             8

Simoes            5

Woodrow          5

Brown               5

Reds fans, let’s have your views on the Millwall game, Blackburn game and let’s have your player ratings. Sign up and comment on articles and forums and discuss with the red army.

COYR