By TarnTalk
October 22 2025

The Super Reds secured their first victory in the EFL Trophy group stage with an emphatic 5 – 2 scoreline over Manchester United Under 21s.

A David McGoldrick hattrick plus goals from Farrugia and Russell put the ten-man visitors out of site at Oakwell.

The Reds made several changes in this one but still fielded a strong team with Marc Roberts returning for his first start since his opening day of the season injury.

The Reds were without Cooper, Watson, Shepherd, Earl, Connell, Bland, Cleary and Keillor-Dunn, which would suggest that those selected were fighting it out to join the above in selection for Saturday.

So, the question is who gets in for Saturday based on last night? There were many impressive performances, but the level of opposition has to be taken into consideration.

One worry is that Phillips left the field of play with a hamstring injury after winning the penalty. His withdrawal was most likely precautionary, but any type of hamstring niggle will probably mean Saturday comes too soon.

McGoldrick, who made his professional debut before any of last night’s opponents were born, will surely start after this one but the question with that is how we line up as Cleary has been playing so well on the left and Keillor-Dunn looking better through the middle. Phillips being unavailable would possibly mean a reshuffle in those front four positions which would find it easier to get McGoldrick in but perhaps not everyone playing in their preferred positions.

Before last night I would have said it was time to drop Vickers, but he provided two assists and played well in the second half and looks set to remain in that number ten position.

Russell, Kelly and Yoganathan did their chances no harm, but I can’t see a way to get any of them in the starting eleven at the minute.

De Gevigney will likely come in at right back if Watson is injured but I think a return for Roberts is a few weeks away as he looked a little rusty and sluggish last night as can be expected.

Rooney looks to me as though he was just brought in as injury cover and from what I have seen so far, he is probably 5^th choice centre back.

So, despite some exceptional performances last night I feel that only McGoldrick has fought his way back to being a potential starter and then may even depend on the fitness of Phillips.

My expected team for Saturday based on form and fitness issues in a 4-2-3-1:

Cooper

De Gevigney, Shepherd, Earl, Ogbeta

Bland, Connell

Cleary, Vickers, McGoldrick

Keillor-Dunn

Subs: Flavell, Roberts, Rooney, Kelly, Yoganathan, Russell, Farrugia

Reds Ratings last night:

Numbers:

Flavell                  6

De Gevigney    7

Roberts              6

Rooney               5

Ogbeta               6

Yoganathan    7

Kelly                     7

Vickers                7

Phillips               6

McGoldrick      8

Farrugia             6

Russell               7

Shepherd          6

Alker                     5

Keillor-Dunn   5

Best to Worst:

McGoldrick

Vickers

Kelly

Yoganathan

Russell

De Gevigney

Flavell

Phillips

Farrugia

Roberts

Shepherd

Ogbeta

Ronney

Alker

Keillor-Dunn

On to the big local derby at home to Rotherham on Saturday where it really matters.

COYR