THE HILLSBOROUGH HOODOO CONTINUES

The Reds appalling record at the home of near neighbours Sheffield Wednesday saw yet another last gasp defeat added to it, as rejuvenated Owls forward Chris Maguire struck deep into stoppage time in a game that was ruined as a spectacle by a referee with a habit of making the occasion all about him. 

There are numerous neutral match reports available online. This isn't one of them. This, is a completely biased account of what transpired in Sheffield 6 yesterday afternoon. Where once again the travelling Tarn Army were left to wonder what might have been as they left Hillsborough feeling let down and deflated after another late Wednesday winner. 



I am going to be very critical of match referee - on loan for the day from the Premier League - Andre Marriner. Or Andrew, as his mother named him. Fresh from the sunbed, the swine wouldn't allow the game to flow at all in the opening exchanges. I felt initially, that this benefited us. I'd been assured all week on the Wednesday forum 'Owlstalk' that Mr Marriner 'hated' Sheffield Wednesday. I was given examples of this hatred. They weren't looking forward to him officiating the game, put it that way. Whereas, the only time I can recall him reffing a game of ours was the season finalé at Huddersfield last year. 

The early whistle blowing served only to disrupt the opposition. Wednesday were very fluent in the opening stages, spreading the play nicely but in the main looking to attack our weaker left hand side. However, their neat and tidy build up play, which was nice to watch, usually ended in a ball lumped in towards Nuhiu and he couldn't have been less dangerous if he tried. But in Maguire and Lee, the Owls were creating spaces in and around the reds penalty area. 

It was to be us though, who had the first true chance of the game as former Wednesday favourite O'Grady latched onto a ball over the top and his neat footwork up against Llera saw him into the box but his attempted sidefooted finish lacked the necessary power to trouble Kirkland in the Owls goal. 
It was the reds now playing the football, with Mellis, Jennings and Hunt (on debut) linking up well and taking the game to Wednesday in a five minute spell where we ought to have taken the lead. 

First, a jinking run from Hunt into the box led to a reds corner and from Mellis' delivery, Proscwitz was twice thwarted on the volley, first by Semedo (was going wide anyway I reckon) and then point blank by Kirkland, who can't have known much about it with Wednesday defenders in front of him. 
The next corner again found Proschwitz but the big German couldn't get a clean contact on the cross and skewed it wide. But the game was well poised now. 

The game became stop start for the next few minutes, as both teams were pulled up for some very innocuous 'challenges' in my opinion. Tarn debutant Emanuel Frimpong was adjudged to have pulled Semedo at one point, but referee Marriner hadn't seen the Wednesday midfielder's hand in the face of the man from Ghana. He did pull Semedo up twice after that, for the very same offence, but still took no action. He did though take action when Frimpong clashed with an opponent on halfway, by seemingly giving him a final warning. And a minute or so later, Maguire theatrically fell over a leg left in by Frimpong and Marriner quickly booked him for what I'm assuming was an accumulation of fouls. 

But fast forward a couple of minutes and the man signed from Arsenal the day before, lunged into another needless challenge by the corner flag, again on Maguire, and whilst he did get some of the ball it was a definite free kick. Was it worthy of another booking? Not so sure about that. But he'd been warned, then booked. So his idiocy cost us, as Marriner showed him the red card. 
It's okay me venting at the referee, but had Frimpong realised (as we did after two minutes) that Marriner was a card happy fool, and calmed himself down after his initial warning, we'd perhaps be talking about something else. But off he went (eventually) and our chances of winning the game went with him. Especially when soon afterwards O'Grady was the man sacrificed by Danny to strengthen midfield. 
The ovation given to big Chris from all four sides of Hillsborough was good to see, but from then on in it was all about getting through the last fifteen minutes of the half with a clean sheet. 

We did that pretty easily to be honest. A succession of aimless corners was all Wednesday could muster. There was a nervy moment when first Dawson played a stupid backpass to Steele whose kick out then found a Wednesday player. Luckily, Kennedy was there to intercept. And soon after, Steele flapped at another aimless cross at his far post. But our back four were solid. 
In fact it again was the reds who came closest to breaking the deadlock when Jennings ran at the defence before firing a shot in from just outside the box that Kirkland had to tip around the post. Bizarrely, the referee didn't allow us the opportunity to take the resulting corner, but we'd got to half time and despite the home sides greater possession, and our numbers reduced, we'd had the better chances in the opening 45 and I still felt we offered a threat on the counter attack. 

In the second half though, we were pretty much two banks of four, with just Proschwitz in their half. But despite Wednesday again having all of the ball, they were pretty useless with it. There was an Onyewu header that Steele tipped over the bar, but that makes it sound a great save when in all honesty it was pretty routine. To be honest, any Wednesday 'attempts' were practically gifted to them. They hit the post. Or should I say, Hunt chested the ball into his own post from a Maguire corner. 
Then, after Jennings tried to play his way out of trouble 25 yards out, Wednesday nipped in and Kieran Lee's deflected effort was wonderfully turned over the crossbar by Steele. It's not the first time he's saved our bacon since returning from injury. I know he has his critics, but I think we're lucky to have him. Of course he makes the odd mistake. He plays for us. I don't know what some folk expect at times. Even the supposed 'best' keepers (Hart, De Gea etc) make mistakes. Anyway, it was a cracking stop from Luke, right out of the top drawer, and the match remained locked at nil nil. 

We were struggling to retain possession, Dawson in particular was seemingly unable to either pass it forward, or find a red shirt. And when the out ball up to Proschwitz was the only option, the big German was man-handled by Onyewu. I lost count of the times he had hold of his shirt/arms. But obviously, the referee saw none of it. 
So the ball kept coming back at us. The back four though were solid throughout, and only a lucky deflection or quality strike was going to beat Steele. We seemed set for a point, which we thoroughly deserved. 



With ten minutes of normal time remaining, came the games second dismissal. Wednesday substitute, the enigmatic Jermaine Johnson left a foot in on Brek Shea, knee high, and despite the pleading of the Jamaican winger, Marriner again reached for the back pocket and the numbers were again even. 
It was the worst challenge of the afternoon, and I was surprised that Shea was able to continue. We'd used our other two substitutes by then - Hunt was replaced after 75 minutes through fatigue, and Jennings was surprisingly withdrawn before that; O'Brien and Cywka the fresh legs. 
But Shea carried on, and we could now push on and search for a winner ourselves. Or so we thought. 

Despite having to operate out of position at right back, O'Brien played a great through ball in between the Owls defence and Mellis turned brilliantly in the box but looked to be stumbling on the soggy surface, and despite Llera's late attempt to pull out of the challenge, Mellis went over the big centre halves knee and down for what at first glance looked a certain penalty. The referee was having none of it however, and Wednesday played on. 
The reds came forward again instantly, and it was Mellis once more running at the defence before Mattock got a foot in and the ball ran clear out wide where Maghoma had time to get rid, but he didn't. And Mellis steamed in and slid in for the ball with one foot, but as he reached the ball, Maghoma stuck his foot in at last and then fell like he'd been shot by a sniper. Again, on first viewing, it looked a bad tackle. But the more you watch it back the more obvious the gamesmanship from the Wednesday winger. 

I can certainly see why Marriner sent Jacob off. As I say, on first viewing it looked like a nasty one from a player who felt hard done by a moment previous. And the official gets just that one viewing of any incident. But then, he only got one look at the Mellis/Llera coming together and that looked nailed on to me. So it was a frustrating outcome all round for those of us of a red persuasion. 

The fourth official had indicated five minutes of added time just prior to the Mellis incidents. And soon after he departed, Onyewu limped off to be replaced. 
We then forced a corner in the fifth minute of stoppages, but instead of playing it safe, Cywka sent over a shocking cross that missed everyone and Wednesday again had possession. Within a few seconds, they were down the other end where again Marriner blew up for the fussiest free kick of the match, 40 yards from Steele's goal, wide left. 
The cross put in came to nothing, and after a scramble or two the ball ran nicely for O'Brien who saw that we had two players unmarked cross-field and must have attempted to find them, but he made a pigs ear of it - his pass was awful and dropped nicely for Wednesday, and up popped man of the match (in my opinion) Maguire to fire low into the bottom left hand corner, beyond the desperate reach of Steele. The 97th minute the winner had arrived. Cue celebrations from the home stands of epic proportions, and a mass exodus in the Leppings Lane End as once again at Hillsborough a Barnsley side tasted the sourest of defeats. 

So how do you react to a game like that? Well, initially I was pointing the finger of blame (as you do) at the referee for the time added onto the time added on. Yes, it's a 'minimum' of whatever number he throws out there. And yes, I suppose you could argue the extra minute for Mellis' red card/Onyewu's withdrawal (although that was instant). But we'd entered the seventh minute by the time Maguire scored. I think it was very harsh, from a referee who favoured Wednesday in key moments. I was pig sick if I'm honest.
The first time he finally gave us a free kick for shirt pulling on Proschwitz, came in the 92nd minute. It drew fake applause from the reds supporters. And if there was seemingly plenty of time for a winner in second half injury time, then why did he not allow us take that corner on the stroke of half time? 

I then saw the FLS highlights and still felt the same regarding Frimpong's dismissal. I said as much on twitter when he signed. I knew he'd be sent off. 
I couldn't argue with the Mellis red card, because as I said before, it looks bad before you see it slowed down. And like Frimpong, Mellis should have calmed down. Both of their actions were stupid. Although the first red was much more costly. We were the more dangerous side before he was sent off after half an hour. Our game plan went right out of the window the moment he thought it acceptable to make a tackle from behind whilst already on a yellow. Stupidity. Simple as that. 

So after a good 24 hours of reflection and a chance to view the game again, and despite still being firmly of the belief that the referee ruined the game and favoured the home side, I can't argue with the result, nor blame random individuals, including André the giant bell. 
Some of our supporters felt differently last night. Some of the vitriol aimed at Jim O'Brien, Jacob Mellis and Emanuel Frimpong I feel was unnecessary. But I'm no saint myself, and we all say things we regret in the heat of the moment. 

In terms of where we go from here, I actually feel more positive, more optimistic than I did prior to the game. I saw a lot of good performances out there, in particular from the back four. 
I've been critical (and rightly so at times) of Tom Kennedy this season. But his displays under Danny have been decent in the main. Yesterday, after a nervy start, I thought he was fantastic. As was Hunt on the other side of the pitch, so much so that Wednesday only really attacked us down that side once he'd gone off. 
I thought the centre halves were immense. They seem much more solid since Danny returned. A great understanding looks to have been formed. To be fair, Martin Cranie is probably our most consistent player. But I thought Peter Ramage was our man of the match yesterday. He dealt with the giant Nuhiu with ease, and won practically every aerial duel all afternoon. His early crunching tackle on Maghoma set the tone for a towering display. It's the back four I feel sorry for yesterday. They deserved their clean sheet. 

Further forward, I thought Mellis was outstanding (up until his petulance). Some sublime technical stuff as ever, but also grafted in the engine room once we were reduced to ten. 
I'm delighted with this new and improved Dale Jennings. He looks the player we thought we'd signed back in the Summer. And I thought Proschwitz was decent in the main. I can see him and O'Grady forming a decent partnership up top over the coming weeks/games. 

Conversely, the performance of Brek Shea disappointed me. Again. I'm not quite seeing what it is that he's bringing to the table. 
He's well over six foot tall, has undoubted technical quality and pace, but for me he's not using these assets even nearly as often enough. 
I'm sick of reading about how Paddy McCourt is a 'luxury' or a 'passenger' etc. But it's even harder to read now I've seen Brek a few times. He offers just as little as Paddy defensively, but nothing close to what the Irishman can in an attacking sense. But I'm sure Danny has his reasons. 

I wasn't too impressed with Dawson yesterday either. Can't ever fault him for effort, but there's something in his head I think that's left over from the Hillcroft era. It's sideways and back, all the time. And the strange thing is, he's more than a holding player for me. He's shown that in the past. He can drive forward, and he can score decent goals. But then, we've better options in terms of attacking midfielders. 
I suppose with Frimpong and Mellis now suspended, he'll have another chance to impress, but I feel time's possibly running out for him as a BFC player. He's no better than Hassell in that position, and I think young Digby deserves a run as well. Then there's Martin Woods and Liam Lawrence. We'll see. I hope he comes good again, he seems a likeable bloke. 

WHITEY'S FINAL THOUGHTS 





I think we've got to remain positive. We played one of the form teams yesterday on their own patch, with just ten men for 50 minutes. We restricted their chances, and whilst I reckon better sides would have probably beaten us comfortably in the same circumstances, we held strong/firm and I think a neutral supporter would have agreed that we were unlucky not to get a point out of the game. 

It's easy to trot out clichés, but after other results went in our favour, it really is 'as you were' in terms of the table. Ok, it's another game gone, but I have seen enough since Danny returned to give me hope that we're at least going to fight for survival. I wasn't so sure Flitcroft's reds even had any fight left in them. 
There's more quality in Wilson's side as well. Certainly more pace. 

There'll be no easy games, and a high flying Ipswich side visit Oakwell next. But a quite poor (at the time) reds side were more than a match for the Tractor Boys at Portman Road in the reverse fixture, so I see no reason to fear them whatsoever. If the boys remain positive (they should do) then I feel we'll be able to get back on track. And with fellow strugglers Doncaster, Millwall and Charlton to play this month, by March we could be out of trouble. 







UP THE TARN!