IT has been another blank week with no points – though nobody could complain about the effort put in by the players.
We are still playing a great brand of football – we are just lacking the finishing touches in front of goal,
Against Southampton the decisions again did not go in our favour – what with theMills own goal and another dubious penalty decision. We never seem to get given them in the same situation.
I was talking to Scunthorpe fans and they seemed to suffer the same fate last season.
Tuesday night saw the first of our South Yorkshire derby matches against Sheffield United. Again we controlled the game but another own goal and a breakaway condemned us to defeat.
On another day Stocky's 25- yard thunderbolt would have bounced down over the line.
So, hot on the heels of the Blades game, we make the short journey over to Oakwell.
It is a ground that has favoured us in our recent meetings, and we have won the last five games against them.
Barnsley are viewed more as "our rivals" than the two Sheffield teams, and both sets of supporters will want the bragging rights come Monday.
The way both teams are playing at the moment, it would not surprise me if it ended a 0-0 draw as both teams are struggling in front of goal.
Barnsley will be minus their influential midfielder Brian Howard.
It was strange that on Tuesday night against the Blades that his name appeared on their teamsheet in the press room. Local radio thought that they had got an exclusive, but it turned out that it was a mistake.
It will seem strange not being in the press box on Saturday at Oakwell and having good banter with Paul 'Pele' the larger--than-life Dearne FM (Trax's sister station) reporter.
They managed to find a sponsor in order to continue reporting on their local team – unlike ourselves.
I thought that we would take well over 4,000 fans on this short trip, but to date just under 3,000 tickets have beensold.
I think our last visit to Oakwell saw us come away with a 5-2 victory in the LDV Vans Trophy.
That win came on the back of a 2-0 League One victory previously.
For some reason the Barnsley players got changed on the team coach in the return, but they still got a tonking!
It will be good to see Darren Moore again.
I am sure that all Rovers' fans give him the sort of reception they gave to Paul Green at Derby on the opening day of the season.
Hopefully the game will be a classic with plenty of goals and Rovers come out on top.
Hopefully, there will be none of the red cards which have blighted recent fixtures.
What do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Blades Watch 08-09 - The Season So FarOwls Watch 08-09 - The Season So FarWatch Premiership highlights, international football, golf, tennis, darts and much moreFootball headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 552 words and appears in Doncaster Star newspaper.
