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Blades receive helping 'hand': MATCH REPORT AND SLIDESHOW
Barnsley 1 v Sheffield United 2: SHEFFIELD United manager Kevin Blackwell said thanks to the referee's assistant. Barnsley boss Simon Davey's remarks to him shouldn't be found in a family newspaper.
Blessing or blunder to give United the second-half penalty that effectively won them the game depends on where you stand. Or, more accurately, perhaps, come from.
The facts are these ... High ball into the box, Rob Kozluk handles, ref Andy D'Urso plays on, speaks to the linesman on the same side as the incident but in the other half of the pitch, ref gives penalty.
Good call, reckoned Blackwell, after James Beattie slotted the spot-kick (unstoppable, by the way).
"It was nailed on. We called it straight away, handball. But I didn't think the linesman was going to give it," Blackwell contended.
"We've had some outrageous decisions against us this season, penalties not given. You might say today was a bit fortunate but Kozzy's put his hand there and he's controlled it with his hand. Intentional or not, it was a penalty."
Davey did his nut when it happened and got sent to the stand.
"For me how can a linesman give a penalty when he's standing behind me and the ref is 15 yards away from it? He can't even see the lines of the penalty box because I know I couldn't see them. I got a little bit upset and rightly so," he under-stated.
Davey was down because it had been a thrill-packed derby he'd argue he didn't deserve to lose. There'd been legitimate goals either end and everyone could have happily walked away from a draw.
United have better forwards than Barnsley. United didn't have as much of the ball as Barnsley. Simple as.
The start brought 90mph stuff with free-kicks clocked up on both sides.
A couple of chances at either end before Beattie netted his first at Oakwell and his seventh for the season.
"I thought our goal was very well-worked," Blackwell said."There was terrific skill from Kyle Naughton and Danny Webber going down the line.
Webber then cut inside and delivered a peach of a ball and Beatts got on the end of it, which is what you're looking for from a striker. They are striker's goals."
It was a goal constructed on the right wing and finished at the far post with a simple prod-in well within the capabilities of the 4m man.
Barnsley weren't beaten yet and keepers Heinz Muller and Paddy Kenny did their stuff to protect the scoreline.
With less than 30 minutes gone the action flared up to just short of fisticuffs. Ugo Ehiogu lost it first, then Anderson de Silva followed.
They went nose to nose, headbutts followed and ref D'Urso, for my money, had no choice but to red-card them both.
No excuses were offered from either side. Both managers waited to view the video. The loss was bigger for Barnsley. Matthew Kilgallon is a decent swap for Ehiogu and sure enough he appeared as Anthony Stokes was subbed. Barnsley don't have another de Silva.
Minutes later, Davey was forced into a change anyway. United skipper, but Barnsley born and bred, Chris Morgan decked Iain Hume. It was game over for the striker who'd taken over injured Jon Macken's role from the off.
The ref reached for his yellow card. Davey wanted worse. Blackwell defended his man.
Hume's face had been rearranged, Davey said. "At the time I thought when somebody raises an elbow and it catches you in the face, it usually is a red card."
Blackwell countered: "A lot of tackles went in but, you know, it's up to the ref. If he'd have picked every one we'd have had no-one left on the pitch, that's for sure.
"If you're going to come into a derby and not give everything, then it's not a derby game."
Davey brought on Miguel Mostto to replace Hume.
Half-time came and went and Davey chucked on Kayode Odejayi in a bold bid to get a goal. It worked but not before United were 2-0 to the good and the Kozluk handball penalty row raged. Davey's mood wasn't helped
when his shout for a spot-kick as Darren Moore and Morgan tumbled in the box got blanked.
He complained: "The ref did not see it and I don't even know if he (Kozluk) did handle the ball. I can't understand it,. We have Darren Moore in the box and he goes down and we get nothing. That's been consistently happening; we're having penalty decision consistently knocked back.
"I don't know whether our supporters need to get a bit more on top of the referee.
"We seem to get controversial penalty decisions against us week in, week out. Not even referees are giving them now, it's linesmen!"
The big Barnsley bonus was that United's two-goal lead lasted two minutes and no more. Debut-making Simon Whaley had his moment when he delivered a decent cross from the left which Odejayi headed in to set up a frantic finish.
Barnsley pushed, United sweated.
The fourth official indicated a minimum of five minutes to be added on.
Somehow we got three and half, which well suited United.
MANAGERS' VIEWS
Simon Davey: I'm disappointed with the result, but the way the lads performed today, I thought they were magnificent throughout the 90 minutes.
They battled away; it was always going to be a battle.
Sheffield United are a physical side and the lads stood up to the challenge.
But for me, how can a linesman give penalty when he's standing behind me and the referee's 15 yards away?
Kevin Blackwell: I think Yorkshire derbies are so tough.
The unfortunate thing for all the clubs is we've got so many of them.
It can effect your promotion push because the atmosphere, the passion, the commitment and everything is something you don't see in other games. The derbies bring it out.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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