Barnsley 0 Everton 3: Be ruthless urges Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom after defeat to Premier League Everton

Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom believes it is imperative that his side are more ruthless at both ends of the pitch.
Barnsley's Stefan Payne in action against Everton. Photo: Chris EtchellsBarnsley's Stefan Payne in action against Everton. Photo: Chris Etchells
Barnsley's Stefan Payne in action against Everton. Photo: Chris Etchells

The Reds got their first blemish of an otherwise perfect friendly campaign on Saturday as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat to Premier League Everton.

Goals from Kevin Mirallas, Gerard Deulofeu and Ross Barkley did the damage at Oakwell in Barnsley’s first real test of pre-season.

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It was also the first sign of what Heckingbottom’s side could look like come the opening day of the season when they travel to Ipswich.

New boys Tom Bradshaw, George Moncur, Andy Yiadom and Elliot Lee all started for the Reds.

The most notable absentee amongst both sides was former Barnsley boy John Stones.

The defender was left out of the squad amid links of a mega move to Manchester City – with the Reds set to receive 15% of any fee paid for the England centre back.

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Heckingbottom singled out the visitors’ strength in depth as one of the key factors in the reverse result.

“We matched them with efforts on goal so that’s a takeaway that we have to be more ruthless in both boxes,” admitted Heckingbottom.

“We set up with a plan to get the players to understand what we’re about.

“In the first half they understood that and we wanted more of the same in the second half.

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“Second half they were bringing on internationals and seven of our lads played 90 minutes and chasing the game was difficult.

“We went in at half time and it felt like a proper game of football and that’s what we wanted.”

Everton came bursting of out the blocks as Mirallas fired a fabulous free-kick into the top corner in the ninth minute before Alfie Mawson almost equalised a minute later as he hammered his effort against the post.

Adam Davies produced a stunning stop to deny Deulofeu after the former Barcelona man surged through the defence into a one-on-one position.

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Yiadom hit a venomous volley marginally wide before defender Marc Roberts’ saw his header agonisingly cleared off the line on the stroke of the break as the Reds pushed to secure parity.

Winnall failed to make the impact that made him so lethal in League One as he headed three efforts wide of the target.

Deulofeu delivered Everton’s second on the hour mark as his blistering pace got him in behind before a collected finish in the box.

Barkley completed the scoring 17 minutes from time with a thunderous left-footed strike after being allowed to turn of the edge of the box.

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Despite the scoreline flattering the Reds’ opposition Heckingbottom knows his side must be ready for anything to be thrown at them in the second tier of English football.

He added: “There are going to be different tests in the Championship, that’s no disrespect to the League One players because many of them had played at a higher level.

“Week-in week-out, every player will pose different types of problems whether it be physically or by their tactics or positioning.

“We have to be ready for it and games like this will help prepare us for that.”

the teams

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Reds: Davies, Yiadom, Roberts, Mawson, White (Evans, 84), Hammill, Moncur, Hourihane (Scowen, 62), Lee (Bree, 46), Bradshaw (Payne, 62), Winnall.

Subs: Townsend, D’Almeida, Nyatanga, Watkins, Tuton.

Everton: Robles, Davies (Coleman, 46), Holgate (Pennington, 83), Galloway (Funes Mori, 46), Baines (Oviedo, 62), Besic (Grant, 62), Gibson (McGeady, 62), Lennon, Dowell (Barkley, 46), Mirallas (Cleverley 62), Deulofeu (Tanashaj, 62).

Subs: Stekelenburg, Grant.