Frustration for Barnsley FC debutant Jacob Brown

Jacob Brown could so easily have been able to tell a different story about his full league debut for Barnsley.
Oakwell newsOakwell news
Oakwell news

The 20-year-old was handed his first League One start at Coventry City on Saturday afternoon. 

It was a proud moment for him, even though the Reds saw their unbeaten start to the campaign come to an end after a 1-0 defeat. 

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But Brown's day might have been much better had he been able to mark it with a goal '“ and he certainly had the chances .

he first was the one he will probably wish he could have again.

Picked for his rapid pace against a high defensive line, he was the Reds' biggest threat in the first half and had their three best chances.

Boss Daniel Stendel's tactics paid off as Coventry defender Junior Brown panicked with his namesake on his shoulder and miss-hit a back-pass, which the Barnsley player raced on to and closed in on goal.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He looked primed to mark his debut in the best possible way but his shot was not pitched quite far enough in the corner and Coventry goalkeeper Lee Burge nudged it on to the post and safety.

Brown tested Burge again with an effort from just outside the box while also put another good chance wide of the target when the ball fell to him in the area.

The Reds were made to pay for those missed opportunities as their unbeaten record went after Jordan Willis' late header.

'We had the chance to go in front through Jacob Brown but it was his first start and later on he also had two big chances,' Stendel said.

'It is not his fault that we didn't win the game.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

'We hoped that he could create chances with his speed, we knew that Coventry defended high, higher than the other teams, and we tried to use his speed.

'It was okay for the first game for him in the starting eleven.

'We hoped we could win the game and that would have been a very good debut.'

Brown, who is another product of the youth system at Oakwell, had bittersweet memories of the day.

He tweeted: 'Frustrating performance personally.

'But a proud moment and such a good feeling starting my first league game for @BarnsleyFC.'