Real test will be for Reds to win in League

AFTER you've been stuffed on your own patch on day one of the season, three nights later any win will do.

Skipper Paul Reid put the hat and coat on Barnsley's safe passage in the Carling Cup second round with his first goal for over a season after sub Istvan Ferenczi scored and Tommy Wright equalised for Darlington.

Reid also put the whole thing neatly into perspective.

He said: "No disrespect to Darlington but at the end of the day, we've beaten a League Two club at home. We're expected to do that.

"The real test is whether we can take this into the game on Saturday."

So no big song and dance at Oakwell.

Job done, move on to Colchester on Saturday.

There were some decent performances last night without it being a decent performance from Barnsley.

Davey had lined his men up in a 3-5-2. Dominik Werling and Rob Kozluk were the wing backs. Impressive were central centre back Dennis Souza, striker Kayode Odejayi and central midfield men Brian Howard and Rohan Ricketts.

Manager Simon Davey said: "Rohan Ricketts came to the club and everybody thought he came as a left winger.

"When Rohan was at Wolves he was a central midfielder and a left winger. I knew when I was signing him we could have options with him. He's shown versatility and played in the middle. He's good player."

Keeper Heinz Muller, cleared by the FA to play on hours before kick-off, also looked rock steady and the one time on his debut he had to be spectacular he was exactly that.

Barnsley gained a half chance as early as the 11th minute with Odejayi robbing Alan White. Miguel Mostto's path from penalty box perimeter to six yard area was soon blocked and his shot was nearer the corner flag than target.

Darlington came back with a Robert Purdie freekick which located Stephen Foster free at the far post. His stooping header was difficult and well wide and weak.

Mostto did better (couldn't have done worse) connecting with a Werling centre but keeper David Stockdale caught easily.

Howard and Ricketts then really clicked in the danger-zone and the ex-Spurs' lad was only inches away from testing Stockdale properly.

Tommy Wright claimed a penalty for the visitors. Shameless really; his hand went up after Souza and Paul Reid went down.

With five minutes of the half left, Wright did wrongfoot both Reid and Souza. The rest went wrong for the former Barnsley striker as he blazed over.

Another Darlington scare arrived just after the break with Kevin McBride's deep cross headed firmly goalwards by Foster, Muller improvised a smart save, blocking with his legs when all other options were gone.

Ferenczi's first touch of the night brought the game's opening goal.

The Hungarian replaced Mostto, who had been poor all evening. Odejayi spread the ball wide right and Barnsley's best centre of the night was delivered by Kozluk with an open invitation to score. Ferenczi's header from around the back stick was all it should have been.

Darlington's equaliser from Wright was the goal of the game. Robert Purdie floated it into the penalty box and Wright, never really much more that a bit part player while at Oakwell, found a one-touch power finish well out of place in this generally poor game.

The winner was messier by a mile. Werling's corner bounced about the box before Reid smacked it home from nine yards.