Reds quick on the draw but fire blanks

THE shinpads went flying out of the dugout. Toys out of the pram.

Jon Parkin was the striker in a strop. Subbed against his home town team and just as they looked like cracking.

Happy he wasn't.

Could have been because of the football lesson Barnsley gave his current employers, Stoke, in the first half.

Might have been Stoke's recovery after the interval and 45 minutes which brought opportunities in both boxes in super-casino numbers.

Parkin would have fancied his chances except they were limited by Stoke manager Tony Pullis who preferred Mamady Sidibe for the final 27 minutes.

It didn't help that Ricardo Fuller headed on to the crossbar with Oakwell academy old boy Parkin still in the game just inside the second period.

Barnsley were lucky in that moment and they knew it. But it wasn't all about that. More like top defending from Lewin Nyatanga and Dominik Werling in particular while Stephen Foster and Dennis Souza were no slouches either.

And when Stoke did get something on target, usually with Dominic Mateo pulling the trigger, keeper Heinz Muller dived this way or that or got where-ever needed.

One time though with 21 minutes left when he had gone walkabout and Richard Cresswell had the ball at his feet and an open goal from penalty box range. Easier to score than miss but he was way, way wayward with a shot over the top.

Although Cresswell was king of the wasters, he wasn't alone on this field, this night.

For Barnsley Kayode Odejayi was on the receiving at the far post of three top level Jamal Campbell-Ryce crosses. Keeper Steve Simonsen had it easy each time.

Barnsley were racking up shots off target by the dozen. Only Grant McCann and Istvan Ferenczi made Simonsen graft.

Barnsley manager Davey picked the team that brought him a 2-0 win over Scunthorpe United and good value it was too for most of the first half.

Even after Rob Kozluk was forced off injured and Nyatanga came on.

Foster took on the job of right back while Nyatanga, now recovered from a back injury, settled in beside Souza.

McCann was given the wide left role he had on Saturday and he almost broke the deadlock on 14 minutes with a shot from 15 yards which keeper Simonsen palmed away.

But Barnsley's best chance before the break was presented to Odejayi and he should have grasped it. Campbell-Ryce, a live-wire runner on both flanks, gave Brian Howard the ball and his cross was measured and deliberate to Odejayi at the far post. The striker had time but could only direct his header behind the target.

A real moment of Stoke danger followed. Liam Lawrence flighted a fine free kick into the box and Parkin met it full on the volley. It was a class blast and keeper Muller was glad it was held up in the side netting.

Stoke were at last beginning to show, having been second best in that opening spell.

The second half was an even event but Stoke finished the stronger as the three minutes of time added on stretched into five, the final whistle couldn't come quick enough for the frantic Barnsley bench.

"Our passing and creativity was good, we just lacked that killer punch," Davey declared.

"I'd be a little bit more worried if we weren't creating chances. This team will score goals.

Question-marks early in the season were concerning clean sheets and we've hit two of those on the head now. We're pleased at that. We know we'll still score goals.

"You've got to put out a bit of praise for the back four. Stoke pound that ball into your box.

They stood strong and battled all the way."