Doncaster Rovers 2-4 Barnsley

Doncaster Rovers 2-4 Barnsley

Papa John’s Trophy

Tuesday 11th October 2022

Back in the 2000s, Doncaster Rovers always seemed to beat Barnsley. 

Across five fixtures, Rovers racked up a 16-3 aggregate scoreline with the nadir moment for Barnsley being when they were unceremoniously dumped out of the LDV Vans Trophy by a Rovers reserve team - with even Richard Offiong (remember him) getting on the score-sheet!

A full 17 years on and this seemed like long-awaited revenge because at one point it felt like Barnsley might just record the biggest ever away win at the Eco-Power Stadium.

On a night when the Reds fielded the youngest EVER team in their history, Fabio Jalo was absolutely exceptional and produced a ‘coming of age’ type  performance which was remarkable to see live and it will only heighten the interest that already exists in him from Premier League clubs.

Just 16 - meaning he wasn't even alive when that LDV Vans Trophy hammering unfolded, his touch, technique, movement and finishing were all sublime. If you're reading this and don't know the name already, make a note of it, because this was a night where everything came together for him - and he'll remember it forever as he scored the first two goals in his professional career.

A 0-4 scoreline after 34 minutes tells its own story and, whilst Barnsley were lethal in parts of their play and the gulf in class between League One and League Two showed enormously, it's also got to be said that Rovers were awfully inadequate in too many areas. 

They got ripped to shreds; particularly on the left-hand side and certainly in defence where Ro-Shaun Williams endured a more scary night than some of the reconstructions that used to be shown on Crimewatch. 'Don't have nightmares' as Nick Ross used to say... well Mr Williams might be having nightmares after this one because frailties were obvious, weaknesses were brutally exposed, it was embarrassing at times (especially during that first half) and none of it did anything whatsoever to alleviate the groans about Gary McSheffrey.

Things started to unravel for Rovers after just 11 minutes as Josh Martin tapped home from Slobodan Tedic’s inviting cut-back to make it 1-0 (no celebration though out of respect to his former team-mates) before Jalo's outstanding talent took centre stage.

Not long after being accidentally caught in the mouth by Jon Taylor’s flailing hand - in the incident preceding Taylor and Luca Connell both being booked for jostling on the ground, the 16-year-old became the second-youngest ever scorer in Barnsley’s history (and scored his first senior goal) when he produced a perfect pirouette to bamboozle Ro-Shaun Williams and open up space inside the box before slotting home with devastating accuracy. Unbelievable technique followed by great composure.

It took Jalo just five more minutes to bag the next goal of his professional career. After some free flowing play by Barnsley which was akin to a hot knife carving through butter, Martin spotted him completely unmarked (Williams being at fault) and he demonstrated more great footwork to get the angle right followed by precise execution with his finish to make it 3-0.

Both the scoreline and more than a few aspects of the performance were beginning to bare the same hallmarks as Rovers’ battering at the hands of Rotherham in the Papa John's Trophy this time last year, and more keystone cops defending on 34 minutes again by Williams who swung a boot and shanked his clearance straight to Martin, culminated in a fourth goal.

Unbelievably, it could have been 5-0 by half-time as Tedic exposed Tom Anderson’s lack of match fitness when he brushed past him too easily, only to be bundled over inside the box by the Rovers skipper. The Serbian stepped up to take the resulting penalty (probably because he’d won it) but his effort was saved by Louis Jones.

That proved to be a turning point to some degree because Donny at least looked a bit more competent after the break with Reo Griffiths (who was so anonymous that I didn't even realise he'd been playing) and Barlow being hooked off in favour of Miller and Kyle Hurst.

There were a few close shaves as Miller forced a flying save from Jack Walton and Harrison Biggins hit the crossbar before Miller's deft connection from a left-wing cross found the net before the talisman claimed his second of the night in the last 10 minutes.

Ultimately, it was much too little and much too late and although the Papa John's Trophy isn't important in the grand scheme of things, the terrible first half performance by DRFC won't do much to stop the serial squawkers in the fanbase from using it as another stick to beat the manager with. Whilst Gary McSheffrey has to shoulder the responsibility (that’s football and it goes with being manager), it's got to be said that too many of the players let themselves down in what was their best opportunity to impress and stake a claim for more game-time.

A big response is needed on Saturday in the serious stuff of a League Two away game at Carlisle United which won't be easy by any means.

It was ridiculous to see some thick idiots abusing Louis Jones at the end of the game. Perhaps on a luckier night, he might have saved something but he certainly wasn’t at fault for any of the goals and can't be blamed when outfield players don't do the jobs required of them or defenders just aren't up to the basic task of defending - which contributed to this result just as much as Barnsley's utter ruthlessness in attacking areas.

The fact the 'keeper copped for criticism just shows some fans know f**k all about football.

All that said, Barnsley deserve plenty of credit for what they produced because they were brilliant - not just Fabio Jalo but others too!

Having watched them at U21s level regularly enough to know what they're all about - and especially over the past few weeks, Will Lancaster had one of the best games that I've seen him have. He was solid in the first half, made a good block inside his own box from a Jon Taylor effort just after the break and will have benefitted loads from a second half in which Donny went direct and applied pressure that way. He got caught out from an aerial ball in the dying minutes but on that occasion, his defensive team-mate Jasper Moon (top lad is Jasper) bailed him out with a sliding interception which also prevented a goal - and it's good to see him playing with confidence again after a weird few months.

Danny Benson also impressed, especially in the first half where he 'bombed on' quite a bit. It was also one of the best games which I've seen him have and left a positive impression. I suspect he was just buzzing to be playing in such unexpected circumstances given that Will Hondermarck was initially meant to be starting - only to be pulled out at the last minute when the referee informed Barnsley that he was actually suspended... thus preventing what could have been a disastrous cock up!

Hayden Pickard came on and applied himself in exactly the manner you'd want a young player to in a game situation, getting stuck in a few times, and he didn't look out of place one bit. Keegan Hartley worked very hard during his little cameo - that didn't didn't go unnoticed. Josiah Dyer (son of Bruce Dyer) nearly scored with his very first touch within about 20 seconds of coming on - and what a moment that would have been if he had done, whilst I'll always advocate what Harrison Nejman can offer because I know one day he'll deliver a performance where people stand up, take note and just applaud him, so it was good for him to get some minutes - and he played a decent and incisive ball to feet late on which I spotted which is a nod to what he can do.

There was also a brief cameo for Jack Butterfill in injury-time; not long enough for him to replicate his feat of scoring as he did against Newcastle, but hopefully enough to claim an appearance fee which I hope very much is written into his contract - because it's always good to get a bonus!

Nevertheless, the undisputed 'star of the show' - and writing that I'm beginning to sound like Michael McIntyre but he's too young to get booze for a 'Man of the Match' award, was Fabio Jalo. 

I could wax lyrical for hours about how good he was and I knew he'd cause problems (which a few people who'll read this who I spoke to just before kick-off will be able to testify). What he produced is exactly the best of what he can do. The scary thing is that he's quality already, he's only going to get better, and it speaks volumes that he scored his first goal about three minutes after getting a flailing hand in his mouth which will have certainly stung and hurt a bit. He's 16, he didn't 'shirk it' or hide in his shell after that incident and he's gone and 'mixed it' against fully grown men in 'proper' football, caused Ro-Shaun Williams (who has 126 league appearances to his name) umpteen amounts of problems, bagged the first two goals of his professional career and been one of the best players on the pitch.

I'm not going over the top but what a performance and what a player - and I think it'll only be in a few years when some people look back at the team-sheet from this game that they realise just what they were up against.

Bravo, Fabio! Bravo indeed!