Barnsley (U21s) 3-0 Sheffield United (U21s)

Barnsley (U21s) 3-0 Sheffield United (U21s)

Professional Development League

Tuesday 1st November 2022

A new month and another game to watch - this time at Oakwell and a fixture which I'd been looking forward to for a while as Barnsley emerged triumphant over Sheffield United in the Professional Development League.

The Reds have been 'hit and miss' at U21s level so far this term but aided by quite a few players in their starting xi boasting first team experience, they put in a really solid performance to see off a Blades team who are always good value and good to watch.

It was an enjoyable game and barring a brief lull during the second half, it consistently had a good tempo and intensity about it. It felt like a 'proper' game; ball retention was decent from both teams, there were various good passages of play, and there were also bits of 'needle' - just ask Kyron Gordon who was involved in a few things including the incident which saw Jasper Moon given a red card late on.

I learned plenty about the players on show (always the best thing about these games) and I've got no doubt that both teams will have felt the benefit of a run-out which was worthwhile rather than 'going through the motions' as is sometimes the case in U21s matches.

It took Barnsley just six minutes to make a breakthrough and it came through an unlikely source with Jasper Moon in the right place at the right time on the edge of the box where he unleashed a stinging effort which Dylan Wharton got a wrist to, albeit not a strong enough one to prevent the ball from ending up in the net.

One of the best performers in a United shirt was Frankie Maguire. His passing, energy and work-rate was largely faultless and, having received an early knock, the No.8 recovered and soon set-up a chance with a clever set-piece routine where he slid a low free-kick into Louie Marsh who instinctively knocked it through for Owen Hampson inside the area, where only a good challenge by Moon prevented the Bladesman from getting a shot away. 

Maguire's delivery from the subsequent set-piece was duly headed over by Kyron Gordon as Barnsley remained 1-0 up but, slowly and surely, the Blades got themselves on top. Jili Buyaba was unlucky not to equalise with two powerful shots just past the half-hour mark which drew good reflex saves from Jack Walton in both instances - including one he tipped onto the post, and Hampson also whistled a 25-yard shot narrowly wide after being slipped a clever pass by Maguire in another good move.

Undoubtedly the Blades' best chance was just before half-time when Leo Gaxha beat Moon to a ball forward into the channel and played it inside to Marsh. The PDL's joint-top scorer showed tidy footwork and technique to open up the angle for a low shot across the 'keeper which was unfortunate to come back off the inside of the post.

It wasn't quite all one-way traffic because Barnsley enjoyed a few openings themselves during the first half and in the best of their moves, Gordon produced a good block from an Adam Phillips shot. 

However, only a minute after Marsh hit the post for United, the Reds went down the other end and made it 2-0 as Will Hondermarck's piercing and clever run into the box went unnoticed and he got on the end of a right-sided cross to plant his header just beyond the 'keeper's reach.

The second half saw chances at both ends as the Blades searched for a route back into the game, whereas Barnsley pressed for a third goal to seal the win.

Marsh had two attempts in quick succession; a low drive which was saved by Walton followed by an instinctive half-volley from the edge of the box closer to the hour mark after Maguire's cross into the box was only partially cleared by Moon. Jalo replied with two attempts for Barnsley; an off-target volley from Ziyad Larkeche's cross followed by a quick snap-shot which went narrowly over the upright.

It wasn't until the 75th minute that the third and final goal was scored and it was a gift-wrapped one as Barnsley made it 3-0 courtesy. Finlay Potter had a game that I'm sure he'd rather forget (it happens to everyone at some point) and it was his misplaced pass inside his own box which was seized upon by Jalo who had the somewhat simple task of slotting the ball past Wharton to put the result beyond doubt.    

Aside from a headed chance for Sam Aston (on from the bench for his U21s debut) which Walton saved as United pressed for at least a consolation, the only other incident of note in the closing stages happened with 10 minutes to go when Moon was given a second yellow card. 

It came after Hampson committed a foul out wide and words got said - at which point Gordon sprinted 20 yards to 'get involved' and Moon tried to stop him. Things escalated. Hampson and Gordon were both correctly booked and it's probably only because everyone else piled in (thus making the situation look much worse than it actually was) after Gordon's involvement that the referee also brandished a second yellow card to Moon which means he'll now have to serve a suspension.

Overall, the 3-0 scoreline flattered Barnsley up to a point (and that's because Sheffield United played plenty of decent football themselves) but the reason they earned that result is because they were ruthless in one box and defended really well in the other. It was a good team performance.

Aside from the red card (just one of those things now which he'll have to live with), Jasper Moon put in a good individual display where he marshalled the defence; making 2-3 good interceptions at key times to cut out danger, plus he'll be happy with the goal he scored at the other end. It was a good contribution and Will Lancaster - who was good in the EFL Trophy win at Doncaster, had another solid performance.

Will Hondermarck also put in one of the best displays which I've seen from him in a while at RWB; posing an attacking threat, scoring a goal (good finish) and flashing a shot wide in the brief time it was 0-0. Overall, he acted as a good outlet and someone to get the ball to, to get something going, whenever it was possible. He was sharp, bright and 'on it' and evidenced the good things of what he can do.

Beyond the backline, what Barnsley's midfield did particularly well is they got behind the ball when they were out of possession; making it very difficult for United to break them down. That certainly helped limit the Blades' chances.

Someone who is showing improvement is Harrison Nejman. He was decent on the ball, positioned himself well to receive passes and his off the ball work was good, and there were 2-3 good contributions - particularly a good header to stop Frankie Maguire breaking through late on, quickly followed by a clearance from his low free-kick in injury-time. Sometimes I've felt 'Nej' can drift in and out of a game. He's still got bits to learn and that will come because he's got the intelligence/work-rate to get better and improve, but he was consistently involved in tidy things in this game. His passing was clean and crisp, there was no carelessness, lots of focus and attention was evident in his individual game - especially in the latter stages when his work-ethic to ensure that clean-sheet was there to see in abundance.

Fabio Jalo had a quiet afternoon compared to his usual standards - and certainly compared to the one at Doncaster in the EFL Trophy the other week where he was phenomenal and caused carnage, and though he's got Finlay Potter to thank for it, he'll be happy to have added another goal to his tally.

The Blades won't want to get too hung up for too long about the result; it happens and they'll need to 'move on' quickly because they've got another game at Birmingham on Friday.

Some of their players did make good contributions.

Owen Hampson got on the ball quite a bit and was effective; it didn't particularly pay off but I want to watch him again at some point because he created a good impression. Charlie Staniland picked up little 'bits and pieces' - including one where he dropped back in the first half to make a well-read interception in his own box (about 25 minutes in) and his hard work didn't go unnoticed. Kyron Gordon (bar the yellow card which was avoidable) actually didn't do too badly because he won a lot in the air and I don't think he'd have many problems if he was thrown into a first team environment somewhere, whilst Jili Buyabu posed a good threat with his driving runs. He could have scored with either of his two efforts and he also drew a foul out wide late on and he's clearly got talent.

Because I've not watched Sheffield United as regularly as I ought to have done at U21s level (shameful I know), then I've not 'properly' seen Frankie Maguire that much before - but I was really impressed by his performance.

Wearing No.8, I'd loved to have seen him get a bit further forward more often because the quality was there and I feel he'd have been able to cause loads more danger in higher areas. Nevertheless, his passing - whether it be short or long was consistently good, his set-pieces were delivered into the correct areas, both his technical and link-up play; the ideas and intentions behind them, were decent (evidence being two clearly planned 'short' set-piece routines in the first half - both of which led to something), whilst his touch and take to receive and then play ball was of a high quality. On top of that, he covered lots of ground, demonstrated that energy to get back defensively to do his work - heading away a corner towards the back-post in the second half and then being the player who cleared it altogether from the edge of his box just 10 seconds later, and he was also enthusiastic in encouraging and praising his team-mates, being vocal, showing good characteristics and little signs of leadership throughout the 90 minutes. 

I think only once he gave the ball away in the second half - that being in injury-time when Fabio Jalo got a touch to an intended pass out wide near the halfway line (and even that can be attributed to tiredness given how hard he worked) and in the pouring rain for much of the second half too.

It's got to be kept in context because this result wasn't great; and that's partly down to how well Barnsley defended - and at 5ft8 he might lack a bit of height considering what some managers might want from a player (there's nothing he can do about that) but in terms of attitude, endeavour, work-rate, communication, application and quality on the ball, it was all spot on.

I'm just glad he stayed on the pitch after his early knock because there was a moment where I thought he might be coming off. I always enjoy watching good players and with his contributions in this game, plus the fact that from some research I've done already he seems to be a 'proper' good lad with the right personality and drive to do well for himself, he's already won my backing and my respect.

Finally, Louie Marsh deserves a mention. 

Although this wasn't a game that he'll remember for long because he didn't score, he's the joint-top scorer in the PDL right now for a very good reason (eight goals in eight games if my facts are right) and he still showed snippets of what he's about. He drew fouls through his technique - including the one where Jasper Moon was booked early on, he got three good shots away; two early in the second half and the other just before half-time where he showed tidy footwork to open up an angle and hit the post. 

There's something within his performances which I really like. I enjoyed watching him against Peterborough at Bramall Lane in September and, having also watched Aaron Collins (now at Bristol Rovers) when he was 19, he reminds me quite a bit of Azza at that age. He's got the nimbleness, the height, the slender frame but quality to go with it along with a good attitude (which is always easy to spot), and it's testament to how well Barnsley's defence and midfield played that he didn't get on the score-sheet.

Considering the adversity he's had to overcome earlier this year when he was lying on an operating table and out of action through injury, he's also got a good character about him and I'd love to be able to fast-forward five years into the future to see where he's playing because there's not a shadow of a doubt in my mind that with luck and good fortune, he can do well in the long-term.