Barnsley (U21s) 1-1 Coventry City (U21s)

Barnsley (U21s) 1-1 Coventry City (U21s)

Professional Development League

Tuesday 21st February 2023

After yesterday’s Steel City derby at Bramall Lane, this was another closely-fought game in the Professional Development League - only on this occasion the game ended in a draw.

Barnsley were probably the better team overall and they certainly dominated the first 45 minutes but the second half was far closer and there were so many openings (at both ends) that the scoreline should have been greater - and the result could have very easily gone either way in the end.

Having not seen Coventry since last season when they were narrowly beaten at Sheffield United in a game where Marco Rus stood out, I was looking forward to watching them and seeing what they’re all about right now. Despite all the travelling in this league, one of its benefits is that when teams from the Midlands and South come ‘up north’ there’s plenty that you can learn about players that you might not have necessarily seen previously.

Rus had a quieter afternoon this time around; not really affecting things all that much, and instead Coventry’s best player who impressed me most was Riccardo Di Trolio. He played at left centre-back, read the game well, was always positionally aware of what was going on around him and had the dirtiest shirt of anyone on the pitch which was testament to his determination to win the ball whether it was on the ground and he needed to slide in, or in the air where he needed to attack. There were a couple of things where he could have done better (notably when he got pinned by Josiah Dyer for a chance in the second half) but his aggression, commitment and application all stood out and he’s got the makings of a solid defender - especially when you consider he's only 17.

Another new face I’ve not seen previously - this time in Barnsley’s line-up - was Oli Shaw (excellent work-rate and always trying to make something happen) and after he hit the woodwork inside the opening 10 seconds, the Sky Blues went straight down the other end and took the lead from the penalty spot with Tom Costello sending the keeper the wrong way, after Isaac Moore had been brought down.

Despite that early set-back, Barnsley really took the game by the scruff of the neck and got on top, dominating possession and territory and creating a bagful of chances to go with it.

Harrison Nejman is improving all the time but he should have equalised when he found himself involved with the ball at his feet inside the box following a neat cut-back and clever dummy (didn’t see by whom) and his powerful drive was well-read by Coventry ‘keeper Cian Tyler who made the first in a string of decent saves.

Oli Shaw and Barnsley’s No.9 (on trial) then went close but couldn’t quite force the ball home between them when the Sky Blues didn’t effectively deal with a corner; Shaw also sent a free header wide (when he should have scored) after a great little short corner routine involving Nejman and Jordan Helliwell, and when Shaw brought the ball under control inside the six-yard box just a few minutes later, he unleashed a goalbound drive which Tyler palmed away at his near post.

And it was from the resulting set-piece that Barnsley equalised with the corner from the trialist left-back ricocheting off the unfortunate Callum Perry just a few yards out and ending up in the back of the net. 1-1.

If the game had carried on in this vein then I’ve no doubt that the Reds would have ended up going to win (and probably quite comfortably) but after the re-start, Coventry improved substantially and had a few spells where they looked as if they might be the team to score next.

The visitors posed all kinds of problems down their right-hand side; one of their tactics being to cut the ball-back from close to the byline to where their frontmen were often waiting so they could either pull the trigger or lay-off the ball for someone else. This happened in three or four instances but on each occasion, Barnsley ‘keeper Adam Hayton pulled off saves - including a double one (about 15 seconds apart) when the Reds defence was really stretched and it looked as if Coventry were about to retake the lead.

Things were pretty end to end though and that meant Barnsley still had their own chances down at the other end.

Another Nejman-Helliwell combination from another short corner routine led to the latter floating a delicious ball into the box which was met with a glancing header that went wide of the post.

Just past the hour mark, Josiah Dyer came off the bench and really impacted the game with his big physique and slightly old-school demeanour (reminiscent a little bit of Leo Fortune-West). This was one of the best games I’ve seen him have but after he should have scored with a free header that was straight at the ‘keeper after Nejman recycled play from Helliwell’s ball across the face of goal, the big substitute showed some brilliant skill to get on the end of his skipper’s next cross where he pinned his marker with his back to goal and unleashed a snap-shot on the turn which went narrowly wide of the far-post. Very unlucky because it would have been a fantastic goal if it had gone in - and one to be proud about.

Helliwell was good with his deliveries throughout this game (just like Nejman) and offered lots of drive and energy from his central midfield position and he too was nearly the match-winner when he received the ball in the box and hit a shot which looked as if it might have been going in, only for it to be diverted wide by a Coventry defender who read the situation well.

In the latter stages, Keegan Hartley (who had a good little burst down the flank) and Jack Butterfill (who’ll always give 100%) both tried their hardest to make something happen after they were introduced -  and although Hartley seemed in the perfect position at a late free-kick which could have been played to him in an unmarked position (instead it was pumped towards the back-post), there were to be no further goals.

Overall, the scoreline was a fair outcome and both ‘keepers will be pleased with their contributions - particularly Adam Hayton who was probably the busier of the two and pulled off another fantastic save deep into injury-time.

Amongst those not already mentioned, Josh Martin also had a lively game up to his departure on the hour mark whilst the trialist No.9 was also effective in his own right and had a very good first half.

But if there’s one ‘takeaway’ from this game it’s another decent display by Jordan Helliwell as he continues his comeback from injury. He played the full 90 minutes, looked comfortable and showed no signs whatsoever of any niggles or breaking down, etc, and was very good with both the quality and accuracy of his deliveries, plus his energy and drive in midfield. Sometimes I feel his versatility goes against him but everything I wanted to see from him, I saw in this game, and on another day he might have got the match-winner - just like he did a few weeks ago against Wigan Athletic. Keep it up!