Brammer’s Blog

Well you certainly can’t say it’s dull being a Barnsley fan. There’s no danger of mid-table mediocrity for us, as once again we head into the final week of the season with our Championship status at stake.

It could have been oh so different. Had we hit the back of the net against Derby in a game we dominated, had we scored that penalty against Forest, had we not conceded at the death against both Watford and Coventry. And that is just in the last month! There is a thin dividing line between success and failure, and unfortunately we’ve been the wrong side of it all season.

The result at the Ricoh Arena was a classic example of a missed opportunity – a draw plucked from the jaws of victory. It is easy to point the finger of blame at the referee – or curse our bad luck – but the players must also accept some responsibility. Yet again both Bogdanovic and Macken missed simple chances which would have given us an unassailable lead, and in the last 20 minutes we retreated deeper and deeper, allowing Coventry to camp in our half with the inevitable consequences.

For once I actually felt sorry for Simon Davey. He got his tactics spot on, he picked the correct personnel, his substitutions were timely and logical and he clearly had the players motivated. He must have felt as though he’d run over a black cat or walked under a ladder.

So, on to our next ‘cup final’. Anyone who thinks Saturday’s game will be easier because Wolves are already promoted and Mick McCarthy is a Barnsley lad are sadly mistaken. They will want to put on a show in front of a sell-out away following and as there isn’t any pressure on them they can play without fear. Equally, if there is one thing we know about Mick it is that he is as committed as a manager as he was as a player – there will be no room for sentimentality.

Unfortunately I won’t be at Oakwell to see the game because I’m off to a wedding. I accepted the invite many months ago when I assumed the Reds would be comfortably placed and there would be little at stake. How wrong I was!

As the wedding doesn’t start till 4pm I will no doubt have to sit in the church listening to the commentary like on one of those comedy sketches – although I will try and refrain from jumping up during the nuptials if we score! Rest assured that while I’m in church I will take the opportunity to pray for divine intervention at Oakwell!