Ground: Oakwell (23,287 capacity) Location: Barnsley, England Ticket price: £26 adult £17 concession (though prices vary depending on where you sit in ground and also age. More details can be found on Barnsley FC's site). You should have no trouble paying at the ground and they allow cash or card (though the card machine was apparently broken when I went).
Barnsley is generally accessible via the Sheffield or Leeds train Getting a train to Leeds and then the Sheffield train is probably the best way to reach Barnsley. It's around a 50 minute journey. From the station, Oakwell is a 10 minute walk. Easy peasy.
Barnsley vs Plymouth had the makings of a classic. The Tykes were on a good run coming into the game, having won 9 of their last 10 home games against a Plymouth side sitting in the automatic spots but had recently drawn against Fleetwood and lost 5-2 to Peterborough United.
It was clear what Duff's side were trying to do from the get-go - press high, quick in the transition and getting it to the flanks for Devante Cole, Nicky Cadden and Luca Connell to exploit. It was a game plan that was working and resulted in an early goal chalked offside. Barnsley pushed and pressed and Argyle's main man Bali Mumba was kept quiet by the Barnsley defence, who also held their line well to play Ryan Hardie offside on multiple occasions.
A lapse in concentration from Mads Andersen forced Harry Isted into a fine save early in the second half, but aside that it was all Barnsley. Duff made a brave sub by taking off Devante Cole for Watters at half time. Cole was doing well in the transition, making good runs with the ball but was too selfish, making poor decisions on two occasions where he chose to keep the ball rather than laying it off to a teammate, resulting in a potentially good chance being wasted.
The three goals were all of good quality too; a fine half volley from outside of the area by Phillips breaking the deadlock on the 60th minute, followed by a great header by Andersen on the 77th minute (not sure what he was doing up there mind), but the goal of the day came from Nicky Cadden with a pearler of a free kick. 3-0 wasn't a flattering scoreline at all; Barnsley were dominant.
Special mention has to go to Will Finnie with possibly one of the worst refereeing performances I've seen in some time. Foul after foul made by the Argyle players went unpunished whilst Finnie's heart fluttered with joy whenever Barnsley made a challenge, regardless of how legal or illegal the challenge was. I hope it was an off day for the lad. Toby Tyke getting pelted by snowballs when he just wanted to go over and say hello was also a spectacle.
The Barnsley crowd were fantastic and Argyle fans were out in good force, bringing over 1000 supporters to Oakwell despite the conditions. Not many clubs can bring in over 12,000 whilst being in the 3rd tier of English football in such precarious weather conditions.
Full Time Barnsley 3-0 Plymouth (11/03/2023)
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