Waiter, there’s a fly in my words

Barry C reports.

  Don’t know what happened tonight, the trip to St Helens is normally a grind for an hour down the East Lancs Road. I’m at Knowsley Road by ten past six this evening as the last semblance of sunlight is still visible out towards the west (must stop anymore shite like this or I’ll be writing for the Daily Mail). In stark contrast to the last visit to St Helens the night is clear with little or no breeze. The prospect of first teamers keeping in shape for the battle at OT and bottom of the table Barnsley the proverbial lambs to the slaughter means there are already around a hundred in the ground by the time I sit down with my coffee and Mars bar. The Reds team sheet reads like a who’s who of international footballers. Sami, Dom, Titi, Erik and Spud all expected to feature at the other end of the East Lancs on Saturday week. Now I consider myself something of a student of the game and Barnsley’s team sheet contained two players I’d heard of. MASSACRE, I confidently predicted.

  The usual suspects took their seats in the director’s box; our ‘unofficial’ academy boss Dario Gradi joined Le Tactical Genius and Thommo. Doubtless looking at one or two of our reserves to keep Crewe in Division One again. Don’t be surprised to see Newby there soon. In fact GH was in discussion with Dario for the last 10 minutes of the game after clambering over a couple of rows of seats to get to him.

  The Reds started by showing the first team shape with Bjornebye playing a la Paddy on the left but coming inside a fair bit. Titi spent a good deal of time wide left, hopefully in preparation to give the Son of Satan a good roasting at OT. To be honest it took the Reds twenty minutes to ‘get out of bed’ and Camara gave us the lead after he controlled Stigs piledriver before slipping it under the keeper. At the other end Nielsen was forced to make a handful of good saves as Barnsley belied their league placing and gave as good as they got. The usual solid Djimi had a shaky opening period alongside the peerless Hyypia. So 1-0 at the break the healthy crowd of 3,355 still awaiting the MASSACRE and me sat in the stand knife and fork at the ready with my words as starter, main course and dessert.

  The second half brought a tactical switch. Matteo (our best player in the first half) went off, Stig went to Left Back, Navarro moved from Right Back to Centre Midfield, being replaced in defence by Eifion Jones. Maxwell moved from Centre Midfield out to left. Got that !! I’d hate to play Houllier at chess. As seventy minutes approached and the MASSACRE still nowhere to be seen, I was browsing the wine menu. Just what do you have with your words a full-bodied red or a light sparkling white?. Camara and Meijer made way for the youth duo of Armstrong and Miles. Within five minutes the match was made safe as Sami chipped over the Barnsley defence for Miles to round the keeper and drive home his first of the season. The Reds killed the game off and Barnsley were reduced to hopeful punts over the LFC defence where Djimi had a night to forget, Evans and Barnard the Tykes forwards working hard and giving us a good test. The prospect of a ‘word sandwich’ disappeared in the final minute when Newby ran through to crack in his 11^th of the season in 15 games.

  So 3-0, to be honest we didn’t get out of first gear. Djimi had one of those nights, Sami and Dom played well, Murphy showed good touches, Erik and Titi saw little they tried come off though both were willing workers. The reserves missed the outlet of Richie Partridge who is away with the Republic U21’s. I’m loath to give the MOM to one of the first team boys so I’m gonna plump for Jorgen Nielsen who made at least four good saves from one on one situations and swept well behind the back four.

  By my reckoning now we need 11 points from the last six games to secure the title. In reality with most of the teams below us still to play each other seven or eight given our superior goal difference should do it.

  As for me I’m off to Middlesboro’ next Monday where the prospect of Redknapp, Owen and a number of first teamers should ensure a good turn out.

Block 106 Row 22 Seat 69 - Barry C