Match Report 2001-2002

Saturday 19 January, 2002, Division One

Barnsley Away

Sharpe gets it back for City

Barnsley are a kind of less so version of Bradford City. They were in the Premiership, but for less time. They have struggled to come to turns in the lower leagues, but did ok for a season before starting to struggle as opposed to City's lightning switch from beating Chelsea to getting tanked by Stockport in 15 months. They had a £1m signing from the Eastern Bloc getting paid tonnes. We had Benito Carbone. You get the picture.

Now both teams have got the same manager type. Youngish, both Nicky Law and Steve Parkin are around 40. Tried if not tested, both showed well in the lower leagues but both one feels have yet to be given a tough test. Had Chris Hutchings started his career as a manager in Division Three and not away at Anfield he might have been one of Law and Parkin's peers.

Parkin has Barnsley unbeaten in eight league games, Law won his first divisional match with City last week. Both empathise work rate, something that both sets of fan's did not detect loosing from their clubs but do now feel is missing after being such a huge part in the club's respective promotion campaigns.

Ashley Ward, back at Barnsley where he enjoyed the best times of his career, was back in the City line up following suspension, Law's only change from last week meaning Stuart McCall was left cooling his heels until Gary Locke's 24th minute injury. 451, Gareth Grant, Lee Sharpe. All things that were very unpopular in the Premiership that now seem to be important for the future.

McCall's enterace cued a turn around in City's performance. Barnsley had enjoyed the lion's share of a game of few chances until a ball in the Barnsley box was cleared poorly for Lee Sharpe to get a hold of and drill into the net. Barnsley levelled after Gunnar Halle pushed Gary Jones over in the box. Looked like obstruction which would be a free kick and no booking, given as a penalty that should have meant Gunnar was send off. Chris Lumsden hit the spot kick past Carl Muggleton firmly.

The home side had tails up and City's back four looked badly in need of organising on the left hand side. Lewis Emanuel's inexperience shows, but his errors are no worse than Andy Myers who is ten years his senior.

Mike Sheron gave the home side the lead after Kevin Donovan volleyed a corner back at goal and the forward was on the line to turn the ball in and then after half time Sheron gave the Tykes a third goal when he got one on one with Muggleton following a flat footed City backline, especially Stephen Caldwell, claiming handball. Caldwell is an impressive player at times, but is not the leader that City need. David Wetherall would fit back into the City team nicely at the moment.

Eoin Jess, fast looking like a square peg looking for a hole to fit in in the team, came off to please the visiting fans, Jamie Lawrence returning to the Bantams team following a lengthy spell out injured. Gareth Grant looked ineffectual today, Claus Jorgensen did little. But Sharpe...

Lee Sharpe as a hub of a midfield? The idea will raise an eyebrow with the likes of Sir Fergs and George Graham but for Nicky Law it seems natural. The five in midfield protect Sharpe, although he performs a decent all round midfield role, but going forward the former Leeds and Man U man is very important to City's midfield. Ten minutes left on the clock and a good move resulted in Sharpe digging a cross out on the wing and Ashley Ward heading home from the centre.

Five minutes later and Sharpe floats a ball in from the midfield towards the penalty spot. Ward in a race with Tykes keeper Kevin Miller. Ashley Ward wins but takes a battering from the keeper. Ward was floored as the ball trickled in for an equaliser.

All of which could have been considered harsh on the home side but a team that squanders as many chances as Parkin's did does not deserve victory. Both manager's keep up unbeaten runs.

Of the events in Lee Sharpe's long and winding career this game will barely register, but it illustrated so much about a player who feels the clock ticking and wants to make the most of what he has left.

Man of the Match

Lee Sharpe

This man must be given a new contract.

City Team:

Muggleton
Halle Caldwell Myers Emanuel
Jess Jorgensen Locke Sharpe Grant
Ward

Subs: McCall for Locke, Lawrence for Jess, Tod for Grant.