SEASON REVIEW - FEBRUARY 2008
FEBRUARY 2008
FEBRUARY started in despairing fashion as news filtered through of Heinz Muller's season ending knee injury.
The big German ruptured his cruciate ligament in January's win over Colchester United and would not play again for the Reds during the 2007/2008 campaign. It was a bitter blow for Muller, who looked to be a real find and the outstanding keeper in the Championship.
Simon Davey moved quickly into the transfer market and snapped up experienced Fulham keeper Tony Warner on loan. Warner endured a nightmare debut as Barnsleu capitulated embarrassingly at Coventry City on February 2.
The Reds were well and truly thumped as Leon Best ran riot and City's strugglers made a mockery of their own relegation fight to embarrass Simon Davey's men with an easy 4-0 win.
Barnsley needed something and hopes were not that high when title-chasing West Brom came to Oakwell a week later. However, Barnsley's bettered troops turned in one of their season-defining performances as they raced into a two goal lead with well-taken goals by Daniel Nardiello and Jon Macken. James Morrison pulled one back in the second half but the Reds defended magnificently to claim another memorable Oakwell scalp.
Barnsley's travel sickness would come back to haunt them though on Tuesday February 12 when they made the long, long, long journey to Plymouth. It was the second time in successive seasons that Simon Davey's men were forced to go to Home Park for a midweek game with the Football League fixture computer seemingly bearing a grudge against Reds' fans.
The game itself started in the worst possible fashion when Lewin Nyatanga was very harshly sent off with just minutes on the clock. Plymouth ran out 3-0 winners after Nyatanga'a shocking dismissal although the red card was rightly rescinded on appeal.
Saturday February 16 2008 is a day that will live forever in Barnsley history. It is the day the Reds took on mighty Liverpool in their own backyard and gave the European giants a hiding. New signing Luke Steele was thrown in at the deep end at Anfield and performed heroics to deny Liverpool time and time again.
Athough Dirk Kuyt put the home side in front, Barnsley roared back through Stephen Foster and looked to be heading for a memorable draw until skipper Brian Howard popped up in stoppage time to fire a historic winner.
The draw for the Sixth Round was made the following Monday. Barnsley would face Chelsea at Oakwell in March.
For all the highs after the Anfield win, Barnsley were brought crashing down to earth at Norwich City a week later as the Reds inability to put the ball in the back of the net away from home came back to cost them. Jamie Cureton did find the back of the net for the Canaries to win the game but the match was marred by a serious knee injury to midfielder Anderson de Silva. The Brazilian would not play for Barnsley again for the rest of the season.
With games to make up, Barnsley struggled to cope with their fixture pile up. QPR were next to take advantage of this as they came to Oakwell on February 26 and ground out a tiresome goalless draw. It was another missed opportunity for Simon Davey's squad.
Although the cup win at Anfield brought international recognition, the Reds struggled to keep pace in the league and had slipped to 16th place on 41 points.
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