A Review by John Taylor

After the traditional Christmas shopping day that is the Saturday of FA Cup round 2, we got December off to a late start with the visit of Tranmere Rovers, who knocked us out of that competition a few weeks ago. In our side was Bolton loanee, Derek Niven, whilst we had Matt O'Halloran, lately of Oldham, on the bench, having been secured on a short-term contract. We were without the suspended Robinson and Brandon and fielded an amazing strike partnership of Allott and Hurst (returning from injury to everyone's surprise).

Unbelievably, within 27 seconds of the start, we were a goal down as Ian Evatt failed to jump for a hopeful punt upfield and Eugene Dadi netted with aplomb. Even more unbelievably we were level within a matter of seconds as Allott's measured through ball set up Hurst, running in from the left and his left-footed shot beat Achterberg to net at the far post. This gave us a real boost and we played well after that with good movement off the ball and Niven prompting splendidly in the middle of the park. As the half was coming to an end, a dreadful challenge on Alan O'Hare left the Irishman needing stitches in a painful area and Rovers rightly down to 10 men. So, on came O'Halloran for his debut, as the defender was stretchered off in agony.

In time added on, we took the lead as Blatherwick's knock-on was converted in clinical fashion by Mark Allott for his first league goal for 15 months.  This should have been the springboard for victory, but we looked oddly flat after the break and lazy concession of possession by Uhlenbeek let Rovers in for a simple header by Dadi at the back post from a left wing cross. After that we mounted just 1 serious effort on goal: a fine O'Halloran volley from Niven's cross, well saved by Achterberg. At the other end, Muggleton pulled off a fine double save to prevent the defeat, and substitute Gareth Davies managed to pick up a booking for his only foul of the game; an innocuous thing it was too.

Frustratingly, the arrogant and petulant Dadi, who committed numerous petty offences all afternoon, finally got his just desserts in the closing moments when he tried to prevent Muggleton's punt upfield and was yellow-carded. Dadi even had the gall to backchat as he was being booked.

So, that ended a very poor display which had much promise, but left the fans deflated with a performance in the second half which was not sufficiently industrious, except for the excellent Niven; a lad in the Danny Wilson mould.

Next up was the eagerly awaited trip to Hillsborough against a struggling Wednesday side having difficulty dealing with supporter expectations, particularly at home. The division's biggest crowd of the season turned up for this and most of them were disappointed as Town dominated the game and gave the Owls little opportunity to perform. In truth, they were dire and were very fortunate to escape with the goalless draw. Our defence, with Blatherwick outstanding and midfield, with Hudson, Niven and Allott linking splendidly, showed Wednesday up. Only in front of goal did we struggle with somewhat tentative efforts, with Niven twice going close in the first half, Evatt and Hurst similarly in the second and substitute Reeves agonisingly just wide at the death. Wednesday's only real effort from Owusu was well saved by Muggleton's legs at the far post. Radio Sheffield's "praise and grumble" spot was certainly amusing to hear on the tediously slow journey back over the border as caller after caller moaned at the Owls and, in the main, were complimentary of Town's performance. Wycombe's win, however, still put us bottom of the table.

We didn't carry this standard into the post-Christmas encounter with Barry Fry's Peterborough, however. The first half of this match was atrocious with the Posh taking the lead early on after an error by Gus Uhlenbeek. But for Carl Muggleton, we would have gone in at half time about 4 down and the condemnation of the players as they trooped off was certainly justified.

What the manager said in the dressing room, I don't know, but it certainly had the right effect as the 11 players who returned to the pitch for the second half looked the same but performed in vastly different fashion. Within 2 minutes we were level, as a fine right wing move had Brandon feeding Uhlenbeek, whose splendid cross atoned for his earlier error by setting up Robinson for a powerful headed equaliser.

We continued to take the game to our black-clad opponents and they were not able to regain the ascendancy they had enjoyed before the break. Despite the introduction of the full set of subs, as usual for a Fry side, we were the team looking most likely. And so it proved, with a rejuvenated Glynn Hurst robbing the ponderous Mark Arber on the edge of the box to slot home a fine goal. Hurst's celebrations were only slightly excessive. Even so, we had to rely on the referee rightly disallowing an Arber effort and a superb Muggleton save in the closing minutes to hang on for our first 3 points for 7 weeks.

Two days later we were at Oakwell for the difficult fixture against a Tykes side unbeaten at home and lying third in the table. We were without the suspended Blatherwick and Brandon was on the bench after picking up a slight knock on Boxing Day. In came Dawson and Howson to form a central back three with Evatt. Innes and Uhlenbeek were given the wide roles of linking defence to attack. Roy McFarland's strategy certainly worked as Town looked the better side in the first half and unfortunate not to be ahead. But for some awful officialdom, we would have been. Austin hauled down Gus on the right and when most refs would have shown a yellow card, this clown merely gave a free kick.  Robinson was then cautioned for his usual nonsense. Worse was to come on the half hour when Hurst latched onto a long ball and last man Hayward sent him tumbling for the inevitable red card. Not so, as the ref failed to notice a thing and play was allowed to continue. The same man then fouled captain Hudson but still was not cautioned, whilst a nothing foul by Dawson, given by the linesman with the ref seemingly seeing nothing amiss resulted in a booking for the unfortunate defender. So, half time came with Town on top and the only real problems coming from the referee and the strong low sun, which gave Muggleton some considerable difficulty with high crosses.

The second period was fairly even, but with Town still looking the more likely to snatch it. Barnsley's substitution improved matters somewhat for them, but our move on 67 minutes looked very brave indeed. Off came the effective Niven and the busy Robinson for Reeves and Brandon. Several of us were then worried that we would get overrun in midfield, but it was not to be as Brando ran his socks off, ably supported by the veteran. With 10 minutes of the footballing year to go, we took the lead for the first time this season on the road. Innes's throw found Hudson whose astute knock-on found the swiftly advancing Hurst who bore down on goal and beat Ilic for a fine goal: cue lunatic celebrations on the away end. It was ironic that our only Barnsley born player should get the goal, but it seems he predicted he'd score. The last 10 minutes were not without incident as we survived a penalty appeal, Ilic beat Hurst to a long ball, Monk and Hurst were booked for a micro-scuffle and Brandon hit the woodwork right at the death. The final whistle came with man-of-the-match Evatt jumping for joy in the centre circle and Town failing to achieve the unwanted record of not winning away in 2003. Radio Sheffield was quite amusing again later on with some similar comments from those of 8 days earlier, but most of the Reds' fans credited us with a good display.

So the month ended with us unbeaten in 4 games and achieving successive victories for the first time since September 2002, our previous unbeaten month. The table looks healthier with us third bottom and within touching distance of safety. The performances were most encouraging and Niven has given us an extra dimension. Innes's run in the side has also helped immensely, but we need to sort out the best defensive unit and keep the dogged attitude of the last game and a half to climb the table.  Relegation still looks the most probable outcome but we now look to have a small chance of staving it off. One thing's for sure-I'm glad we're out of the miserable year that was 2003-just 8 wins and a quarter of those in the last few days of the year. Surely 2004 has to be better than that!

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GARETH DAVIES 

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