Barnsley come to the Bank this evening, looking to stretch their unbeaten run on our soil to 46 years.
The last time we sent the Tykes home with nothing was August 1980, in the League Cup. The last time they left the Bank without league points was almost half a century ago, in December 1975.
We’ve not crossed paths a huge amount since then, twice in the cup and three times in the league, but as yet, no more wins. Could tonight be the night?
It’ll be a tough test, given that they have only lost once in the league since the start of October. They lost four on the spin in September in all competitions, but as expected, they’re on the up right now and come to us in tenth, six points behind but with three games in hand.
Michael Skubala said in his pre-match press conference that after our cup tie recently, it’ll be much the same, but in very different conditions.
“I think they had a good start, bit of a dip and they seem to be coming back and they’re a good footballing team,” our Head Coach said.
“We obviously played them in the Vertu Trophy a few weeks ago. I think it’ll be stylistic, very similar, but it’ll be very different in terms of atmosphere.”
By that, he obviously means a big night under the lights at the Bank, and unlike last Tuesday, one with supporters watching on in high numbers. The away end will be packed, and that noise travels right down the pitch, creating an intense event.
“Whe you go to Barnsley with 1200 watching, the atmosphere is not quite the same as playing a league game. So I think there’s more at stake in some some regards and that’s not to undo the cup competitions,
“I think it’s going to be a really tough game. They’ve got some good talent. One or two might be missing for them, but the reality is they’ve got a good squad and some good talents and they can score goals and you can see that by some of their results.”
Conor Hourihane was a player I waxed lyrical about when he dropped into this division with Derby County, and now he’s making a name for himself as a bright young coach. From one exciting young coach to another, Michael extended nothing but courtesy and respect.
“I think he’s done a great job since he’s he’s he’s moved into a coaching role,” he added. “He’s done a couple of years as an assistant and player assistant. I think he’s done a good job with the club, it can’t be easy for anybody to to go from one hat to the other.
“In the other sense brings a lot of experience with him. I think he’s got them playing some good stuff and it’s really interesting to see how he keeps developing. It’s great to see young coaches coming into it and I’m sure he’s finding it harder than it looks
“He’s a top guy and he’s doing well.”
What I like when Michael talks is his sincerity. He doesn’t lavish praise where it isn’t due – when asked last week if Port Vale were in a fair position, he didn’t say ‘yes’, but he respectfully took the question on another track. He’s clearly in admiration of the job Hourihane is doing at Barnsley, from one professional to another.
The truth is that one of the very brightest head coaches at our level is Michael. We’re punching well above our budget. My guess is the club won’t want to push that fact this season, not wanting to tread the same path as last, where it got some backlash, but fact is fact.
Still, you know that whatever pressure tonight brings, whatever the atmosphere, there won’t be clashes on the touchline. That’s nice from a professional point of view, but I do yearn for another incident like Michael Appleton making Steve Evans slide into his shell.
Just once.
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