MATCH REPORT: Sunderland 4-2 Barnsley

Like my local post office’s employee of the year, tonight’s game between promotion chasers Barnsley, and one of the teams they’ll be battling for that promotion, Sunderland, absolutely delivered at the Stadium of Light tonight.

First Half

This game was undoubtedly the pick of the bunch in League One this evening, promising goals from the get-go. And, after an opening 20 minutes that saw a few half chances for Sunderland, and 1 or 2 for the opposition, we were treated to 2 in as many minutes.

The first came from a somewhat dubious penalty given after tricky Irish winger Aiden McGeady raced into the box, only to go down under a challenge from Barnsley defender Ethan Pinnock. The Irishman immediately grabbed the ball in hopes of securing his 5th goal in 6 games after a subdued start to the season. He kindly obliged and slotted coolly past Davies. 1-0.

Before any breath was recovered though, Sunderland were hounding Barnsley again and a pass from Adam Matthews found its way to the most clinical teenager since Pelé in Josh Maja, who turned brilliantly past Ethan Pinnock to convert a sublime shot past the Barnsley keeper to make it 2-0 to the Wearsiders. As first halves go, Pinnock was having a torrid time so far.

Barnsley had thus given themselves an uphill climb from that point forward, as they sought to do what Sunderland had done at Walsall just 3 days ago and come back from a 2 goal deficit. Big 70 minutes for the Tykes.

The second goal had seemed to spark Barnsley into life, and thus came a consistent bout of pressure that started to showcase the class that the Yorkshire club undoubtedly have at their disposal, having a header cleared off the line by Gooch just minuted after Maja nearly headed in his second of the night.

Barnsley continued to press, but were undone by yet another slick Sunderland move which saw American Lynden Gooch grab his 5th of the season and send the Sunderland fans into dreamland. A comeback from Barnsley now seemed desperately unlikely.

Despite having conceded 3 goals in 32 minutes in a first half that would’ve left many Barnsley fans scratching their heads, they kept on pressing Sunderland’s defence, and multiple times looked as if they may pull a goal back through impressive attacking moves. The sustained pressure paid off on 41 minutes as Kieffer Moore reduced the deficit by slotting the ball into the bottom corner after the opposition defence failed to deal with his initial shot.

That wasn’t the end of the exhilarating action though, with Barnsley again going close through a Woodrow effort which rattled the post all the way until the half-time whistle – music to Jack Ross’ ears I’m sure.

Second Half

The second half brought more of the same, as Barnsley threatened to pull off a miraculous comeback. Moore again came up with the goods as he put the ball past Jon Mclaughlin, which would’ve more than worried the Mackem contingent going into the final half an hour.

This was when Luke O’Nien was introduced in place of goalscorer Josh Maja, a substitution which would prove to be influential in the match. The last 30 minutes were more even, and Sunderland went close a few times and may well have scored had Chris Maguire been a tad more clinical, but were also wary of Barnsley’s relentless search for that all-important equaliser.

It was Sunderland who struck the final blow though, as Barnsley left themselves open at the back, and a slick move left substitute Luke O’Nien with a tap-in to secure a vital 3 points for the boys in red and white, leaving the Barnsley fans wondering what might’ve been.

Verdict

I was personally very happy with the end result, even if I’ve got no nails left to bite off. The character shown proved to me that this is a new team, as the Sunderland of old would’ve capitulated and probably lost 4-3, but instead we showed grit and determination to remain within touching distance of Portsmouth and that elusive top spot.

In terms of Barnsley, on another day I reckon this game could’ve been 6-6, and they shouldn’t be disheartened by this game at all. They are right up there with the best we’ve played so far and I fully expect them to be battling for promotion at the end of the season. The quality was there, we were just more clinical on the night.

words Alex Gardner, D3D4 Sunderland correspondent