Farewell to Oakwell?
Morecambe travelled east over the Pennines to visit God’s Own Country today in the slight hope that they could confound their appalling away form this season with an improbable win at Barnsley.
The Tykes were fourth in League One prior to the game and had seen-off high-flying neighbours Sheffield Wednesday 4-2 in their last home match. At Exeter last Tuesday night though, they lost by three goals to one. The defeat well and truly took the shine right off a potentially very impressive five wins in a row for the Yorkshire team. Before this, Barnsley had been unbeaten in twelve games of which they had won ten.
If a promotion or even a Play-Off push was the way to get back on track this afternoon, they really needed to win again today.
Morecambe, by contrast, have only taken two points from their last five league games and lost again at MK so-called Dons last Saturday.
The currently aptly-named Shrimps thus arrived at Oakwell just three points from safety in twenty-second place in the table, having played more games than any other club in the entire Division.
In previous meetings with Barnsley though, the Shrimps have a superior record. They had lost one and won one of two League Cup matches played in Yorkshire historically but beat Michael Duff’s side by the only goal of the game last October in north Lancashire.
With only six games left of the campaign, it was imperative that Derek Adams’ men didn’t lose today. A draw would not be a lot of good to a side increasingly desperate for points – ideally (but statistically unrealistically) – they needed to take all three on offer.
Despite all the omens suggesting otherwise, stranger things have happened and the Shrimps aren’t dead – at least mathematically – yet. But the fact of the matter remained that if they lost yet again today, this could be Farewell to Oakwell and the rest of the grounds involved in League One currently – at least for the time being.
It’s been a bad week for previous Morecambe legends. Jim Bentley – with Toumani Diagouraga on the books – was offered a poisoned Chalice at Rochdale earlier in the season. The club was in League One last season. But – even as Jim was hired – they were plummeting towards the depths of a further relegation long before he was sacked as the club faced the inevitable descent into the oblivion of The National League. Without him – very ironically – they won for the first time in ages today but still look doomed at the very bottom of the Football League.
The BBC and others tell us that – as the `Shrimpers’ – we have already emulated Rochdale by falling out of the EFL altogether.
Premonition? Foresight?
No – they are burbling on yet again about Southend United, of course.
But will we do the same thing as the Essex club and fall straight out of League One into the National League a season later?
That’s a worry for future times. Assuming, of course, that there are any future times to worry about…
The internet has been awash with rumours about Morecambe players and staff not being paid on Tuesday of this week – as they all should have been.
The club’s Board remained totally silent about a situation which might or might not exist until Friday teatime. Then, they confirmed that staff and players had indeed not been paid but added:
“This afternoon, we can confirm that all wages for March 2023 have been paid.
We would like to place on record, our massive thanks to all staff and players for their patience, co-operation and understanding during this period. The selflessness and commitment shown across the football club has been incredible during a challenging and stressful time.
We will continue to work extremely hard behind the scenes to make sure this is avoided going forward.
Collectively, our focus switches back to football and our survival in League One, starting at Barnsley tomorrow.”
Later in the evening, the club’s website added:
“Graham Howse, Co-Chair is extremely pleased to confirm that Sarb Capital have made a significant six figure investment into the club through a purchase of shares today. We are grateful for the efforts and generosity of Sarbjot and the team at Sarb Capital.”
The only problem with any of these statements is the actual status of the club’s benefactor. It’s still not clear if Sarbjot Johal is considered a `fit and proper’ person by the EFL to be sold shares in the football club, which is apparently how his six-figure cash injection has been agreed. So the story, very worryingly, does not necessarily end at this point as there are still rumours circulating such as the imminent sale of further parcels of land surrounding the Mazuma Stadium – as well as other unresolved issues which keep on raising their ugly heads.
As a result of the continuing problems off the field, I have been unable to find any comments by Morecambe Manager Derek Adams about the challenge on it. For the opposition, however, boss Michael Duff only had football matters to worry about this week. He said this prior to today’s clash:
“One thing we do know, Derek’s teams are hard to beat. They’ve only lost five games, I think. We’ve lost four. They’re bottom of the league, but they’re hard to beat. The year they got promoted from the play-offs I think they averaged 36-37% possession – they’re not bothered about possession. There always seems to be a good spirit there. I’ve watched their last two away games. 3-4-3 and really, really expansive. They’ve got quite a few Premier League appearances in the team as well. It will be difficult. They’ll want to dominate the ball. We have to be wary of that, but we’ve been good against the ball and we’ve got our own fight. They’re fighting against relegation, but we’re fighting to get out of the league the other way. It shouldn’t mean more to them than us.”
It was overcast in Barnsley before, during and after the game. As I walked back to the railway station once the deed was done – alone in a sea of unusual red – the clouds started to weep. Just a bit. I felt like joining in with them. But I get ahead of myself…
Liam Shaw was injured in the warm-up. So Jensen Weir – not scheduled to be in the starting line-up today according to the Manager after the game –stepped-up into his place
Morecambe kicked-off.
And that was basically as good as it got.
As they say, it’s definitely the hope that kills you.
Things were very positive among the away supporters as the Morecambe players warmed up – even if they had passed wind (let alone the ball) they would have been enthusiastically applauded by all of us for so doing.
But it took only four very short minutes for the bubble to burst once the game started.
Liam Gibson conceded a free kick just to the right of the Shrimps’ penalty area from the Tykes’ point of view. Herbie Kane took it and slipped the ball short to Luca Connell, who hit the ball low to Connor Ripley’s left. Unusually, the goalkeeper failed to hold it and the men in the red shirts reacted quickest as Devante Cole knocked the spilt ball home.
Connor argued with his defence – they argued with him. But they were all equally culpable; this was a classic Schoolboy Error by everybody involved.
Barnsley went further ahead during the twenty-third minute. This time, Dynel Simeu scored a pretty spectacular Own Goal when he was unable to head a not very testing cross from Jordan Williams on the Barnsley right away from his own goal. Instead, he actually managed to steer it into his own net – to the astonishment of everyone watching – not least, probably, himself.
The first half scoring ended in the thirty-third minute when the Tykes’ Herbie Kane found the net all too easily again from a totally unmarked albeit very dangerous position.
During the second half, the only hope I personally had was that Morecambe would not get absolutely hammered. Barnsley definitely took their foot off the gas but even so, it was far too easy for them throughout the second period.
I got really used to writing `Cole scored again’ last season. But today, it was Devante who did so with less than ten minutes played after the re-start. He was completely unmarked as a team-mate cleverly stepped over a ball from midfield to find him in the centre of goal and netting without any challenge at all in the away penalty area.
Just to rub things in, the Tykes made it five during injury time. Another corner; more failure to defend properly by the team in the blue strip and Bobby Thomas headed home this time; once again far too easily.
At the other end, the best player by a country mile for the Shrimps – Daniel Crowley – hit the post with home custodian Harry Isted a mere bystander after 67 minutes. When the ball bounced away right into the path of Cole Stockton, our broken Goal Machine of last season completely fluffed a golden opportunity to reduce the arrears with a wild strike on goal which is probably still in orbit right now.
But Isted earned his corn with an excellent stop from close range as Weir bore down upon him just a couple of minutes later.
Teenager Adam Mayor came on for the Shrimps and gave an exhibition of what a professional footballer should be at this level to men far older than he is for the final twenty-five minutes or so.
But apart from that, this was another absolutely dire performance by Morecambe today.
Despite his error for the first goal, Connor Ripley pulled off a number of outstanding saves this afternoon. Without him, the score could have been even more embarrassing. The defence was generally weak and I didn’t think Captain Donald Love’s reaction to some of our number who booed the team off the field at half time did him any credit, either. I don’t personally see the point of jeering in this way but Donald is supposed to be a professional footballer and he is also supposed to lead by example as Skipper – and he absolutely didn’t at half time.
Jensen Weir was also really poor today in midfield in my opinion – but at least he didn’t react to the pessimists in our crowd. Up front, Oumar Niasse looked to be still way off match fitness to me and was far too lightweight in any case against big, determined defenders. Alongside him, Cole Stockton was very disappointing again today and deserved to be taken-off during the second half.
Some of our number booed the team as they left the field at the end. But the majority applauded them. I suspect the fans who clapped share my own view that the overwhelming bulk of our players genuinely give their best for the side.
But – as I see things at least and quite brutally – this `best’ isn’t good enough for League One.
Results elsewhere made the club’s position in the Dead Zone in the division even worse than ever. MK Frauds drew at their hated local rivals Wycombe two goals each; Cambridge won for the first time in ages: nil-two at Port Vale. Oxford picked-up a vital point at Peterborough in a scoreless draw and Accrington didn’t play at all. So Morecambe find themselves just one point ahead of Cambridge with two more game played tonight. They are a point behind Stanley, who also have two games in hand on us.
Almost at the same time of the season last year, Morecambe were given a lesson in the football arts at Wigan, where Athletic won all to easily 4-1.
I wasn’t the only Shrimps’ fan in the ground that day who thought relegation was a certainty after this debacle.
But King Derek kept us up then.
Can he do so again?
This is what he said after the match:
“We didn’t defend well enough again today. I’ve got to give credit to Barnsley. We are coming up against some really tough teams. The players are trying. At times, they do get deflated. We tried to attack but today, it didn’t work out for us. It has been a difficult week for the staff and the players. I understand that the result is not one anyone would have wanted but the players are trying their best. It’s very difficult for the supporters because they want to see their team doing well – and winning. Unfortunately, at this moment in time it is really difficult for us not just on the field but off the field as well. I have to say that as a football club, we have been very strong and resilient over many years and that has taken us through the hard times. At this moment in time, as a football club, it is very difficult. We’re in a division which we have only been in for a second season – and we’re trying hard to stay in it again.”
Barnsley: 1 Harry Isted; 2 Jordan Williams; 5 Liam Kitching (Y); 6 Mads Andersen (© 2nd half); 7 Nicky Cadden (© first half) 26 Ziyad Larkeche 68’); 8 Herbie Kane (10 Josh Benson 55’); 12 BobbyThomas; 16 Luke Thomas (30 Adam Phillips 55’); 44 Devante Cole; 47 Max Watters (31 Slobodon Tedic 63’); 48 Luca Connell (3 Jonathan Russell 55’).
Subs not used: 40 Bradley Collins; 9 James Norwood.
Morecambe: 1 Connor Ripley; 2 Donald Love (C); 4 Liam Gibson; 5 Farrend Rawson (22 Josh Austerfield 75’); 8 Daniel Crowley (25 Adam Mayor 74’); 9 Cole Stockton (10 Ash Hunter 75’); 15 Jensen Weir; 16 Jacob Bedeau; 18 Oumar Niasse; 23 Pape N’Diaye Souaré; 29 Dynel Simeu.
Subs not used: 12 Adam Smith; 6 Ryan Delaney; 17 Caleb Watts.
Ref: Sebastian Stockbridge.
Att: 11,519 (279 from Morecambe).
