Oh So Near.....

Nice to see Andy Gray on the scoresheet though. If we had taken all our chances...but Watford might have said the same - and their tactic of sitting back and waiting for the break nearly paid dividends early on. Cameron Park? Looked quick early on - but a skinny lad, looks like a good gust of wind might blow him down. Tended to fade later and Vaz Te was a natural replacement. Drinkwater - not as good as last week - tigerish and committed yes, but passing and decision making sometimes awry. Mark of a young player. When Doyle came on he brought more stability to the midfield.

Considering the injuries - a creditable performance and probably a fair result. But we need a win. One at Birmingham would be an upset...

I think Barnsley's overall play yesterday shows that we have the potential to be a top half team, it's just those moments of pure lack of concentration which leads to the conceding of sloppy goals and the wastefulness in front of goal. Perkins was desperately unlucky to hit the post in the first minute and Butterfield's finishing needs a little fine tuning, he'll get there I've every confidence in the man. From the terrace it was a brilliantly entertaining match, but pretty passing and possession football only gets you so far, just add good finishing to that and I'll be a VERY happy Red

Andy Gray was superb yesterday...are Hillcroft getting the best out of him where others failed..?

All in all...I actually agree with Skinner...... except for the draw being a fair result. Call the cops..Watford stole a point.

Gray did well, although I thought he struggled somewhat in the first half. It wasn't really his fault with Steele for one banging it down the middle to him for headers he was never going to win against that no5. That said he did enough to make sure their defenders had work to do and we won more than our fair share of the second ball, possibly due to our midfield looking a lot more hungry of late.
O'Brien seems to have switched to a better porridge too, possibly due to the fact he soon realised he had Dickinson on a plate early in the second half, He stayed right side, good move!
Their goal was too easy again! but that said I was more than happy to stay with many others and roundly applaud the team off the pitch at the end. Keep this level of performance and the wins will come, I'm confident about that.
Spart, Hill has made reference to Gray in interviews lately where he has said there is a job for the team he wants him to do, sure he wants him to chip in with goals, but it's not the be all and end all to his game. I think this has taken some pressure off Gray, who has been under pressure to score. Good management IMO.

Was a good performance from the lads, Park showed a glimpse of his talent in the first minute and Perkins was incredibly unlucky not to see a great effort hit the back of the net (or the back of the keeper and the net). Butters had a solid game and smashed a few just wide, and not sure what O'Brien thought he was doing having a decent game, super cross for Gray's goal. He was hard-working and deserved his goal, McNulty and Foster looked good in defence when they weren't caught out once or twice on the counter, King Bobby made some great runs on the overlap and McEveley defended ok overall. Only Drinkwater had a poor game, but will give him the benefit of the doubt as its only his second game and he played a blinder last week against Leicester. Overall we were very unlucky not claim all 3 points, Watford weren't particularly poor but really should have gone back to Hertfordshire empty handed. The signs are improving but Birmingham will provide a very stern test (though Saints are hammering them as I type). Was also nice to hear "Keith Hills red and white army" again.