Barnsley bowed out of the Premiership with pride and the message from everyone
inside Oakwell was simple: "We'll be back!"
Banners inside and outside the ground proclaimed it, fans wore T-shirts
revealing as such, and even the cover of the programme said the same.
The fanfare which greeted manager Danny Wilson's side on their top flight
debut on a heady August day last year lacked none of the passion nine months on
for their Premiership swansong.
No matter that Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham did their best to spoil the
end-of-the-season party, for the fans ensured that was what it would be, rather
than any kind of wake.
Throughout the second half there was virtually a non-stop chorus of "Danny
Wilson's red and white army" such is the esteem in which the Tykes boss is
held.
Other songs such as "Stand up if you're going up" and "We'll be champions
next year" signalled the intentions of a club determined to ensure that their
return to the Nationwide League is a brief affair.
The players, as ever, gave their committed best in an effort to try to bow out
of the Premier League on a high and, despite Alex Ferguson fielding his latest
crop of fledglings, it was not quite enough.
There were three players making their full league debuts and another starting
only his third game, while all the subs were raw recruits, with four on the
bench for the first time.
Sadly, it took one of Barnsley's emerging youngsters and the hero of probably
the club's finest hour in the Premiership to give the outgoing champions a third
straight win.
Centre-back Scott Jones emerged from virtual obscurity at the end of February
to score two goals and sink United 3-2 on an historic FA Cup night at Oakwell in
a fifth round replay.
Jones, who celebrated his 23rd birthday 10 days ago and who recently signed a
two-year deal, gifted United the first goal in the fifth minute.
It was the old guard of Sheringham and Cole who combined for Cole's 25th goal
of the season.
Sheringham's cross was completely missed by Jones and Cole controlled it with
his chest before turning and sweeping a right-foot shot past David Watson for
his fifth strike in three games against Barnsley this season.
Barnsley enjoyed a brief purple patch shortly after with player of the year
Ashley Ward and Georgi Hristov, back after a three-match ban, producing a
delightful one-two just inside the area.
Ward, who last week pledged his future to the club but is set to be a summer
target for Celtic, let fly with a fierce right-foot drive which forced Raimond
van der Gouw into a full-length save as he parried the ball away.
The remaining opportunities then fell the way of the outgoing champions as
Sheringham struck an 18-yard right-footer narrowly wide, Watson superbly blocked
another Cole effort, while a Butt 25-yard screamer struck a post.
The backing of the crowd raised Barnsley after the break and again after
Watson had pulled off another superb save to deny Sheringham.
Barnsley's best chance came on the hour when Martin Bullock teased his way to
the byline and pulled the ball back for Adie Moses to fire goalwards and
although van der Gouw was beaten, David May hacked off the line.
But United just had too much up front for Barnsley and their second goal came
midway through the half as Sheringham timed a run to perfection in latching onto
Butt's through-ball and beating Watson off the inside of the post.
At the whistle, there was a standing ovation for the home side and after they
had gone off, they then re-emerged to do a lap of honour in what turned out to
be a mutual show of respect and admiration between players and fans.
And the party carried on as Toby Tyke, the club's mascot, did his own version
of The Full Monty in the centre circle.
Teams
Barnsley (0) 0 Man Utd (1) 2
Barnsley: Watson, Appleby (Eaden 46), Sheridan, Moses, Redfearn,
Bullock, Jones, Hristov (Fjortoft 62), Barnard, Ward, Morgan.
Subs Not Used: Marcelle, Liddell, Bosancic.
Booked: Sheridan.
Man Utd: Van Der Gouw, May, Butt, Cole, Sheringham, Giggs, Berg,
Mulryne, Curtis, Clegg (Higginbottom 60), Brown.
Subs Not Used: Culkin, Noteman, Twiss, Greening.
Booked: May.
Goals: Cole 5, Sheringham 67.
Att: 18,694
Ref: P A Durkin (Portland).
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