Notts County 2 – 1 Barnsley

The Super Reds suffered a fourth successive defeat in all competitions as they succumbed to League Two Notts County.

Red’s gaffer Hourihane did mix things up with no places in the starting lineup for the likes of Cooper, Watson, Ogbeta, Shepherd, Earl, Connell, Phillips and McGoldrick.

Barnsley, however, did put out a team that should have been strong enough to be lower league opposition with the likes of Keillor-Dunn and Vickers starting.

Barnsley found themselves behind early on but equalized through Keillor-Dunn who was assisted by Cleary. The same combination should have scored prior to that with Keillor-Dunn shooting wide when it was easier to hit the target.

Bland was sent off for stupid second booking for punching the ball into the ground in frustration over a decision, and from then on there was only going to be one winner as Notts County controlled the game.

The result in isolation given the circumstances is nothing to be concerned about but the current run of results needs addressing and needs to be put right this weekend at Wycombe.

The players seem to have lost their confidence and spark and energy over the last few games and perhaps there needs to be a few tweaks at the weekend.

I have banged this drum for a while now, but Cleary needs to be starting league games. He created the goal last night and also created an even better opportunity for the goal scorer to add to his tally.

Not everything he does comes off, but he has pace to burn and is willing to take on the fullback. He is also willing to put balls in to the box, and many are poor (what you get with wingers on the wrong side) but if you get in to enough good positions and put enough balls into the danger area then eventually chances will be created.

Cleary starting also allows us to use McGoldrick from the bench and possibly even play him at centre forward when he does come on instead of being stuck out on the left wing.

When we start both McGoldrick and Keillor-Dunn, if they both are having poor games then there are simply no options to play through the middle on the bench, although perhaps it is time to have Farrell on the bench too.

I’m not going to persecute Bland for his sending off even though it was a stupid thing to do when you’re on a booking. He is a young lad, and he will learn from that. My main worry is if he is suspended for the next league game or the next game in this cup as I think he has been terrific so far this season.

One other take from last night is please don’t play Earl at left back ever again. I know he probably brough him on there with being left footed, but I feel we may have held out for a draw if Earl had come on at centre back instead.

My team for Wycombe:

GK: Cooper

RB: Watson

CB: Shepherd

CB: Earl

LB: Ogbeta

CM: Connell

CM: Bland/Kelly/Yoganathan

AM: Phillips

RW: Vickers

LW: Cleary

ST: Keillor-Dunn

COYR