Andy Munro enjoys a Blues win at home to Barnsley.
If you’d asked my opinion about Blues’ performance at half-time, it would have been substantially different from the one at the final whistle. In the first forty-five minutes, the team looked shapeless, punchless and decidedly shaky at the back. The midfield put together some slick moves but only in rare patches and were too often caught in possession. Up front, man of the match Lukas Jutkiewicz battled away against two roughhouse defenders aided by a referee who seemed intent on victimising the Juke. Alongside him, it was a case of Gimenez Whooooo?
At the back, with Morrison gone, Dean appeared to have regressed, leadership-wise, whilst Roberts displayed increasingly agricultural tendencies in his play. Luckily, Barnsley, while eager and enthusiastic, were punchless themselves and Lee Camp could have had the day off
This pattern continued for the first ten minutes of the second half then suddenly everything seemed to fit into place with Villalba showing his skill and calmness to set up Wes Harding to cross the ball for the Juke to score with a tremendous header, under pressure from his markers. Wes H incidentally had a fine game despite sometimes needlessly running the ball out.
Then to put the icing on the cake, a great ball across to Alvaro Gimenez saw him coolly lob the onrushing keeper. In fact, Gimenez grew into the game, showing increasing understanding with the Juke. While not quick in a Che Adams sense, the Spaniard is no slouch over the first few vital yards.
Finally, Montero came on and showed some outrageous skills using the two feet that Jota could have only dreamed about. His mesmerising skill reminded me of Jose Dominguez of old and the bonus is that he can actually cross a ball. So a well earned three points but obviously still work in progress. I’m still to be convinced by the three at the back and wingback scenario although both Seddon and Harding acquitted themselves well.
