THERE'S A QUIFF IN THE AIR

Ian McMillan's piece in the match day programme, demanded that Barnsley footballers should “...run thi blood to water” and so I guess many of the Barnsley footballers did that today in their 0-0 draw with bottom of the table Bradford City. This was a Yorkshire derby; over 10,000 came to watch; nearly 2,000 from West Yorkshire and the rest from the South. I basked in a very hot sun in the East Stand for three quarters of the game.

The Bard of Barnsley enjoyed the amazing hairstyles on show, especially George Smith's “incredible undefeatable quiff” but it was the home centre back Marc Robert's flashing and gelled quiff that won the hearts of the crowd, who by some social media miracle were able to tweet their choice of Man of the Match to the Barnsley FC IT department before the end of the match.

Roberts, 25 years old, is another product of the amazing Penistone DNA that has recently provided English football with John Stones and Louis Reed.; local boys make good. Roberts signed a three year contract this season having joined the Tykes from Wakefield, Worksop and Halifax Town.

So Marc well done on your success and well done Barnsley for hanging on to a 0-0 draw, despite the various acts of nature that contrived to change the result of their Saturday afternoon, with only 20 minutes of the game left.

The game could have gone either way prior to this, quite frankly, and it wasn't a master piece, but as a cumulo-nimbo cloud hovered over Oakwell, a clap of thunder brought the two crowds to a moment of silence, as people thought lightning and went “ooooeeerr”!

At this point the Barnsley midfield number 7, Josh Scowen, fell over on the edge of his third, as if struck by a bolt and gave the ball to a surprised Bradford centre forward, who with the keeper just to beat really should have scored. He didn't.

The rain fell, the crowd moved to the back of the stands (there was room!) and the game went into chaos as 22 men struggled to concentrate on the new pitch conditions, wet shirts and “lubricated” hair styles.

Blades might not have been the appropriate footwear with 15 minutes to go, the light, silky ball and greasey pitch created many other hurdles for players who are testing their skills in what is only a Division One game, so not a very accomplished standard. Barnsley hit the post with just about the final attack of the game. they should have nicked it.