Sicknote

Paddy McCourt scores for Barnsley  . . . and then goes off injured three minutes later. I think that's his career in a nutshell.

Life at the Top by Mark Hodkinson (Queen Anne Press 1998)

Tuesday 23 September 1997

Wimbledon 4 Barnsley 1

The lowest Premiership crowd of the season, just 7,668, saw Barnsley defend gallantly for 65 minutes before conceding four goals in the final 25 minutes. Michael Hughes, Carl Cort, Robbie Earle and Efan Ekoku scored for Wimbledon, after Eric Tinkler had given Barnsley the lead. The defeat was put down to a 'lack of professionalism and failure to take responsibility' by Wilson. 'It is happening too many times and I am sick of it. It has to stop,' he warned.

The goal proved to be Tinkler's last in a season where he struggled to find fitness and and form. Better Red Than Dead was particularly uncharitable in its critique of Tinkler: 'His performances on the field have been absolutely abysmal; he can't tackle, can't pass, gets brushed off the ball like he isn't there and for a bloke built like a brick shithouse is about as hard as a marshmallow toasted over an open fire. Yet he struts his stuff as if he's the best player we've ever seen . . . I'd rather play Lars Leese in midfield than this streak of cow's piss.'

Still not giving it large but maybe a smile will fall from his lips

"I haven't felt that good . .

. . . since Nakamura scored that free kick against Man Utd."

Absolutely superb. Why football is the best sport in the world. Injury time throws up the little matter of the ref bottling the penalty decision before the Kop End, only for Brian Howard to pop up seconds later with that sweet shot in the left hand corner.

Submit the drama of the game as a spec script and 'Escape To Victory' would be considered social realism by comparison. Could not make it up . . . could not make it up.

The Gasheads for the cup.

What else would you do in Barnsley on a Saturday night?

Sightmeter sighting of the day.