This weekend marked the return of League One action, after the first round proper of the FA Cup last weekend. Matthew Craig and Barnsley had a South Yorkshire derby at home to Rotherham United, whilst Josh Keeley, Jamie Donley, and Leyton Orient had a clash at home to Blackpool.
On Friday night, Barnsley got the better of their Yorkshire counterparts with a big 2-0 win in front of their fans. It was a deserved win against a very lethargic Rotherham side, who were simply no match for the Tykes.
Unfortunately, despite the collective success, Craig’s ever decreasing role was reduced to coming on in stoppage time as an injury time substitute. Whilst this means he has still played in every league game he has been available for, there has been an alarming downwards trend in his game time over the last month or so, having been a shoo in starter before that.
In any case, this result leaves Barnsley in fourth place in League One, with 25 points from their 14 games so far this season.
As for Orient, their game against Blackpool was on Saturday afternoon – as they picked up a huge and seriously impressive three points, dismantling their North West counterparts with a surprising 3-0 victory.
Meanwhile individually – Keeley started the game, making it five starts in a row for the keeper, with four in the league and one in the FA Cup, where he saved a penalty in their shootout win over Boreham Wood. As well as keeping a clean sheet here, he also made three saves, with two inside the box, as well as a high claim.
That said, Donley’s day at the office was not so fruitful. Although back in the match day squad for a league game, having not been so for the last couple of games, the midfielder had to settle for the same role as Craig did for Barnsley – an injury time substitute just to wind down the clock and get over the line.
This win has not moved Orient above the 20th place they were in before the game, but they are in a better position nonetheless. There is more breathing space above the relegation zone, two points above Crawley with a game in hand, and four points above Cambridge having played a game more – a lead that was only one point before the game.
They are now also only three points off of Rotherham United in 15th place, as they begin to start breathing down the necks of those immediately above them.
Next up for Barnsley is actually against Cambridge, next Saturday at 15:00 GMT. Meanwhile Orient just have a Bristol St Motors trophy game on Tuesday night at 19:00 GMT away to MK Dons, with their home game against Mansfield on Saturday being postponed for international call ups.