Paul Warne talks up importance of Derby’s win over Barnsley

By Sports Desk November 11, 2023

Derby head coach Paul Warne described the 3-0 home win over Barnsley as “a boost for the dressing room.”

Barnsley came into the game unbeaten on the road this season but that run was ended by a James Collins brace and a Craig Forsyth goal.

The game was reasonably even up to the 35th minute when Jordan Williams pushed over Collins in the box and the striker got up to tuck away the penalty.

Derby rammed home that advantage in the second half when they twice caught Barnsley out with long free-kicks from goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith.

On both occasions, Forsyth got in behind Barnsley on the left when the ball was flicked on, firing low past Ben Killip in the 48th minute and then forcing the goalkeeper into an acrobatic save in the 63rd before Collins chested in the rebound.

Barnsley had a chance to get back in it but John McAtee fired wide after Devante Cole’s pass set him up in the 52nd minute.

Warne said: “I thought the first half was really tight, I didn’t think either team was really in the ascendancy and it felt like one of those games that was going to come down to small margins.

“Massive credit to the players, they were excellent today. It’s about the dressing room, the lads feel good about it.

“I’ve been saying all week I thought they were going to win, not from an arrogant point of view but I just felt it, I could see the lads in training taking the information on.

“It’s a boost for the dressing room obviously and the lads back themselves when they are at their best and today they were and we could have competed against anyone.”

Barnsley slipped to sixth in League One, now level on points with Derby.

Head coach Neill Collins said: “Up until the third goal, I didn’t think there was anything in the game.

“We were behind to the penalty at half-time which I thought was more than recoverable but the second and third goals, to lose goals to direct play and you’re 3-0 down.

“I thought there was nothing between the teams, there wasn’t really clear-cut chances for either team, it was a good tight game but then it quickly unfolded because we didn’t deal with direct play.

“We have dealt with that type of play and we’ve kept a lot of clean sheets but you’re coming up against a better calibre of opposition today and we just didn’t deal with it and that was the one aspect which was really frustrating.

“At times, had we shown a little more devilment and intensity it could have been there for us in the first 60 minutes but we didn’t.”

Related items

  • Luis Enrique hails PSG's efficiency as they return to winning ways Luis Enrique hails PSG's efficiency as they return to winning ways

    Luis Enrique has lauded Paris Saint-Germain's efficiency as they clinically brushed aside Angers 4-2 in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

    PSG bounced back after a disappointing midweek 2-1 home loss to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League by producing a dominant first-half performance, in which they scored all four of their goals, to remain unbeaten in the league.

    PSG put on an attacking show throughout though, accumulating 3.5 expected goals (xG) from their 26 shots, 12 of which hit the target, while they also struck the woodwork. 

    Luis Enrique, who said on Friday there was a "blockage in finishing", highlighted the improvement in attack.

    "It was a very complete game for our team. It was a game with a lot at stake. We were extremely efficient," Luis Enrique told a news conference.

    "The blockage we talked about earlier is going to end sooner or later. We're in a process of improving."

    While PSG lead Ligue 1 with 29 points, six clear of second-placed Monaco, their qualifying chances in Europe have shrunk as they sit 25th in the 36-team league, just in the elimination zone, midway through the group phase.

    But Luis Enrique is confident his side will show their quality in Europe's elite club competition to reverse their poor form.

    "This team has good players. The quality is there. No matter who's on the pitch, even the newcomers," he said.

    "Maybe it is a question of pressure [in the Champions League]. But we're going to score a lot of goals. The quality is there to rise to the challenge. It's all in our hands."

    Luis Enrique dedicated Saturday's win to his assistant coach Rafel Pol following the death of his wife after a long illness.

    "We want to dedicate this victory to Raquel and Rafel, and, of course, to their family. We share their grief and send them lots of support," the Spaniard added.

  • Inter Miami 2-3 Atlanta United: Slisz completes comeback to upset favourites Inter Miami 2-3 Atlanta United: Slisz completes comeback to upset favourites

    Atlanta United stunned MLS Cup favourites Inter Miami, coming from behind to win 3-2 and setting up another trip to Florida to face Orlando City in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

    Bartosz Slisz scored the all-important winner to ensure Atlanta overturned the deficit in the series, having lost their first trip to Chase Stadium.

    The hosts started brightly, with Matias Rojas sharply turning in the rebound of Lionel Messi's saved shot moments after Jamal Thiare was denied by the post.

    However, the Senegalese striker would soon turn things around with two goals in two minutes – he powered his first shot past Drake Callender after some chaos in the box and was left with a simple tap-in from close range for his second.

    Diego Gomez was denied an equaliser by VAR shortly after, having drifted offside before receiving Luis Suarez's pass, while Brad Guzen made a string of fine saves to keep Atlanta's lead intact.

    He could not keep them out forever though, with Messi peeling away at the back post to nod in an equaliser in the 65th minute.

    It was Slisz who would have the last say though, leaping high to power a header past Callender against the run of play, with Atlanta causing the biggest upset of the playoffs so far.

    Data Debrief: One for the books

    Miami were classed as the favourites to win the MLS Cup this year, but their defeat to Atlanta maybe should not be too big of a surprise, with this their third loss against them this season.

    The Five Stripes ended a six-match winless run on the road in the play-offs (D1 L5), but have still conceded multiple goals in each of their last six such games. 

    Slisz is not known for his goalscoring, but he stepped up at the right time for Atlanta - it was just his second goal in MLS this season, and his first since May 18.

  • Orlando City 1-1 Charlotte FC (4-1 on pens): Torres rallies hosts to set up shootout win Orlando City 1-1 Charlotte FC (4-1 on pens): Torres rallies hosts to set up shootout win

    Orlando City booked their place in the second round of the Eastern Conference semifinals with a dramatic 4-1 penalty shootout win over Charlotte FC.

    The Lions had Facundo Torres to thank, as he scored a last-minute goal to force spot-kicks, where Charlotte were twice denied by Pedro Gallese.

    Orlando had the better of a tight first half, with Torres hitting the base of the right post before sending a header against the crossbar within the first 21 minutes.

    Patrick Agyemang thought he had given Charlotte the lead against the run of play just before the break, but his lob was ruled out for offside.

    Charlotte eventually broke the deadlock in the 81st minute, Karol Swiderski getting a stroke of luck as his shot deflected in off Rodrigo Schlegel.

    It looked like Orlando's chance was gone when Torres saw his 102nd-minute penalty saved, but the Uruguayan kept his composure to slot in the rebound.

    He scored one of the hosts' four penalties but Gallese proved the hero, denying both Pep Biel and Swiderski with fine saves to send them through and set up a meeting with Atlanta United.

    Data Debrief: Leaving it late

    If Orlando were going to find a way back into this game, it was always going to come through Torres, who proved a thorn in Charlotte's side from the first whistle. 

    He had six shots in this game, though only hitting the target twice (his saved penalty and the follow-up goal), and netted his 16th goal in MLS this season when he finally hit the back of the net.

    While Charlotte suffered late heartbreak, it was a deserved win from Orlando, who dominated from the off by creating 2.41 expected goals from their 20 shots.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.