As it turned out, it was just that - talk! Barnsley were another team that turned up with a version of 4-5-1 and, just like most of the others, they ended up on the wrong end of the scoreline. Having an extra man in the middle of the park enabled Barnsley to weave some pretty patterns at times as they passed the ball around us, but, in the first half in particular, it was all to no effect expect for a deflected effort from Mifsud that drew a decent save from Konstantopolous.
Credit to City for the fast start they made, but they were helped on their way by some dozy Barnsley defending which saw Joe Ledley twice left completely free six yards out from Whittingham's corner - how much different would our previous two matches have turned out if Darren Purse's effort around the same time against QPR had gone in I wonder?
After that City completely dominated the first period and, after Chopra took advantage of the overworked Muller's parry of Whittingham's long range effort, the opportunity was there for City to go on and record their biggest victory margin so far this season (I realise that they did match it, but you know what I mean!).
However, after the Southampton match Dave Jones talked of complacency in the team and their attitude after the break last night appeared to offer more of the same as they sat back on their laurels seemingly content that the job was done. To be fair, I suppose when you haven't conceded a home goal for more than three months such feelings may be understandable but, after the week City had just had, you would have liked to have seen more of the hunger and desire that had marked their performance in the first forty five minutes.
Barnsley's goal certainly didn't come as a surprise to me given the way the game was going and, even after Teymourian's daft red card, they still looked the more likely of the two teams to score as a repeat of Darcy Blake's last full appearance when we let a two goal lead slip against Norwich loomed.
I needn't have worried though, because, from the run and shot by Quincy that produced a great save by Muller onwards, there was only one side in it and Peter Whittingham's fine late goal was the least we deserved for a strong finish. Whittingham's goal meant that, at the thirty ninth time of asking, we finally managed to score more than two goals in a game this season and, despite Dave Jones' assertion after the game that this wasn't that important, I feel that supporters at least will see it as a significant hurdle cleared.
Whilst a smallest league crowd of 15,902 was very disappointing, I have to commend those who did turn up for the way they got behind Eddie Johnson. Now I know there has been a large degree of irony in the support the crowd have given Eddie this season, but last night I thought there was a genuine desire amongst the supporters to see the guy succeed and I can't help thinking that the great support he got was a factor in his best performance so far for us. Only last week I was saying on here that, if I were manager, Eddie Johnson would not feature in the sixteen again this season, but, credit to him, he made me eat me words with a lively display during which he made life very awkward for the three Barnsley centrebacks he faced. I'm not sure about man of the match mind (I think I would have given it to Gyepes), but Eddie showed last night that he can have a part to play in how our season ends up and, despite the harsh things I have said about him over the past few months, I am really pleased for him this morning.