No longer Top of the Division and needing to quickly find answers as to why their away form, so brilliant since Lennie Lawrence took over the club, has fallen apart.
Over the past two months, The Bluebirds have become a highly accomplished home team but it has been matched by an alarming slump in away performances and results - it's now 4 points in 4 games on the road but it's the displays that cause most concern.
They seem powerless to make a good start or strong impression from the outset and, in the process, allow sides with limited talents but plenty of passion and commitment to outmuscle them and take strangleholds on matches. City were slaughtered at Wigan but, thanks to Earnie, scraped a lucky draw. Today, Earnie more than did his bit again, twice grabbing priceless equalisers out of nothing but City's defence and midfield let him and us down badly. When you throw in the terrible display at Blackpool and the somewhat lucky win after being battered at Mansfield, there are serious questions to be asked of the side.
And the inquest today will surely start with City's defence. After being rock solid with three successive clean sheets, it went horribly wrong as this game was won and lost by City's inability to get the basics right at set pieces. Three times, Barnsley swept free-kicks into the area during the game. From two of them, Spencer Prior failed to challenge adequately and barely jump off the ground to challenge opposing centre half Chris Morgan who probably had a few presents to celebrate his 25th birthday today but none better than Prior's gifts for his two goals to make it 1-0 and what turned out to be the 3-2 winner. In between, Gabbidon seemed to be the missing marker and Rory Fallon was given free time and space to nod home for 2-1.
Visits to Yorkshire are often fraught for City fans whose local media hyped the imminent visit of approx 3,000 Cardiff supporters and an element of their home support being more interested in that than their own team as a potential war. The police reaction was to tell all coaches not to allow any drink on board for the 210 mile journey, not to stop at any services if coaches had on-board toilets and to meet an escort on the M1 for transportation straight into the ground. Those who travelled by car were rewarded by finding city centre pubs closed or open to home support only.
Compromise (a combination of discretion and bribes) eventually meant we were able to have a drink, stop at services and even have a pub stop (in a village called Chapeltown, not the district of Leeds) whose normal Saturday pub trade of 5 or 6 drinkers were swelled to 5 or 6 coaches instead! But our coach from The Lansdowne pub was stopped by the police from going to our pre-arranged pub, some 25 minutes from Barnsley. Silly, unnecessary and a waste of £70 already paid for pre-match sandwiches and rolls - altho I guess their regulars had a free lunch!
Barnsley are a club in chaos. In administration, their match programme starkly spelled out the facts. They only have enough cash to survive until November 30th, having gained a last minute extension to trade until then. Despite enquiries, there have been no serious offers which are anywhere good enough to keep the club alive.
On the pitch, they came into the match in 21st and a relegation position, 2 points from their last 5 games and 2 wins from the previous 8 home matches so there was every reason to expect a City result providing they played to their potential and showed resolve, we lost because we didn't and couldn't.
Given today's result and the fact Barnsley have already lost at home to Wigan and Bristol City, it would now ironically benefit the Bluebirds to see them fold but no true football fan wants to see that happen. Their problems now are the legacy of their recent spell in the Premiership and with an average support of 10,000 even now, their fans not only deserve their club to survive but to compete at a better level than they currently are. Good Luck Barnsley!
Oakwell is a good, if unspectacular, stadium. City's excellent following were housed in a big covered, seated (we all stood of course) stand behind one goal, a similar stand was at the opposite end. A big double decker stand was to our right (where Barnsley's crew of ... ooh ... 25 were there to goad us) and, to our left, was the standard pitch length terrace converted to seating but with no roof and which was empty with an old stand behind it that, apart from seats, has probably altered little in structure since the ground was built.
With the players tunnel immediately to the side of the away end, City came out to a huge ovation and an unchanged team including the subs. There was some mild surprise that the fit again Andy Legg, maybe understandably, was unable to force his way straight back into the starting 11 but not that he wasn't able to feature on the bench for City too.
Barnsley has some familiar names - one time City target Andy Marriott was in goals (he'll never admit it but I bet he regrets turning down City when Sam came a couple of years ago), Mitch Ward in midfield, the hard running and working Bruce Dyer in attack and Mike Sheron on their bench. Their manager was familiar to us too, ex-Welsh international, Glyn Hodges.
Lennie warned his side before the game about the need to get stuck in from the first whistle but it was blown by yet another Premier ref - this time, Chris Foy - the home side's fight for survival off the pitch was matched by their fight on it.
City were playing neat football, kept the ball down, put come nice passing movements together but, not for the first time, missed real midfield creativity as nobody really took on defenders and got behind them. Barnsley were unable to compete on that level but made than made up for it with their intensity, they gave 100% and put their foot in when and where it mattered. Cardiff surely expected it so why on earth did they never attempt to match it? In such a high tempo game, City's game was their undoing, they were too casual in their approach and too content making one too many passes instead of genuinely making something happen and hurting Barnsley. It was their undoing.
For all the high energy and effort on offer, it was a game of so very, very few chances but nobody really expected what was to come and it was set pieces that dictated the game.
Prior's personal nightmare of a display started very early when he allowed Dyer to turn him with far too much ease in the very 1st minute. Luckily, Dyer's shot blazed into the side netting.
Barnsley showed their mettle and that they were going to show no respect for City and allow us to play as they committed a number of early fouls in midfield. Cardiff's first chance came after Gary Croft was brought down, Willie Boland's free-kick found Kav who blazed high and wide. Kav didn't really get in another effort all match but showed much better form, he did get stuck in and put his foot in too but Layton Maxwell didn't show alongside him and Boland was quiet too A minute later, City had another set piece, Gabbidon rose above Barnsley's defence but couldn't keep his header down, Marriott watched it clear his crossbar.
Barnsley now upping the pressure and Cardiff were in trouble. Dyer header over, Alexander saved well from a Ward drive (after defence over-played the ball and got themselves in trouble) and Ward/Betsy were firing over corners and crosses.
On 22 minutes, the Barnsley tannoy fired up the first blaring of Showaddywaddy's Hey Rock'n'Roll to greet their first goal. The song is torture to away fans but surely home fans can't appreciate that either. Presumably their administrators have sold off any records hanging about since that time!
Very simple but so was every Barnsley goal. Croft fouled wide left almost on the touchline, Barnsley floated a simple high ball into the middle from a free-kick. It shouldn't have caused undue problems but CHRIS MORGAN headed into the top corner, the assist should go to Spencer Prior for just watching and letting him do it.
The home support were delirious but, it must be some sort of record, City equalised within 6 or 7 seconds of the restart. Kick off was played about in the centre circle, Thorne knocked the ball forward and EARNIE was behind the Barnsley defence, coolly slotted wide of Marriott and into the opposite corner. Earnie somersault, fans go potty, 1-1.
It was spoiled a little by a group of City "fans" who ran to the front of the terrace then to the Barnsley fans in the corner. The police had to respond with a large presence but things calmed after that. We'll always have some who let us down.
Ward was a little lucky to only see yellow just after the restart with a bad foul of Kav as things were really hotting up but it was City who self-destructed again as they gave away another stupid, soft goal near identical to the opener on half hour.
A Whalley foul, this time nearer the by line, was whipped to the near post where RORY FALLON beat Gabbidon with a little too much ease and flicked across goal high inside the far post with Alexander motionless as he was for every goal but he had no chance with any, his defenders let him down.
Barnsley, visibly lifted, were hitting City hard with most Bluebird fans just happy to see them get in at half-time with no further harm done but Earnie is a class act and yet again he got us out of jail.
Forty two minutes in, Layton Maxwell, possibly for the only time all afternoon, ran hard at defenders, found a gap and slotted a perfect ball wide for EARNIE to eerily receive in the same spot as his first goal and the finish was exactly same way too. There were far too many deja vus this afternoon!
Half-time came and it was a 2-2 thriller, a scoreline we scarcely deserved.
Half-time: BARNSLEY 2 CITY 2
The second half couldn't have started more disastrously for City. Danny Gabbidon had a knock and was unable to start the half, Barnsley old boy Chris Barker taking his place. Two seconds later, a second sub was needed as Gareth Whalley was a victim of Barnsley's approach as Lumsden (who must have fouled 10 or more times in the game) won the ball but got the player too.
Whalley was in obvious trouble, the sight of a stretcher and player being put in leg splints is not something you want to see, and Barnsley fans lost a lot of sympathy from me as a sizeable number of their fans booed Whalley and then cheered as he was stretchered away. Whalley was in some pain but provided the most humorous moment of the afternoon as, with face grimacing, he ayatollahed on demand being stretchered in front of us.
The game briefly threatened to get out of control. Kavanagh, incensed by some Lumsden challenges, got his retribution in quickly. A yellow card was the only option as he got his man back.
It looks as if there is a midfield berth up for grabs but with the likes of Des Hamilton and Mark Bonner fit again and playing, options are available. Disco Des on the bench came on and, again, made a favourable impression.
Des was within a whisker of putting City ahead for the 1st time 10 minutes into the second half as Earnie curled a great cross across and behind defenders, Des got a foot to the ball but his shot crawled agonisingly past Marriott but the far post too. That was as good as it got for us today.
The game settled but City's passing game was slightly altered to Route One when disaster struck yet again on 63 minutes. And it was another absolute stinker to concede. Another free-kick wide, Barnsley lofted it to the far post with no great pace, routine stuff, but Prior barely left the deck and allowed MORGAN to jump over him, head across goal and inside the far post.
Don't allow Prior the excuse that he was marking a danger man with a reputation at set pieces. Morgan hadn't scored for Barnsley in his past 32 appearances since Boxing Day 2001 yet he managed to beat Prior with ease and score twice in an hour. No wonder he celebrated madly in front of us, he simply couldn't believe his luck.
At this point, I'd like to say how City showed their promotion/championship credentials by fighting back and showing what they were about ... but I can't.
We never really looked like grabbing an equaliser at any time, Leo replacing Maxwell for the closing 20 minutes made us more direct than before except we don't have any wingers to cross so our balls come from range on the wing or midfield. City's only effort of note was Thorne scuffing a ball in a scramble as a cross feel between defenders for him.
It was Barnsley who could have made the final score worse, Ward fired a good chance wide, Alexander saved (yep from a free-kick where defenders didn't jump against strikers). Barnsley were up for it and having lost the lead twice, they made sure they wouldn't let it happen again. On the other hand, our team didn't learn their lessons.
Cardiff were clapped off at final whistle but they knew they'd let themselves, and us, down. The defending, I hope, is a one off although Prior has always been a worry for me. Some fans think he has played better for City this season, I have always believed he hasn't faced too much pressure and Gabbidon covers for him.
Midfield has rarely looked cohesive to me but we tend to let it go because City get results but they lack shape, are too frequently out-gunned or out-muscled. Most of all though, City lack the wide option which is as useful when under pressure, it's an outlet, as for attacking reasons. City's reliance on long ball and over-passing has a lot to players rarely being available wide.
Rumours are that City want a winger when the transfer window opens (which may well be Sam's call) but Lennie is against it. I can't help thinking that with someone like Bristol City's Scott Murray or Leeds' Jason Wilcox, we would have a useful gap at the top instead of third but we will never know.
And some of our players have got to get over the notion quickly that they can come to places like Barnsley, pass the ball around, and expect to opposition to roll over and submit - it just won't work at this level.
It is a marathon not a sprint, as the cliché goes, and we can't complain. But the failings being pointed out here were highlighted by most of us before a ball was kicked in ager this season. Win at home, average a draw each away game and City go up but we can be making it so much easier than we are.
Some City fans (maybe the same ones who rans towards the home fans after the 1st goal) decided the best way to leave Barnsley was to cause more problems outside as they tried to run their back gardens and on top of garages to get to their Yorkshire equivalents. It meant all the coaches and cars were stuck at Oakwell for almost an hour after the match and made that long journey home even longer, that was one day to forget.
Report from FootyMad
Barnsley pulled out all the stops to chalk up a stunning victory over second division leaders Cardiff.
A committed team performance, highlighted by a two-goal blast from inspirational skipper Chris Morgan, helped the troubled Tykes to a welcome home win.
Barnsley are still in administration and have just three weeks to find a buyer but any interested party attending Oakwell on Saturday will have been impressed by the side's display, backed by a wonderful crowd.
Barnsley set off in determined fashion and deservedly got their noses in front in the 21st minute following a well-worked free-kick.
Mitch Ward took it wide on the right and skipper Morgan rose superbly at the far post to give City keeper Neil Alexander no chance with a firm header.
But while Barnsley were still celebrating Cardiff kicked off and grabbed an equaliser just 15 seconds later.
Striker Peter Thorne played in Rob Earnshaw and the lively Welsh international produced an unerring finish into the far corner.
Barnsley regained the lead on the half-hour mark and again it was a terrific set-piece move.
Paul Gibbs, having a blinder down the left, jogged over to the right flank and conjured up a fierce in-swinging cross that was glanced home by young striker Rory Fallon.
The Barnsley players were certainly fired up and were deserved leaders at that stage and Fallon almost grabbed his second with an edge of the box strike.
But Cardiff pulled level three minutes before the break, Gareth Whalley's low ball into the box seeing Earnshaw spin away from his marker before slotting home his second goal.
Cardiff lost Whalley through injury early in the second half but it was Barnsley who remained the likelier side to go on and win it and they made it a hat-trick of set-piece successes with their 64th minute winner.
Ward was again the provider with an inch-perfect free-kick to the far post and Morgan again rose above the Cardiff defence to find the far corner with a precise header. The nerves were frayed in the closing seconds but Barnsley held on for a vital victory.
External reports
Wales On Sunday
BBC Online
BarnsleyFC.net
The Western Mail