It’s fair to say Barnsley were heavy underdogs going into Tuesday’s Carabao Cup meeting with Premier League giants Manchester United.
But Tykes boss Darrell Clarke still didn’t expect this.
3-0, 4-0 maybe even 5-0 he could have accepted. Provided his Barnsley side did not throw in the towel, of course, and were beaten only by the ‘world-class’ talents at Erik ten Hag’s disposal.
But as Manchester United partied like it’s 1997 and hit seven past Barnsley for the second time in the last 30 years, Clarke was left seething on the touchline.
Yes, Man United were ruthless. Oddly so, given their penchant for squandering straightforward opportunities. Yes, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were very much Premier League quality forwards ripping into League One defenders.
But Man United did not need an additional helping hand from their obliging visitors, Clarke fuming about the way Barnsley coughed up possession again and again in the face a ferocious and well-timed high press.
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Barnsley humiliated in 7-0 Manchester United defeat
Man United’s fifth goal was a perfect example. A misplaced pass, and seconds later Rashford was rattling home from a stylish Garnacho assist.
“They are a quality team,” Clarke told Sky Sports (17 September, 10.30pm), the boyhood Man United fan taking no comfort in the sight of his beloved Red Devils racking up the goals.
“But really disappointed our performance. We didn’t do ourselves justice. Not an acceptable performance from us.
“I know its a very, very good team, and I get that. But it is a huge wake up call for my players to realise what its like to be a very, very top player.”
If his Barnsley charges know what’s good for them, they will keep their opinions to themselves next time they watch, say, Rashford miss a chance in a top-flight fixture.
“If I hear one of my players tell me Premier League players, when watching a game, are poor, I’ll be giving them a slap!” Clarke smouldered. “Because they were miles off it.”
“Decision making, we gave sloppy goals away, we made crazy decisions when we were under the cosh. I set standards at this football club, and we’ve gone below what we require even if it was against Manchester United.”
Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho hit braces
Clarke was asked if he had any sympathy for the fact his third-tier backline were up against a revitalised Rashford and a near-faultless Garnacho, the Argentine an off-target volley away from becoming the first hat-trick scorer for Man United since Cristiano Ronaldo’s second spell.
The individual talent at Ten Hag’s disposal certainly was a pretty substantial factor. But Barnsley certainly made life far easier for Rashford and co then they needed to.
“(My frustration is) more giving silly goals away, making bad decisions on the ball,” adds the former Port Vale, Bristol Rovers and Walsall coach. “The fact of the matter is, when you are coming up against a quality team, you have to make good decisions.”
In addition to those braces from Rashford and Garnacho – the former seeing his hard work during the international break pay off – Christian Eriksen also rolled back the years with a double of his own.
Antony, meanwhile, fired home a penalty he won himself with some of that old, jogo bonito joy returning in abundance.
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