Mark Bowen’s Take On Disappointing Barnsley Draw

Mark Bowen called Barnsley’s opener in the 1-1 draw at Oakwell - when Michael Morrison’s error gifted a chance to Cauley Woodrow - a “poor one to concede”. ’s opener in the 1-1 draw at OakwellThe Royals did come back through Lucas Joao and it should have been all three points were it not for some missed chances at the end.

Here is what Bowen had to say after the match. He spoke to GetReading.

Bowen on the game

“It was a scrappy affair and we struggled to get any real momentum. Things conspired against us with the goal itself - yes it was a poor one to concede but you can’t be just a side who lumps it forward you have to try and mix it up and play out from the back.

“Morrison was devastated in the dressing room afterwards but you have to encourage the players to play. Every team will have periods in games where things aren’t flowing for them and you have to be prepared to play through that, be brave on the ball and take the extra touch.

“I didn’t think we did at times - we were too quick to help the ball on and the strikers were surviving on scraps a lot of the time. We can be better than that and we know that. But we’ve come away from home and you always need to try and get something.

“We showed a lot of resilience to get back into the game and changed it to a flat back four at the end. We were in the ascendancy when we got the ball back but we took something out the game and we had to do that.”

Bowen on the away support

“All of the lads and myself included are desperate to give them something to cheer about. We’re a team which is like a rollercoaster - we have periods of good form and in the last few matches we’ve been struggling.

“We’ll work hard on the training ground to play through it, get the confidence back and give them a team to be proud of and a team which wins games.

“It doesn’t go amiss they travelled all the way up and there’s another away game at Stoke an no doubt the majority will do that too so it fills your heart with pride when you see them. We just couldn’t give them a win to go home with.”

Bowen on injuries

“Puscas - it doesn’t look good, something has happened with his shoulder and he’ll have to have an x-ray. It looks like a dislocation. Obita cramped up so that’s why he came off.

“Moore is a bit sore and is hoping it’s just coming from his back and is not a minor tear so things are conspiring against us a bit with Yiadom too. He’s likely to be out for a significant time - a month and half, six to seven weeks so it depends on how quick a healer he is.

“He’s been unlucky with injuries but maybe something on the horizon is Swift who seems to be healing quicker than we thought so if not Saturday maybe the next one but he should be ready for the Christmas games.”

Bowen on Adam

“He had to get through it and he did well enough. He’ll never stop in trying to get on the ball and make us play. Sometimes he can’t get his rhythm like other players and at times he can be better; he knows that but it’ll come with minutes and games.

“He’s doing now what we brought him to the club for - he is starting to make an impact and hopefully that continues.”