WANDERERS

(4-2-3-1)

ADAM BOGDAN 6

Had a relatively quiet day but great to see that his penalty psyche-out technique is still going strong.

ALAN HUTTON 7

Starting to settle in at Wanderers and perhaps the only defender really comfortable venturing forward.

MATT MILLS 7

A glorious ball for Beckford’s goal and a solid defensive display on his return to the starting line-up.

TIM REAM 7

If Wanderers are going to try playing the possession game at the back, the American will be key.

ALEX BAPTISTE 5

Looked uncomfortable against a tricky customer in McLaughlin – seemed an air of inevitability about the penalty award.

JAY SPEARING 8

Showed urgency that others were lacking at times. Thundered into a few challenges to get the crowd on-side.

LIAM TROTTER 6

Perhaps Freedman has found Trotter’s niche as a deep-lying midfielder. His best performance for the club so far.

CHUNG-YONG LEE 6

The Korean was bright in the first half and got involved but rather anonymous in the second. Some decent touches.

ANDRE MORITZ 5

The ball just wouldn’t stick in the first half, which stunted most of Wanderers’ attacking intent. Did he stay on the pitch too long?

ROB HALL 6

Linked up well in patches but never really got space to stretch his legs. Good to see him involved again.

JERMAINE BECKFORD 6

Got one goal, should have scored more. Has a long spell out of the team dulled his edge a little?

Subs: Danns 73 (for Hall) – Held on to possession more effectively 5 Jutkiewicz 78 (for Moritz) – Provided a bit of muscle in final 15 minutes 6 Knight 88 (for Baptiste) – Called on after Baptiste’s late wobble 5

Not used: Lonergan, Wheater, Medo, Mason.

STAR MAN – Jay Spearing
The skipper led by example and kept things ticking over in midfield when the game looked in danger of drifting into nothingness. On a day when Hillsborough was at the forefront of many people’s thoughts, it was fitting a former Anfield starlet should shine so brightly.

BARNSLEY (4-4-2)

LUKE STEELE 6

KELVIN ETUHU 6

JEAN-YVES M’VOTO 6

LEWIN NYATANGA 6

TOM KENNEDY 6

RYAN MCLAUGHLIN 8

LIAM LAWRENCE 6

STEPHEN DAWSON 6

DALE JENNINGS 7

TOMASZ CYWKA 5

CHRIS O’GRADY 6

Subs: McCourt 71 (for Cywka), Proschwitz 89 (for Lawrence)
Not used: Turner, Hunt, Mellis, Hassell, Crainie.

THEIR STAR MAN – Ryan McLaughlin
The young Northern Irishman looked bright and provided almost all of his side’s attacking threat. Yes, his finishing was a bit wayward but his performance hints at a decent career ahead of him. Another Liverpool-raised gem shining on an emotional day for Merseyside.