Thanks for joining me everyone! Until we meet again.
The great man, Richard Jolly, has written a lovely match report.
Read it here:
As the pundits keep pointing out, Ayew did pretty much nothing else in the game apart from score. Not a bad way to play. Very much like me at five-a-side.
Guehi says Woodman and the defence were fantastic.
He seems a nice man and praises the Barnsley fans for creating an atmosphere after so many months playing without one.
On Ayew: “He’s done that for us all season. He’s shown fantastic quality.”
Here is the goal.
Magic from Andre Ayew. Swansea lead at Oakwell!
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 17, 2021
Watch Barnsley vs Swansea live on Sky Sports 📺 pic.twitter.com/Hd6Cxukl5j
Big news from the Premier League.
Something to get involved in. Join us (better journalists than me).
“Not everyone following you is an American, there is one casually reading Blades fan from Finland too...,” says Petri Paimander
“And definitely supporting Swansea for promotion. Premiership always need that one Welsh touch (whether Swansea or Cardiff).”
Some incredible stuff from Woodman to keep Swansea ahead there but Barnsley created enough chances to make Cooper’s side worried about the second leg.
Jason Smith points out: “I think you’re getting a lot of US readers today because the game is on ESPN+ here and nobody really wants to pay for yet another streaming service...”
Thanks ESPN.
Full-time: Barnsley 0-1 Swansea
Swansea’s only real moment of quality won them the game. They also have Freddie Woodman to thank for seeing them through with a lead.
90+2 mins: Barnsley get a corner on the right. Mowatt swings it into the near post where he hits a crowd of bodies and a Swansea man clears the bouncing ball.
There is another corner on the other side, from where Woodrow sends it into the box. It reaches Morris who flicks it from in front of the near post, sending the ball onto the crossbar. A lucky escape for Swansea.
90 mins: Three minutes added on.
89 mins: Ayew is fouled on the right by Mowatt. Hourihane ships it into the box where there are a few Swansea shirts waiting, but he sends it over all of them and out for a goal-kick.
87 mins: Adeboyejo is on for Dike.
Jon Sternberg is also here to say: “Re the ideological feud between Cameron and Mary, let’s not forget the Baggies “Ideal Boilers ” on full view yesterday. This NorCal fan supports Swansea because the Ayew brothers both did time with Marseille, which is my primary club, as my daughter did a year of high school in Marseille.”
I think I am the only person in England on this blog.
85 mins: Dike does a couple of rolls after a fierce challenge from Guehi but the referee sees nothing wrong.
Grimes pings a shot from about 35 yards which swerves in the air a little, forcing Collins to parry rather than catch but he collects the ball at the second time of asking.
“For the benefit of the seemingly hundreds of Americans following this, can I briefly paint a picture of Swansea for them?” You might as well Matt Dony. “It’s a beautiful, modern city, with an air of prosperity and a progressive, arty atmosphere. Everything you could hope for. Think Austin crossed with LA crossed with New York. Definitely come visit.”
Matt’s views are very much his own.
83 mins: Styles winners a header 35 yards from the Swansea goal and wins a free-kick after Hourihane clatters into him a split second later. Mowatt whips in the free-kick but it bounces straight through to Woodman.
Peter Pearson joins the love-in: “Another American here (hi from NYC). Just chiming in with a polite request for Mary Waltz to guest on Football Weekly please.”
I am here too people! LOVE ME!
81 mins: Lowe wins Swansea a corner on the left. Hourihane fails to beat the first man, however, and Barnsley clear.
Routledge gets a toe onto a pass and tries to spin the defender in the box but goes down under a challenge. He squeals in pain after colliding with Andersen. It’s not a foul and we continue.
79 mins: Palmer off, Jordan Williams on for Barnsley. Swansea’s aim is very much to hold what they have here.
Fred Decker says: “As an overseas neutral myself, I always find it interesting how people latch onto a specific team to root for.
“In my case I started watching the Premier League after the 2014 World Cup revived my interest in the sport. In the 2014-2015 season, as you may recall, two of the big stories were the emergence of Harry Kane (and with him, an exciting young Spurs club) and the little matter of Leicester City’s giddy, unthinkable run to the league title. Though I do consider myself a true neutral, able to enjoy any match on its merits without bias, I definitely retain a soft spot for both of those clubs.”
77 mins: Cameron Dunbar offers: “As fellow American and frequent follower of the MBM reports, I have to say I find it strange for Mary to be talking of the ‘corporate sludge’ of the NFL while extolling the Premier League, in which the entire game is one big advertisement. Hope she remembers to Fly Emirates, gamble with Skybet, and bank with Barclays!”
Barnsley v Swansea really is big in America.
75 mins: Woodrow receives the ball on the wrong side of the Swansea defence, he gets it out of his feet and is about to take a shot but Naughton nips in to tackle the striker. Woodrow thinks he has been fouled but it’s a fine tackle.
I can’t.
@Will_Unwin As a man city fan from the US, I can see man city losing here next season.
— Sujjay karthikeyan (@CanceloCultur) May 17, 2021
73 mins: This has been a very good game of football plenty going on. I watched Derby v Sheffield Wednesday last week and I was worried the Championship was complete and utter filth.
Lowe gets the ball on the left, dribbles his way into the box and then tries to curl a shot into the far corner but it flies wide.
Updated
71 mins: Fulton gets into the box and pulls the ball into the corridor of uncertainty but Barnsley get it clear.
Down the other end Woodman sprints out of his box to beat Morris to a ball over the top from Dike.
69 mins: Routledge is on for Cullen.
67 mins: Swansea win a free-kick in a dangerous position on the left-flank. Hourihane sends it towards the goal, forcing Collins to palm it clear.
Yash Gupta adds: “Though Mary Waltz has explained to her students including me, I always presumed the reason behind Mary Waltz’s wealth of footballing knowledge is because of being an Evertonian and acceptance of English Football Heritage(ESL punts take notice).As for MBM’s tactics stuff I’m not sure about that, the first match I followed on MBM(after watching it live) was Brazil vs Germany 2014 and even to this day, I don’t think MBM has explained Brazil’s tactics.”
Again, not a place for tactics. I am sure there is a Jonathan Wilson article out there that might. I am more of a ‘they win because they are better’ journalist.
65 mins: Mary Waltz says: “I choose to root for Everton and even after years, not as many as others but still, I have no intention of bolting. How well adjusted can I be?”
63 mins: Bidwell earns a throw-in next to the corner flag after his cross is blocked. He upgrades it to a corner a few seconds later. Hourihane takes it but Barnsley clear and counter, only for Dike’s pass towards the two men in space to be overhit, allowing Swansea to regroup. In the end Woodman comes to claim a looping cross and the danger is over.
61 mins: The referee calls up Brittain for taking a throw-in in the wrong place. Now this game is really cooking.
Alan Davis adds: “What a lovely email from Mary. I hope she feels welcomed into our football community, this being a far cry from the one the ESL envisaged.”
59 mins: Collins is supposedly in the team over Walton due to his more aggressive style and I can confirm he has spent most of this half outside his own box. He has just headed a pass to his full-back.
There is some argie-bargie between Mowatt and Fulton but the referee steps in to tell them both to grow up.
57 mins: Barnsley counter following a poor Swansea corner but Morris’ cross into the box is removed from danger by a backtracking Fulton.
Matt Dony says: “Firstly, very pleased with how this has gone for Swansea so far. Da iawn, bois. Dal ati. Secondly, the estimable Mary Waltz learnt a lot about the workings and history of football through the MBM? But she seems so knowledgeable and well-adjusted. It just doesn’t add up ...”
No one who has ever written one of these live blogs is well-adjusted, I can confirm.
55 mins: It certainly is frenetic stuff at Oakwell. I fear for my poor fingers typing away. Guehi drags down Dike on the halfway line but avoids a booking for his cynical foul. The free-kick is lumped into the box, where he it is knocked down for Morris to volley but he whacks it well over.
Updated
53 mins: Ayew goes into the book for taking Morris down from behind 20 yards from goal. The subsequent free-kick is curled round the wall by Woodrow, line just in front of the goal-line but Woodman gets down well and holds onto it. Barnsley very much on top here.
51 mins: Barnsley are bombarding the Swansea box with corners and long throw-ins. The latest ends with Mowatt volleying a shot from 25 yards, which Bidwell diverts for a corner. The set-piece finds Dike at the front post but he heads it in the wrong direction.
Down the other end, a long pass in sent down the left-hand channel for Lowe to chase but Collins sprints out of his box to head clear.
Matt Burtz says: “Your readers may be amazed to know that, like Mary Waltz, I’m an Everton fan. And I’m also in the U.S. Though I’m only in the Central Time Zone, I did have occasion to get up at 6:30 in the morning to watch Everton lose at home to Newcastle. A fire might have been more welcome than those two hours.”
49 mins: How have Barnsley not equalised?! Morris drives into the box and then tries to pick out the bottom - it looks like a simple save for Woodman but he parries it straight out to Brittain whose follow up pings into the goalkeeper’s stomach as he dives back across his goal.
47 mins: Barnsley have started with their trademark intensity. They will be ensuring the battle continues for the next 45 minutes.
Second-half
Here we go again!
Morris is coming for Frieser for Barnsley.
There is a ‘Dike The Tyke’ banner in the stands but it seems to be pronounced Dee-kay, which is bad news for everyone involved.
Trying getting a five-month old, you’re always up at that time. I am more surprised I am awake now.
somebody on the Guardian MBM/ @Will_Unwin report saying they get up at 4am to watch premier league games.
— Chris Ballard (@chrisjballard) May 17, 2021
Have to admire that - hell, I probably wouldn't get up at 4am even if my house was on fire
I just want to apologise to Mary if she is here looking for some insight from me.
Dear Mr Hirst,
I will try to keep this short. In my disgust with the NFL I quit watching around 10 years ago. (The CTE scandal and other issues.) A Indian ex-pat from the UK who I worked with suggested the Premier League. I knew nothing about football or soccer if you like. At first it was just fun to watch, a refreshing break from the corporate sludge of the NFL. After a month of watching I got hooked and I wanted to end my ignorance. So I started to use the MBM in the Guardian as a tutorial on tactics and, more importantly, the history of the game. The writers and the commentariat provided me with an in-depth degree in UK football and enhanced my enjoyment of the game.And since I am retired I can get up at 4 A.M. every weekend and take that afternoon nap while American football is on!. So a big tip of the hat to my tutors.
Regards,
Mary
Bournemouth are in the driving seat in the other playoff.
Peter Oh says: “If I were the Barnsley manager I would take my inspiration for the halftime talk from the club badge, which features a glassblower and a miner. Apply heat, and be good in tight spaces.”
I think we know why Peter is not the Barnsley manager.
Updated
Barnsley might need a plan B that isn’t just using Dike’s physicality against Guehi and Cabango, as it ain’t working. There might be a reason why Barnsley are yet to score against the Swans this season.
Half-time: Barnsley 0-1 Swansea
Barnsley have had the better of the ball but Swansea showed what a little quality can do with Ayew’s goal easily the best piece of skill of the match.
Updated
45 mins: One minute added on.
43 mins: Palmer lifts a cross to the back post where Helik is waiting but he can only head the ball straight at Woodman.
41 mins: Mabrad McMillantz says: “I believe a bird poo landing on the head is good luck, so perhaps missing by centimetres is a bad omen for Steve Cooper and Swansea.
“Also, are emails automatically used if the correspondent has a first name beginning with ‘Ma’ and a surname ending with ‘tz’?”
Played you at your own game there, Mr Spitz.
GOAL! Barnsley 0-1 Swansea (Ayew, 39)
Naughton dinks the ball into Ayew just inside the Barnsley area, he cuts in onto his right foot and bends the ball into the far corner with his favoured left foot. It is a cracking finish.
Updated
38 mins: Cullen gets the ball 40 yards out on the left and, I think, tries to shoot from close to the touchline. Frankly, his attempt is utterly dreadful and dribbles into the arms of Collins.
36 mins: Cullen turns his man in the box and dinks a cross towards Ayew who goes down under pressure from Styles. There is certainly no foul - Ayew was very much trying his luck by dropping to the turf after the ball went over his head.
34 mins: I am trying to work out the Swansea game plan. I suspect they are looking to get out South Yorkshire with a draw, judging by their current style. Admittedly, they do have the players to attack team on the break, so they could come to the fore later on.
A question for Mary Waltz from Richard Hirst: “My admiration for Mary Waltz grows apace - how does a Californian get to know about Barnsley as well as Everton and the rest of the Premier League (makes we are not worthy gesture).”
32 mins: Barnsley are certainly looking the more threatening now, getting the ball in and around the Swansea box but they are yet to test Woodman.
Kieron Winterson points out re the Swansea kit: Mint, with a twirl of raspberry.”
I’d it that rather than wear it.
30 mins: Barnsley are certainly looking to get the ball up the pitch to Dike as quickly as possible but Guehi and Cabango look very happy dealing with him.
Matt Burtz asks: “I’m not sure how many swans there are to be found in South Yorkshire, but if it was a swan instead of a pigeon, would that be better luck for Cooper.”
I’ll say yes.
Updated
28 mins: Guehi goes to collect a long pass over the top but falls over at the crucial moment, just about recovering in time to take the ball. Conveniently for the Swansea man, Frieser then to runs into him to gift Guehi a free-kick.
26 mins: Grimes volleys the ball clear but catches Woodrow with his follow through. The referee sees nothing in it and everyone walks away happy.
24 mins: Not sure why I specified the home fans in the last post, as there are no away fans.
In other news, Steve Cooper has had to remove his jacket after being pooed on by a bird. Some might say that is a sign of good luck but they have not just been shat on by a pigeon.
22 mins: Swansea have successfully quietened down the home fans. They find their voice again as Dike is done for another foul. The referee has a word with the striker, much to the chagrin of the supporters.
20 mins: Cullen is the latest player to want a free-kick, as Andersen takes him down just outside the area but the referee waves it away. Swansea have not offered much in the final third, they need a bit more from Lowe, Cullen and Ayew going forward.
18 mins: Dike is done for a foul on Cabango now, although it looks like the defender tripped himself up. I think they want Dike in the book to limit his physical threat.
16 mins: A long pass is sent over the top of the Swansea defence for Woodrow to chase but it has a little too much on it, allowing Woodman to come and claim.
14 mins: Cabango v Dike looks like it will be very good fun. Both players are up for a physical tussle and neither has any interest in backing down. The Barnsley fans sound irked after Dike is guilty of fouling Guehi.
12 mins: What is the official colour of this Swansea away kit? I think i might want to buy it. Light turquoise with magenta trim? Elis James, if you’re reading, can you tell us, please.
10 mins: Every time the ball is sent down the pitch for Dike to chase he gives the centre-backs a very tough time. Guehi and Cabango will need to be alert at all times.
8 mins: Ayew is yet to get into the game; you have to think if Swansea are going to get a goal today then he is going to be crucial. He has been on the periphery thus far out on the right wing.
6 mins: Real crowd noise is certainly better than fake crowd noise. Palmer collects a loose ball on the edge of the box before getting a shot away but he is leaning back and he sends his effort high and wide.
4 mins: Hourihane pings in a cross but Barnsley head as far as Fulton whose noggin’ can only loop the ball into Woodman’s hands.
2 mins: Barnsley, spurred on by their support, have started at a decent tempo. Swansea should enjoy trying to quieten the fans.
Updated
Kick-off!
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
It is lovely and sunny in Barnsley. I cannot say the same about London.
Actual fans at the football. It really is great to see.
I have just realised that I went to Barnsley v Swansea in 2011. It is my only visit to Oakwell and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. I got back to my car and the stewards had made me park in such a way that I blocked in an elderly couple. I am an awful man.
SOCCER!
USA USA USA!!! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/UGtIym9f1a
— Barnsley FC (@BarnsleyFC) May 17, 2021
Mary Waltz says: “Barnsley is an absolute long shot but they have a wild card up their sleeve - Dike. Raw, no experience but a beast who can occasionally simply overwhelm an opponent physically.”
Ben Fisher explains why Barnsley are surprisingly good.
Starting lineups
Barnsley: Collins, Brittain, Sibbick, Helik, Andersen, Styles, Mowatt, Palmer, Dike, Frieser, Woodrow
Subs: Walton, J. Williams, Sollbauer, Halme, Kitching, Moon, Morris, Chapin, Adeboyejo
Swansea: Woodman, Naughton, Cabango, Guehi, Bidwell, Grimes, Fulton, Hourihane, Ayew, Cullen, Lowe.
Subs: Hamer, Roberts, Manning, Bennett, Latibeaudiere, Smith, Dhanda, Routledge, Whittaker.
Preamble
Good evening!
Despite the fact these two teams finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Championship, few will think either will be promoted to the Premier League. Bournemouth and Brentford are the more fancied sides going into the playoffs. Jonathan Woodgate’s men have the top-flight experience and quality, while Thomas Franks’ Bees were the third best over 46 games, so will be optimistic they can take that level of form all the way to Wembley. And they have Ivan Toney in their ranks.
Valerian Ismael arrived at Oakwell with the team struggling following poor start to the season. Barnsley have one of the lowest budgets in the league but some smart management and smarter signings have taken them into the business end of the season, something few Tykes could have expected.
Swansea have been in the Premier League more recently but, again, not many of their supporters could have anticipated they would have a shot at returning. Steve Cooper has created an impressive young side, which has defied plenty of odds.
Here is to a cracker.
Kick-off 8.15pm BST.
