Honest Adimission on whether the absence of Donovan Pines proved the key factor in Barnsley FC’s League One demise

In assessing the reasons behind Barnsley’s faltering top-two push in the spring and ultimately their failed promotion hopes, the events of March 5th played a crucial role.

Barnsley’s season came to an end at the hands of Bolton, who secured a narrow 5-4 aggregate victory despite losing the second leg of the play-offs on Tuesday in Lancashire. However, it was the league match against Wanderers at Oakwell in early March that proved to be a turning point in Barnsley’s season. Bolton came from two goals down to snatch a dramatic late draw, but more significantly, January signing Donovan Pines suffered an injury during the match.

Donovan Pines, a US international, was gaining momentum and proving to be a valuable addition to the team after playing in four matches without a loss, winning three. However, his season was cut short due to a thigh injury that required surgery.

In the 13 matches following his absence, including the play-offs, Barnsley won only once and struggled defensively. Interim head coach Martin Devaney believes that Pines’ absence may have contributed to the team’s decline, as he had performed well in the three matches he played.

Devaney acknowledges that the team’s struggles were not due to a lack of effort, but rather a series of unfortunate events. He emphasizes that the team’s ability to reach the play-offs demonstrates their quality, and they will now focus on the future, including contract negotiations with players.

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One player who appears to be remaining with the team is striker Sam Cosgrove. His standout performance in the play-offs, where he scored three goals in two matches, matching his total for the league season, was noteworthy. Devaney commented on Cosgrove’s display, stating, “He demonstrated his true capabilities. We utilized diagonal passes effectively, and his physical presence caused significant issues for the opposition.