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Barnsley 2-1 Watford: Captain Foster provides the perfect get-well message to Hume
STEPHEN FOSTER celebrated his appointment as club captain with the winning goal and immediately dedicated it to stricken striker Iain Hume.
Foster had been banned for the previous week's derby against Sheffield United when Hume suffered a fractured skull after a challenge from Chris Morgan but his thoughts turned straight to him after his Oakwell winner.
"It's been a difficult week after what went on," said Foster, who returned at right-back but soon had to switch to central defence when Darren Moore went off with a groin injury.
"We wanted to get the three points for Iain because I'm sure he will have been sat in his hospital bed frustrated that he was not ready to play.
"He has been through a lot and looked a mess when I went to see him. It was a bit of a shock to see him in that state with a drip coming out of the back of his head. Monday and Tuesday at the club were a bit subdued and having Wednesday off helped us. Then we began to focus on the game and the club chaplain came in on Friday and everyone in the squad said a prayer for Iain."
Barnsley's legal team will meet with the 1.2m signing's representatives today to decide if they will take any action against Morgan; the incident is also being investigated by the FA.
Barnsley fans produced a resounding pre-match chant of "Stand up for Iain Hume" and the players responded by tearing into Watford despite fielding a team which saw five changes.
Hume's replacement, Kayode Odejayi, set up an early chance for Diego Leon, whose shot was deflected for a corner, and it was the former who helped engineer opportunities for strike partner Jon Macken, who overcame hamstring trouble to return.
Odejayi first freed Jamal Campbell-Ryce to produce the cross from which Macken's downward header was only kept out by the foot of inspired goalkeeper Richard Lee, who was thankful to see Macken's shot soon after cannon off the bar after another set-up from Odejayi.
The Nigerian was to blot his copybook on the stroke of half-time as Mounir El-Haimour freed him down the middle but Lee rushed out and stuck up his left arm to block as Odejayi attempted to dink the ball home.
Watford's threat had been sporadic, Heinz Muller making one smart save at the foot of a post from Tamas Priskin, who also sidefooted over from eight yards.
But the visitors took the lead seven minutes after the break, Tommy Smith turning in a drilled cross from the dangerous Jobi McAnuff.
Barnsley chief Simon Davey sent on Miguel Mostto and the Peruvian fired home the equaliser, racing in from the left after Macken had headed on a ball down the middle from Foster in the 69th minute.
The new captain – he takes over from Blades signing Brian Howard – then put the Reds ahead three minutes later after Watford conceded a corner following a brilliant double save by Lee from Campbell-Ryce. Dennis Souza made the initial challenge for Leon's corner, Macken forced it into the six-yard area from beyond the far post and Foster prodded home.
There was still time for former Blade Jon Harley to test Muller, whose display would have impressed former Sheffield Wednesday and England goalkeeper Chris Woods, who watched him for Everton last season before injury struck.
Muller also came to the rescue again when Lee Williamson set up former Rotherham team-mate Will Hoskins.
Barnsley: Muller, Foster, Moore (Hassell 15), Souza, Kozluk; Campbell-Ryce, Leon (Van Homoet 85), Colace, El Haimour (Mostto 55); Odejayi, Macken. Unused substitutes: Steele, Rigters.
Watford: Lee, Marriappa,Bromby, Demerit, Doyley; McAnuff, Jenkins (O'Toole 80), Williamson, Harley (Hoskins 78); Smith; Priskin (Rasiak 60). Unused substitutes: Ward, Tyler.
Referee: C Webster (Tyne and Wear).
Man of the match: Jon Macken.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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