Barnsley manager Mark Robins felt his side showed Manchester United's second string too much respect in their 2-0 fourth-round Carling Cup defeat at Oakwell.
Danny Welbeck gave holders United a flying start when he headed home Anderson's fifth-minute corner unmarked from six yards and Michael Owen added a fine second just before the hour-mark to ensure Sir Alex Ferguson's second string a comfortable passage to the last eight.
But former United striker Robins, who saw his side miss a string of chances, feels his players have plenty more to offer in their bid to climb the Coca-Cola Championship table.
Robins said: "Mentally, when you come up against Manchester United you probably give them too much respect and we were on the back foot because we conceded an early goal from a set-piece.
"But they've got quality everywhere, whichever side they put out, but I just felt there was more in us. If you look at the stats we had 17 efforts on goal and you'd be hard pressed to find any side that creates that many chances against a Manchester United side."
Robins added: "United had four or five chances on the night and scored the two. They had plenty of possession but we defended well, I just felt we were lacking that bit of belief. There's more in there for us. There's more in the players, so there are positives."
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THATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PREMIERSHIP SIDES AND SIDES LIKE BARNSLEY......STICKIN' THE BALL IN THE NET !
As a Mancunian - and a life-long (and it's becoming 'a long life') Red Devil, I remember Mark Robins right enough. I had lost touch with his post-playing career - but there he is popping-up as the Manager of Barnsley. (Apologies that I didn't realise that). I nearly got a job in Barnsley once (Best Regards to Richard Smith - my old mentor) - I remember it as a good, friendly, down-to-earth Yorkshire place. I wish Mark R. the very best for his career...as
It's always a pleasure to hear any manager speak well and clearly - there is a place for intelligence in football - TG that Wenger has proved that. He's the real deal - whereas his Monaco protege' Glen Hoddle wasn't . Pity that.
As for Alex F.? I think of him as 'an elder statesman' (say, exactly the way I thought of good old Sir Bobby Robson). SAF is more outspoken than SBR - yet the fact remains, "How can we expect our (British) leadership of The World Game" - bar none - "to continue if we don't allow World Class Managers to speak-out when they see fit?' [Should we let, say, Italy - or Platini's France - lead and rule "The Game"]
SAF has always been 'a robust character'. Would you really want him to be any other way - even now - as he approaches the twilight of his very long career. When a man who has seen so much, survived much, AND achieved so much, speaks-out - who, amongst you and all employed within "OUR Game" is too big, to listen?
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