Published: Friday, 29th January, 2010 1:00pm

Ex-Tyke Howard desperate for Barnsley start

by Anthony Smith

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The strife of Brian: Reading's Brian Howard would love a rare start in this weekend's crucial game against his former club Barnsley.

FRUSTRATED Royals midfielder Brian Howard is pleading with Brian McDermott to hand him a start in Saturday's crucial home game against his old club Barnsley (3pm ko).

Howard, 27, has failed to make the starting line-up in any of Reading's last 11 matches, despite some impressive displays from the bench.

Now former Tykes star Howard believes his recent performances warrant his place in McDermott's strongest XI this weekend.

"Barnsley, like Sheffield United, are another one of my old clubs and I was only there a year ago," he explained.

"I'm looking forward to it because I haven't had the opportunity play against them since I left.

"Finger's crossed I've done enough for a start and I want to be playing from the first minute.

"I'd rather that than come on when we're behind in a game and facing an uphill battle.

"Hopefully I can be one of those big characters and use my experience to turn things around."

Caretaker boss McDermott has chosen Kalifa Cisse ahead of Howard but he was hooked at half-time in the 3-0 defeat at Sheffield United for the second time in three matches.

"I feel I did alright when I came on," added Howard. "I passed the ball well, got forward and put my foot in.

"I also came on against Liverpool in the cup when we were 1-0 down and we won 2-1 so I feel I'm affecting games.

"I think if I play form the start my experience will help us get out of the position we're in."

Relegation-threatened Royals desperately need to beat Barnsley but they have not won in the Championship since December 5.

However, the weekend's fixture is the first of several upcoming six-pointers and Howard declared:

"You are always desperate to beat your old club. I was disappointed at Sheffield but it's gone and we move on to Barnsley.

"We need to turn the Madejski Stadium back into a fortress. I remember going there as a player in the past and it was a tough place to play, we need that again.

"We're creating enough chances to win games, we just need to be more ruthless."

But Howard insists Royals must stop making elementary errors and conceding sloppy goals like they did at Bramall Lane.

"We had some of the better play and chances in the first half," he suggested. "But when we missed the penalty our heads dropped.

"We stepped off the gas and conceded another goal before half-time which was crucial. Maybe if we had kept it at 1-0 we could have turned it around.

"Even then we pressed United after the break, they couldn't get out of their half. If we had taken one our chances then we could have got something out of the game.

"It's been the story of our season. We've been naive when in front of goal and defending. When the smallest player on the pitch (Jamie Ward) scores a header from a set play it's extremely disappointing."

And he declared: "You will have periods in games when you are on top. You've got to score goals then defend with your lives when the opposition is on top.

"We don't seem to score when we're on top then let in sloppy goals. It's the basics of football and we've got to put it right.

"But The confidence is still there. We keep battling but we're great believers and it's time for big hearts and big characters and for players to step up and turn the season around."

Sheffield's third goal was eventually credited to Chris Morgan, not Ward.