Football: Injury-hit Barnsley desperate for strikers

JOHN HENDRIE, the Barnsley manager, has admitted he is facing a striker crisis after Andy Liddell limped out of Tuesday's first round, second leg Worthington Cup win over Scarborough with a hip injury.

Hendrie, who may sign the Dundee United striker Robert Winters for pounds 800,000, said: "The two strikers I had on at the end of the game are the only two forwards I have fit at this time.

"I have made an enquiry about Winters, but that's as far as it's gone. I am just playing that one by ear and keeping my cards close to my chest."

Barnsley ran out 3-0 victors on the night, to go through to the second round 4-0 on aggregate, with Jan Age Fjortoft opening the scoring after replacing Liddell, while the pounds 275,000 summer signing from Derby, Robbie van der Laan, and Nicky Eaden both scored their first goals for 16 and 17 months respectively to complete the rout.

The Crewe manager, Dario Gradi, praised his two-goal hero Rodney Jack - but insisted the St Vincent international is not yet the finished article after he had set up the 4-3 aggregate victory over Oldham.

"He is an exciting player. What you see is what you get," Gradi said. "He is not a man you would want to play against. In time he could be awesome. He's a fascinating player, very exciting to watch. But we need to work on him and teach him a few things. The trouble is he's 25 now and has always played the way he has."

Elsewhere, Hull's win against Stockport, on away goals after extra time and a goalless draw, along with Third Division Cambridge United's scalping of Watford were the surprise results from the first round.

Martin Butler's 80th-minute penalty earned Cambridge a precious 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road, a result that saw the visitors through 2-1 on aggregate.