CITY ensured their passage into the Uefa Cup's second qualifying round with a professional, if a little frustrating, performance at Oakwell.

Mark Hughes sent a sledgehammer over to Barnsely to crack a resilient nut and it worked - to a point.

The Faroe Islands part-timers, whose arrival in England was delayed by fog, were left chasing shadows for most of the night leaving the coach loads of City fans ferried to south Yorkshire plenty to natter about on their longer than usual, diverted journey home.

The time-saving highway that is the Woodhead Pass was closed for repairs after the game and the road to Streymur’s goal was similarly blocked for much of a dank night in Barnsley.

A goal from Martin Petrov sealed the tie just after the break and from there on in it was an exhibition match for City.

Football factory foreman Hughes has been stressing whenever possible that he will use the pre-season matches to learn as much about his players as possible ahead of the big kick-off at Villa in a little more than two weeks time.

It is hard to know what he discerned from this uneven contest against a side that was gallant and hard-working but way out of its depth in every department bar blocking shots and in the goalkeeping department.

Watching

Having signed the watching Israeli international Tal Ben Haim this week defensive cover and depth would seem – with the exception of the left back slot – in order for the coming campaign but the other end of the pitch is still causing some head scratching.

With Brazilian Jo away at the Olympics until the beginning of September and Benjani sidelined for around the same amount of time with a ruptured thigh muscle, the spotlight is firmly on those who will carry the responsibility of scoring the goals that will vault the Blues higher up the Premier League table.

It was no coincidence that last term every team above the ninth placed men from Eastlands scored more than the 45 goals than they managed – a feat even relegated Birmingham accomplished – and it seems an age ago now that City had a even a fifteen goals per season striker on their books.

Against the part-timers of EB/Streymur Hughes chose the duo of Darius Vassell and Daniel Sturridge to shoulder the forward responsibilities.

There were four changes from the side that earned the two-goal lead earlier in the month with Nedum Onuoha, Stevie Ireland, Jo, and Hamann replaced by Vedran Corluka, Elano, Gelson Fernandes, and Sturridge.

While the hitmen will be put under the microscope for their goal power this season the strikers’ union will point to the supply route as a reason they are not as prolific as they might be.

Petrov can be happy with the assists he notched up but more creativity has to be found in the middle and in particular on the right flank.

Chances

The Blues Bermuda Triangle position was filled by Elano and he had three chances to open the scoring in the first half hour twice firing past the near post and then seeing another effort saved by the impressive Rene Torgard. Two more openings in the second half also went begging.

Sturridge also did his best with a stinging 15th minute drive that  Torgard did well to help over the bar. The two games were a decent showcase for the Streymur keeper who could clearly play at a higher domestic level.

He was, however, nowhere to be seen in the 34th minute when Corluka met Petrov’s corner with a thumping free header that rattled the bar before disappearing into the empty stand behind the goal.

Micah Richards has a similar gilt edged opportunity two minutes before the break but missed the target from inside the box. It was the Blues 20th effort on goal in a frustrating opening 45 minutes.

The 21st from Petrov hit the post and the 22nd from Sturridge was cleared off the line by Bardur Olsen.

Thankfully the first chance of the second half was converted with Bulgarian flyer Petrov supplying the finishing touch at the far post from Vassell’s cross from the right side of the box.

As Streymur tired so Petrov had a glorious chance to double his and the team’s tally but lifted Johnson’s perfect pass over the bar with Torgard for once floundering.

There ought to have been more joy for City late on as Streymur tired but further goalkeeping heroics and dodgy shooting radar prevented Elano and Didi Hamann from adding to the tally until Vassell potted an injury time second courtesy of Ched Evans’ flicked pass.

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