STILL waiting for his team to get up and walk. Still happy that they will do it. Mick McCarthy slips in the side door just as the Czech manager finishes his low key diagnosis of a dull game. Mick is more upbeat. Lots of faith in the embryonic form we have just seen. First a quick precis.

"I thought in the first half we played very well. We had the better chances, created the better chances. Their chances came from sloppy passes from one of us. Bad defending in the second half cost us the first goal, then we lost our shape chasing it and looked like we might lose more. We did, we conceded a second goal."

He has still to see his side score a goal let alone win a game yet the tension isn't exactly adding creases to his face. He is picking the prospects, weighing the potential and keeping some perspective.

"Alan Moore did well today. Worked hard. Kenny Cunningham had an excellent game. Shay Given too. Denis and Jeff played well. Ray Houghton played very well. Ninety minutes Ray was still looking to get into their box. That impressed me. You don't discard a player just because he is 33. Especially if there is nothing better around."

From the floor comes a question with cold war undertones and football buff overtones.

"Which was better Mister McCarthy Russia or the Czech Republic?"

Barnsley diplomacy pours like cod liver oil. Mightn't taste sweet but good for you.

"Russia," says Mick "We caused the Czech's more problems in the first half than we caused the Russian team. But in the second half we lost our shape more. Against Russia we came into the game.

If one thing stuck in McCarthy's craw it was the goals or at least the manner of their concession. For a man who played for so long with a desperado's hungry obsession the sight of goals springing from careless moments and silly errors is a little much to bear.

"The chance for their first goal shouldn't have arisen. It was bad defending. You have to stay with your man, not go looking after the ball. Curtis Fleming had a chance to head the ball away but their number 11 nicked in. After that we weren't right."

On this occasion of sin it was Phil Babb who had to do penance. McCarthy tried to retain the privacy of the dressing room confessional.

"If it had been nil all I wouldn't have taken him off because, I thought we could get something out of the game. But one nil down I thought I would take the chance to get a look at Liam Daish. I've spoken to Phil. You have to keep the line, you can't go diving in."

Finally the young man at the centre of these growing pains. Mark Kennedy, or Sparky as McCarthy calls him, has depths of potential which have yet to bed mined. Big Mick will keep digging.

"Mark Kennedy played in fits and starts. Some good things. He is learning that job. He comes to me and says do you want me to play midfield, do you want me to tuck in, do you want me to go forward. He can learn. He's a baby but he's learning. I need him. I need these young fellows coming through. I'm going to persevere with them."

Early steps. Some sense of direction showing though. Keep the faith is Mick's message to the masses.