STRUBER BULLISH AS BAGGIES HELD
BARNSLEY boss Gerhard Struber says his team are good enough to maintain their status in the division ahead of their trip to Swansea.
Struber hailed his young team’s fight and teamwork after they scored a late equaliser in draw at home to leaders West Brom.
And Struber says it is not just Barnsley’s attitude that will serve them well as they battle to climb from 23rd in the table, but their quality, too.
Aapo Halme’s tap-in in the 90th minute rescued a vital point for a Barnsley side struggling at the foot of the Championship table after Filip Krovinovic had taken advantage of home goalkeeper Sami Radlinger’s poor clearance in the fifth minute.
“The points will come if we have the attitude like this,” said Struber. “We have the right mentality to win games.
“A young team we never give up and with this attitude we can beat opponents. We have the right quality to stay in this league. West Brom were, as expected, a difficult team as league leaders, and after this game I am very happy with the team. It was a good game. We are not a relegation team.”
West Brom opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Barnsley keeper Radlinger’s poor clearance fell straight to Krovinovic, who took two touches, and fired over the keeper into an empty net from 25 yards.
Barnsley had the opportunity to get back level when Conor Chaplin found himself free down the left and his cross was parried by Sam Johnstone only as far as Cauley Woodrow, but his shot blocked the deflection falling back to Chaplin in the box and his attempt was run down by supporting defenders.
Although Barnsley had most of the first half possession, West
Brom still looked dangerous. Charlie Austin could have made it two five minutes from the interval after another defensive mistake, but Radlinger saved.
West Brom had few chances – their best being a Semi Ajayi volley from a corner landing high into the fans. Barnsley equalised late in the last minute of the game when a Chaplin cross in the box was tapped in by Halme making it just one loss in six for Struber’s men.
West Brom continue to lead the way at the top, but manager Slaven Bilic admits his side are going through a “sticky period” ahead of the visit of Middlesbrough.
The Baggies are 14 games unbeaten, but have been held to three draws in their past four. Bilic said: “Of course I am disappointed when you concede so late and you do not get the three points, but they did create a lot of chances in the second half. It is a sticky period, I’m never happy with a point, but we have to take it. Barnsley are a good team.”