Reds urged to harness their attacking instincts
BARNSLEY manager Paul Heckingbottom cut a relieved figure on Tuesday night after his Reds side finally turned a promising performance into a positive result.
Goals from Matty Pearson and Ryan Hedges capped an encouraging display as the hitherto winless hosts ended the 100 per cent record of Nottingham Forest.
The victory came just three days after a similarly strong showing against Ipswich Town yielded no points as the Tractor Boys turned a 1-0 deficit on its head in the second half.
Tuesday’s win also served to lift the growing negativity around Oakwell amid a tranche of sales of key assets in the last six months.
“The players have been surprising me,” said Heckingbottom.
“I said after the Ipswich game we should have won as we played really well, and I said we would have to play better than that and win.
“That is the organisation, the hard work, being in the right places at the right time, showing people the right way, which makes your job easier when defending your own box.
“I am happy because certain players are further down the line than I thought.”
Heckingbottom also highlighted his side’s play going forward, saying: “We have plenty of attacking players and if you want to buy a ticket anywhere then come and watch us as it will be like that every week.
“We have a natural attacking instinct in this team, which we don’t have to work too hard on, but we just have to work on creating chances and the end product, which has to be better than tonight.”
Barnsley visit Sheffield United on Saturday lunchtime with the Blades heading home after failing to pick up a point at Middlesbrough last Saturday, and then Cardiff City on Tuesday night.
Nevertheless, Blades boss Wilder says he has been encouraged by the opening three games, which has brought a win and two defeats on the back of promotion from League One.
“We’re going to endure some tough nights, we totally understand that coming into the division after six years out of it,” said Wilder.
“But we haven’t been overrun against players who can hurt you.
“We’ve had two tough games, but we haven’t embarrassed ourselves. We competed well enough against the (new) league leaders.”