Phillips hopes to beat last season’s goal and assists tallies but more focused on promotion
ADAM Phillips would like to beat his tallies last season of goals and assists but is more focused on Barnsley as a club going one step further than a year ago.
The midfielder has bagged braces in the last two home games, the first player in more than 20 years to do so for the Reds, plus assisting both goals in last week’s win at Fleetwood.
He is on six goals and five assists for the season, having reached double figures for both in all competitions last season.
The Reds – who lost in the play-off final last May – are hoping for automatic promotion this time.
Phillips told the Chronicle: “If I carry on getting two goal involvements every game, that will be nice.
“I am just enjoying my football at the minute.
“I want to beat my numbers from last year but the main thing is winning games for the team and getting promotion.”
Phillips had not netted in 24 games until December but has six in the last 14. “It helps when you score.
“Your confidence lifts. I always believed I had the ability.
“I hadn’t lost any of my talent. It was just getting a goal and kicking on.”
Phillips’ brace in the win over Derby County on Saturday took the Reds to within three points of the second-placed Rams.
“I am delighted to score the goals but the main thing is three points in a big game. Derby are above us and we need to catch them.
“We want to get in the top two.
“If we had lost, it would have made it harder. Three points is helpful but it’s just three points. We have another tough game at Wycombe next. We have to take it game by game.”
It was the fifth time the Reds have come from behind to win in 15 games.
“There is resilience in the team to keep coming back. We know we have good players. We know we’re going to create chances so we always have a chance.”
Against Derby, Phillips volleyed in a stunning leveller.
“He said: “It’s up there with my best goals. I didn’t make the box this time. I held my run. I knew the defender would head it. It fell nicely, I got my touch right and as soon as I hit it I knew it had a chance of going in.
“I was just delighted to get us back in the game.”
Phillips headed in a Nicky Cadden corner for the winner. He said: “I have always been quite good in the air. I have got a good leap. I think that’s why I had to come off. I was struggling with cramp because I was doing a lot of jumping. “I fancy myself in the box sometimes. “We’ve worked on it in training.
“Cads put it in a good area and I managed to get a little flick on it.”*