Barnsley are preparing for another trip to Wembley

Loan star Isgrove gets special ovation from Barnsley boss

LLOYD ISGROVE did not score in either tie but Paul Heckingbottom held up his on-loan star as a shining example for the type of performance it will take to emerge victorious from Wembley.

Southampton winger Isgrove is another one to have rolled off the production line on the south coast and Barnsley have been the team to profit from his services this year.

The 23-year-old took advantage of a Rico Henry mistake to play in Josh Brownhill for Barnsley’s third, having already helped hammer the nails into Walsall’s coffin over both legs.

Though he is yet to get off the mark for the club since arriving in October, others among the Tykes’ front six who played on Thursday have been only too happy to oblige.

Irresistible

Midfield trio Adam Hammill, Conor Hourihane and Josh Brownhill have combined to score 18 league goals this season, taking the pressure off 23-goal striker Sam Winnall.

Add in the fact that another loanee, Manchester United’s Ashley Fletcher, has supplied another six and it’s easy to see why Barnsley have been irresistible in 2016.

If League One had been reset on January 1, the Tykes would have been promoted as champions. They even beat eventual title winners Wigan 4-1 away earlier this month.

So, it’s no wonder that Heckingbottom was gushing over his likely lads by the final whistle.

“Lloyd had excellent pace and energy, and that has shown with every member through the team,” said Heckingbottom.

“It was pointless us sitting back and trying to contain teams.We have to go at them and try to affect them.

“They’re the type of players we have in the team, and once again it paid dividends.

“I thought both centre-forwards and both wingers were excellent, posing a threat all night and they were ably backed up by Conor Hourihane and Josh Brownhill with excellent discipline in the middle of the park, plus the back four once again.

“The lads deserve all the credit they get for the way in which they have applied themselves over the two legs.

“We made it comfortable for ourselves and they only did that through their dedication, how hard they’ve worked and the discipline [shown].”

Nor are Barnsley strangers to North London after clinching the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in thrilling circumstances last month.

The Tykes put their fans through the emotional wringer, coming from 1-0 down to win 3-2 against soon-to-be League One side Oxford United by scoring three second-half goals within 22 minutes.

The stakes, this time, are far greater, with Championship football on the line – perhaps doubly so, on a personal level, for Heckingbottom.

Contract talks have been put on hold until the play-offs are over, but promotion would surely seal him a permanent gig as head coach after taking over as interim boss in February.

The 38-year-old was nomadic during his playing career – making appearances for ten clubs – but admits he has felt at home at Barnsley since replacing Lee Johnson.

“Though I was working with them before, when you are the one making the decisions with all the responsibility, you get to know them that little bit more,” he added.

“You do become attached and I like that. I like that you are bothered about your players and I like the fact that they are bothered about the club and the town and getting results.

“Everything is riding on the final now, but we’ve got to be confident. Every player has grown in stature this season and we’ll be ready.”