51 POINTS IS NOT A SAFE MEASURE
It's the same squad that we've had. Reuben, Shane and Steve are improving; Shane's infection has got better, and in two to three weeks we might see maybe all three involved. The results we've had of late show how important it is to try and get those back before the end of the season. Other players have carried on and tried to get us through this difficult spell: I thought they responded last week against Forest; from the result you'd have thought we were played off the park but that wasn't the case. I was pleased with the performance but we have to cut out silly mistakes that have been our undoing.
Was Barry Roche perhaps a bit ring-rusty?
Probably; and the likes of Alex Bailey haven't had a free run without injury this season and that is reflected in his decision to try to control the ball, rather than just put his foot through it. If we can start to keep clean sheets then we'll pick up points again.
Was reaching 51 points such a psychological barrier that everyone relaxed after that?
It all stemmed from the Hartlepool game, where Reuben came off and we lost 1-0: Doncaster came next, and Nicholson went off, then we lost Roche against Southend. Reuben was the big loss - he tidies up for us very well at the back. We did respond well at Rotherham - another local derby - so we have to see if we can raise our game and cut out those mistakes at Oakwell.
Will the pressure be on Barnsley, trying to get in the play-offs?
The pressure is also on us! 51 points is not a safe measure at the moment! We need to win maybe two or three of our last six to be ultra-safe.
