Barnsley manager Michael Duff is calling for focus in the Tykes camp after his side secured a trip to Wembley for a chance at Championship football next season, in comments given to the Yorkshire Post.
Liam Kitching’s goal on Friday night was enough for Duff’s side to narrowly edge a 2-1 win on aggregate and clinch a place in the League One Playoff Final, Ian Evatt’s Bolton Wanderers the unlucky losers in South Yorkshire.
It’s been a fantastic turnaround in fortunes for those associated with Barnsley, finishing rock bottom of the Championship last campaign with fan discontent at an all time high.
Now, under ex Cheltenham boss Michael Duff, the Tykes could be returning back to the second tier of the EFL at the first time of asking.
The atmosphere at full-time was electric inside of Oakwell with Barnsley fans now only having one thing on their mind – grabbing a ticket to watch their side contest the League One Playoff Final all the way down in London at Wembley on May 29th.
Sheffield Wednesday will be Barnsley’s opponents at Wembley, Darren Moore’s Owls unbelievably coming back from four goals down to win on penalties versus a dejected Peterborough United side in the other semi-final second leg.
A sea of fans from South Yorkshire will descend on the capital very soon, a tantalising Playoff Final in prospect.
Michael Duff Since Becoming Barnsley Boss
Michael Duff came into Oakwell off the back of an impressive spell at Cheltenham Town, winning the League Two title for the Robins back in the 2020-21 season – beating the likes of Bolton Wanderers to the main prize. This title win even saw Duff pick up League Two Manager of the Season at the EFL Awards, a respected figure in the game.
The 45-year-old manager departed The Robins after leading them to a 15th placed finish in League One off the back of promotion, Barnsley actively pursuing his services after managing 82 wins in charge of his former employers over nearly four years.
He’s continued to impress after relocating to the North, Barnsley finishing 4th during the regular season with the likes of Luca Connell starring for the young and hungry group of players Duff has assembled.
Could Duff be a Championship boss when the 2023-24 season kicks into gear?
Barnsley’s Opponents at Wembley
Barnsley will contest a South Yorkshire Derby at Wembley, near neighbours Sheffield Wednesday joining the Tykes for a chance at breaking through to the Championship.
After disappointingly missing out on automatic promotion – Darren Moore’s Owls losing out by two points to Kieran McKenna’s relentless Ipswich Town – Sheffield Wednesday put their heartbreak to one side by confidently dispatching of Peterborough United.
Going into the second leg 4-0 down, a comeback that looked insurmountable was somehow achieved at Hillsborough – Liam Palmer levelling the tie in the 98th minute, before Jack Hunt’s decisive penalty in a nail-biting shootout clinched Wednesday’s progress to Wembley in dramatic fashion.
Barnsley will, however, be confident that they can overcome their South Yorkshire neighbours in a high pressure contest at Wembley – Michael Duff’s men beat The Owls twice in the regular season, beating Darren Moore’s men 4-2 at Oakwell in an action-packed game.
What Has Michael Duff Said?
Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, Michael Duff wants his group of players to revel in the moment of getting to a Playoff Final in the coming days but then wants full focus on the task at hand to win promotion to the Championship.
He said: “I am looking forward to switching off for a couple of days now. The lads will have two days off now. But I have just told them, make no mistake, I will be after you on Monday.”
“There’s no backslapping and it’s stick to the process of what we do every (working) day.We don’t just say ‘oh, we are at Wembley now – we will put our feet up for a couple of days and have a few days out and do this and that.’ Do what you do, you are a product of your environment’.”
Duff did admit that Barnsley will be the underdogs for the Final, the 45-year-old praising Darren Moore and the job he’s done at Wednesday.
He said: “The atmosphere in both games and here was brilliant. They are a really good team. Mooro (Darren Moore) has done a great job. I know he has had a bit of stick, but the points total, clean sheets and 23-game unbeaten run, the 4-0 down and coming back, they are probably questioning how they are actually in this position anyway.
“I know we will be underdogs and they will have a couple of thousand more league appearances than us. But they have not lost many, but two of those who been against us.”
Writer’s View
Michael Duff will want his group to be re-energised after a few days of basking in the success story happening at Oakwell this campaign – Duff has turned around a group that were down on their luck, dejected after relegation.
Now, they could be returning back to the Championship with belief through the roof.
Sheffield Wednesday will be stern opponents, but Duff will take some hope into the Final that the Tykes have beaten Wednesday twice during the League One season. It should make for a captivating Final at the end of May, one club having South Yorkshire bragging rights come full-time and the glory of Championship football.
