Barnsley manager Neil Collins has stressed the importance of looking ahead for the remainder of the League One season after the Tykes lost back-to-back league matches for the first time since August.
The Yorkshire outfit lost 2-1 at Charlton and Stevenage in their last two League One matches, consequently suffering their first consecutive defeats on the road this season. Despite taking the lead through Adam Phillips’ 30th-minute strike at the Lamex Stadium, the Tykes conceded in each half and fell to another defeat.
These setbacks have come as part of a wider dip in form, as Barnsley have secured just two victories in their last eight fixtures. As a result, the former automatic promotion hopefuls have fallen down the standings in recent weeks.
The Tykes are currently fifth in League One – eight points off the top two and six points ahead of seventh-placed Lincoln City. However, the Oakwell side are 16th in the form standings over the last six matches, with just seven points taken and a -1 goal difference, as reported by Whoscored.
Collins’ side have four games left of the 2023/24 campaign, including a trip to table toppers Portsmouth and a home clash against play-off chasing Blackpool.
But the Barnsley manager is choosing to take the run-in one game at a time, starting with the visit of Reading on Saturday. In his post-Stevenage comments to the Yorkshire Post, Collins also backed his team to turn around their recent blip by focusing on the small details in matches.
“I am just concerned about winning the next game. It’s the first time we have lost back to back games, after (since) the third or fourth game of the season.
“We just need to concentrate on getting these small margins back in our favour, because I think that is all it is.
“People might make more than it is and we’re disappointed with some of the recent results. But I don’t think it will take a lot to turn it around.”
Writer’s View
Barnsley’s next match against Reading is hugely important. If Collins can re-focus his side and help them return to winning ways, then the Tykes can build for a strong finish, most likely heading into the play-offs.
However, it appears that the automatic promotion places are out of reach for the Yorkshire side due to their declining form. At this stage of the campaign, an eight-point deficit could be too much to close on second-placed Derby.
