Darrell Clarke delighted with Barnsley spirit after late win at Burton

Posted Sunday, September 22, 2024 by PA

Darrell Clarke was delighted by the spirit shown by his Barnsley side as they struck late to grab a 2-1 win at Burton.

Captain Luca Connell had put the visitors ahead, somewhat against the run of play with a 30-yard free kick.

Burton looked to have salvaged a point through Jack Cooper-Love’s 88th-minute header but Clarke praised his side’s response as they went up the other end and grabbed all three points through Stephen Humphrys’ 90th-minute header.

“It wasn’t pretty at time,” the Tykes boss admitted. “The first half, there wasn’t a lot in the game and we didn’t really get the rhythm going but we score a cracking goal from the skipper with a bit of individual quality.

“Second half, I thought we were better and created more chances on the front foot. Credit to my boys though, to go 1-1 so late in the game when they (Burton) haven’t created many opportunities and to go straight up the other end and win it tells me we have got some decent character in the dressing room.

“Really pleased to win a game that wasn’t great on the eye but the boys dug in fantastically well after a tough week.”

It proved to be a good response after successive away defeats in league and cup, conceding 10 goals and not scoring any after Tuesday’s 7-0 loss to Manchester United.

“Tuesday night was a tough night and I thought we owed the fans one today and hopefully they are cheered up after the other night,” Clarke added.

Brewers head coach Mark Robinson was left still looking for a first league win with his new-look team and he admitted it was tough to take seeing all three points snatched away in such dramatic fashion.

“Obviously you want the three points but from where we were we would have taken the point having got ourselves right back into it so late on,” Robinson said.

“We have talked about game management but there wasn’t enough time for that in the end. We have scored through Jack’s great late run and header and from there you are thinking that you might go on and win it but it hurts right now.

“At the end they have got so many in our box at the back post and the lad manages to head it in.”

Albion looked to have been denied a clear penalty at 1-0 down when Udoka Godwin-Malife appeared to be tripped when goal side of his marker and ready to shoot. Robinson felt frustrated at the decision not to award the spot kick.

“If we get the penalty and score it to go in 1-1 then the second half is totally different,” he added. “The referee said there was contact but minimal which is frustrating because it is a clear penalty.”