Daniel Stendel says Barnsley are ‘greedily’ targeting first place in League One after going second with 16 games to play.
The Reds moved into the automatic promotion places for the first time since September with their 2-0 home win over Scunthorpe United on Saturday. They went above Portsmouth who were held 1-1 at home to Doncaster Rovers.
Stendel’s side are unbeaten in ten league matches for the first time since 2005, winning seven and drawing three since losing at Wycombe Wanderers two months ago today. Stendel told the Chronicle: “To be second is good for now but there is a long way to go and we want to stay in this place for the rest of the season.
“At the moment, it is a good situation for us and it gives us a lot of confidence. The players have said ‘second place is OK but we want the first place.’ We are all greedy for success and we have hunger for it.”
Barnsley are still six points behind leaders Luton Town, who have played an extra game, while Stendel’s side have played two more games than fourth-placed Sunderland who are just three points behind.
“We have played two games more than Sunderland but, for us, this doesn’t matter. If we win every game than we have every chance of being in the top two. We have been chasing second place for a long time and we want to defend our position there now.
“In the first half of the season we had more pressure on us. At the moment there is a very good feeling from the dressing room, we are all very concentrated and focused on promotion and not feeling too much pressure. It is a good feeling and we are happy.”
During the January transfer window, Barnsley sold star winger Brad Potts to Preston North End and let out-of-favour midfielders George Moncur and Lloyd Isgrove to promotion rivals Luton Town and Portsmouth.
They have brought in winger Jordan Green who has been on the bench for the last four games, coming on twice, as well as several under 23s players.
They also brought in striker George Miller from Middlesbrough then immediately loaned him out to Bradford City where he has been all season.
Stendel said: “I am pleased with our work in January. I am happy when all players stay here and, in the end, that was the result after Thursday evening. I believe our squad is good enough for the top two.”
While the Reds are second in League One, tomorrow’s hosts Gillingham are 19th – a point and two places clear of the relegation zone.Stendel said: “We learned in the past that we need to be ready against every team and it doesn’t matter which place they are in the league. I hope a lot of supporters come with us to Gillingham.
“The past showed us that it is good for us when we just concentrate on our game. At Oxford (a 2-2 draw last week after being 2-0 down) we prepared too much for Oxford and didn’t think about our game enough. We will learn from that and we have said now that we concentrate on us. We are strong enough to win every game if we play well.”
Since losing four of five away league games in October, November and December, the Reds are unbeaten in their last four on the road.
“After we beat Oxford 4-0 in our first game, the supporters thought we would win every game like that so it was easier to play away. Then we lost some away games and we learned we could not take as many risks away. Now we are more clever in the head away from home.
“We have more experience, more power and more togetherness than earlier in the season. When you fall down, you have to get up and we have learned from the games in November and December which was a difficult situation for us.
“We have concentrated more on our style and then, when you get good results against teams at the top of the table like Peterborough and Charlton, you have more confidence. Now we have more belief and we can come back in games like at Oxford.”
