Gerhard Struber says Barnsley were ‘great’ at Bristol City but needed to be more clinical in the game which finished with a 1-0 defeat.
Both sides missed a series of chances before the hosts netted in the 87th minute to leave the Reds in the relegation zone.
Struber told the Chronicle: “When I saw Bristol, with these players and this budget, it’s not so easy for a Barnsley team to get points here. So to be very unlucky and disappointed not to have a draw or a win is, for us, good feedback and shows us we are going in the right direction.
“We are all disappointed but I told the boys we are happy with the performance. The only thing to be disappointed about is the result. We look forward to the next game and to show what we can do at home.”
Barnsley had 16 shots while Bristol scored with their only effort on target. Struber added: “The performance was great, especially the second half. I am very proud of my boys. But we lost the game which is very very disappointing. We were not in the same killer mood as the last games when we created good chances but scored the goals. We needed the last pass and shot for the goals.
“This defeat is very painful. I have seen the statistics of the shots we have had. But many parts of the game show me we are on the right path and we are very hopeful for the next games.
“When I saw my team create chances, I saw the high competence of this team and how we have developed in my style. The opponent had only long balls but they had individual high quality which is sometimes the difference.”
The goal came after a run down by the left by Jay Dasilva past Luke Thomas and Jordan Williams and a cross which was converted by Niclas Eliasson. Struber said: “I must watch the goal again but we were not so clear in the one-on-one situation on the left side. We lost the duel very easily and it is too simple for the opponent to score a goal.”
Captain Alex Mowatt said: “Everyone is gutted. We had enough chances to win the game. If we had taken them or if the final pass was a bit better, we would have won.
“We were the better team by a mile. I know they had a few chances as well but I thought the chances we created were better. The least we deserved was a point. “The performances have been there, we just need to keep plugging away. We said in the dressing room that’s there’s another game on Tuesday (at home to Preston) and we have to put things right there.”
Mowatt shot straight at goalkeeper Daniel Bentley from close range early on, one of several missed chances for the visitors. He said: “It was very close. It was a good save. Sometimes they trickle in so I was gutted. But we had better chances than that one. I had half a chance at the end which just didn’t sit for me but overall I thought I played well. I got myself in some good positions but I am gutted that I didn’t score or someone else didn’t.”
Goalkeeper Sami Radlinger missed the match through illness while centre-back Bambo Diaby and Clarke Oduor both picked up injuries yesterday. Struber said: “It was not easy preparation for this game. That was not the reason we lost, it was because we were not so clear in our big chances. The players who came into the team did a very good job.
“I must see Bambo and Clarke and hear about their injuries. I think maybe Clarke will play on Tuesday. He had a hit on his ankle in training and he made the warm-up but he was not 100 per cent. It was very painful and he took pills but not with the right result.”
