Gerhard Struber knows Barnsley need to win their final two games of the season to stay in the Championship after ruing missed chances in last night’s defeat to local rivals Leeds United.
After their 1-0 loss at Elland Road, the Reds are bottom in the table and, once it is adjusted for Wigan’s 12-point deduction for going into administration, two points off safety with two games remaining at home to fifth-placed Nottingham Forest on Sunday then at third-placed Brentford on Wednesday.
Struber told the Chronicle: “The performance was very good, especially in the second half when we had the game in our hands and created many chances. In the last third we couldn’t score which is our big issue at the moment. My players worked so hard and I am very proud of them but, in the end, we have no points and that is a big issue. It is not only today, it was the situation against Luton and Wigan (draws in the previous two games). Today our performance in the second half was at the highest level from many players but we couldn’t benefit and I am very frustrated.”
He added: “We have developed so much in the last few months, the togetherness, the fitness and defending but, in the end, we need points. “The players are sharp like a knife but not for the goal.”
Michael Sollbauer scored an own goal just before the half-hour mark. Struber said: “There was so much pressure in this moment to clear the ball in the right direction. Leeds only created one or two or three chances which is normal but our biggest issue is that we cannot score goals. When we don’t score, we cannot win. We are all very disappointed about this. Now we have no points and this is very bad in our situation.
"We now need six points from the last two games. We will have the right plan for Sunday. We have a chance to stay in the league and my boys will fight until the last game.”
Striker Conor Chaplin added: “It’s disappointing. The lads did really well and we’re proud of the performance. “But, in the bigger picture, it is tough to take. I think we more than competed with them, especially in the second half. We outplayed them, outpressed them and outworked them but we have to take our chances. I won’t sugarcoat it, it hurt. But we’ll keep going. If we play like that in the next two games, we can pick up six points.”
