Valerien Ismael says Barnsley's players 'smell blood' and want a longer successful run after winning four of his five games in charge but he is wary of the threat of tomorrow's visitors Brentford.
The Reds are 13th in the Championship with 16 points from 12 games after winning 2-0 at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. They have won four out of five games under Ismael and all three at home.
Brentford - who lost the play-off final in August - have had a mixed start to this season, with 17 points from 12 matches putting them 11th, a point clear of the Reds. They drew 0-0 at Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.
Brentford have won one of their last six matches and, although they are unbeaten in five, four of those games were drawn.
Ismael said: "It is a tough game. Brentford is an opponent who has to play every year for promotion. They have a clear plan and high quality. We have to focus on what we have to do in and out of possession.
"I can see the quality in Brentford's squad, I don't look at the results or the table. I see a very good team and strong opponent with very good players up front. We need a tough performance and a battle in all positions."
Ivan Toney - who scored two in 20 on loan to Barnsley in 2015/16 - has ten goals this season while Brentford also have former Reds centre-back Ethan Pinnock who missed Saturday's game through injury.
Barnsley won 2-1 at Brentford in the final game of last season to secure survival while their hosts missed out on promotion. Clarke Oduor netted in the 91st minute.
Ismael said: "It is a new game, a new season and a new challenge. I don't think about what happened last season. We focus on the opponent's strength and weaknesses. I have to prepare my team with solutions to play against them."
Meanwhile, centre-back Aapo Halme has a calf problem after going away with Finland under 21s last week. Ismael said: "He has, from the international duty, a little problem with his calf. We don't want to take any risks but I hope he can back maybe at the end of this week or this week."
Ismael is delighted to have won four of his five matches in the job so far. He said: "When you win one time it could be luck, when you have won two three or four times, it means quality, hard work, organisation and structure. My staff have put these principles in the players who were open from the first day.
"The players are very very focused and they understand that, to play like this, you have to be professional, focused and serious on and off the pitch. They win games, they smell the blood and they want more."
All of the four wins have also brought clean sheets. Ismael said: "It is because of the team work, from the back three and Jack Walton but also every player. We work hard and sometimes we have a bit of luck but you need this luck to get points. Sometimes we take a lot of risks in possession and sometimes you need your goalkeeper to make saves. At the moment it is great situation for us."
