Valerien Ismael is expecting a ‘difficult, difficult game' at the Championship’s bottom club Wycombe Wanderers tomorrow from 7pm.
The Chairboys are bottom of the division, but beat Preston North End on Saturday, while the Reds are sixth and unbeaten in 11.
Ismael told the Chronicle: "It is the Championship, anyone can beat anyone. Wycombe has a great mentality, a fighting spirit and we have to match this but stick to our gameplan. It will be a difficult, difficult game.
"Wycombe has a clear philosophy. We respect that. The manager has done an incredible job with the possibility he has.”
Ismael added: "It will be more intense with more duels. We showed against Derby, Millwall and Birmingham that we can compete at that level.
"Our own expectation is to win and to continue to move forward. We want to keep the momentum going and the only way is to win the game."
Ismael was angry with his side at half-time at Bournemouth on Saturday but delighted with the second half display as they came from 2-1 down to win 3-2.
"It gives us big confidence. It was just another game but the result was a big step for us.
"My expectation is that the guys play like that from the first minute, not waiting 45 minutes until we are behind.
"We will be finished if we think we can only play with 80 per cent. It was a warning for me. It is my job to make sure the guys are ready to fight on Wednesday at 7 o’clock."
Wing-back Callum Brittain added: "Any game in the Championship is as hard as each other. Wycombe will be as hard as Bournemouth in a different way. They play different football.”
Barnsley face the bottom two sides in the next two games before the international break, as they host Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. Ismael is hoping to continue the fine recent form but also avoid any injuries at the end of a schedule of 12 games in 37 days.
"Everybody has done an incredible job at the club, from the sports scientists to the physios. But now we need to come through this week and go into the international break with a fit squad. This is our second purpose, parallel to the games.”
