TOBY Sibbick is hoping he will celebrate his birthday on Sunday as a Championship play-off finalist.
The defender will turn 22 on Sunday, with his birthday set to start on the team coach back from Swansea City following the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-final during which the Reds aim to overturn a 1-0 deficit.
Sibbick told the Chronicle: “I have said to a few people that Saturday’s game will determine my mood for my birthday.
“Hopefully we get to the final.
“It would be incredible to get there, after where we have come from from last season.”
Sibbick played in front of Barnsley fans for the first time since 2019 on Monday in the first leg.
He said: “A few of the lads and the gaffer said it felt like a sold-out stadium.
“The fans were unbelievable all night. They deserved that moment because they waited a long time.
“Hopefully we can get that win on Saturday and give them a day out at Wembley.”
Sibbick marked Swansea’s dangerman Jamal Lowe.
He said: “I was pleased with my own performance.
“It was a good battle with Lowe and there will be another one on Saturday.
“There was one time when he twisted me inside out and people seem to remember that, which is weird because it was the only time it happened.
“In the second half we created a lot of chances but the final pass let us down a few times.
“It was a moment of brilliance from (Andre) Ayew to get a goal from the only real chance they had.
“We want to start on Saturday like we finished on Monday.”
After spending the first half of the season on loan at KV Oostende, where he did not play a game, Sibbick has impressed since returning to Oakwell in January.
“That break made me grow and learn a lot on and off the pitch.
“I have come back very hungry and the gaffer has trusted me and played me.
“It’s been crazy.
“I thought I would come back and be loaned out but the gaffer welcomed me.
“It was difficult being in Belgium and I wasn’t playing and I couldn’t see anyone because of coronavirus.
“But as soon as I found out I could go back to Barnsley, that gave me a big lift.”
Sibbick was part of the AFC Wimbledon team that stayed in League One in remarkable fashion in 2019 before moving to Barnsley who also launched a great escape while the defender was loaned to Hearts who were relegated from the top flight.
He is enjoying competing at the other end of a table this season.
“That’s something I have spoken about with my dad.
“Ever since I have started my professional career, I have always been fighting relegation.
“I am really enjoying fighting for promotion and we can only look forward.”
