CALLUM Styles was delighted to score his first ever goal in front of the Barnsley fans in the 1-1 draw with Birmingham City at Oakwell.
The 21-year-old’s previous six goals for the Reds had all been in behind-closed-doors games but he found the top left corner from outside the box in the sixth minute on Saturday, following a fine team move.
Birmingham levelled before half-time and missed several chances to win it.
Styles told the Chronicle: “It was a big moment.
“Last season there were no fans so scoring in front of them is what I want to do. It was great to get my first goal of the season.
“We showed the quality we have as a team for that goal, but we needed to show it throughout the 90 minutes.”
Styles has started the last three games as left wing-back, where he broke into the Barnsley side last year having come through as a central midfielder.
But, when the Reds are on the ball, he drifts into the middle with centre-back Liam Kitching patrolling the left flank.
Styles said: “I like it. Playing centre mid is my preferred position where I have played all my life. But I start on the left so it’s good to drift in and out and get on the ball.
“We work on it so I’m comfortable in that set-up.”
Styles is enjoying playing passing football under Markus Schopp and reasonably pleased with the start to the season which has seen the Reds take six points from five games.
“He sees our qualities as players and wants us to express ourselves.
“He knows we can break teams down playing that way.
“We have played some nice stuff, obviously we would like to not drop points this week and last week.
“But we’re happy with the points in those games because the other teams were on top at the end.”
On Saturday’s game, Styles said: “We started the game strong, took the lead but conceded a sloppy goal.
“We lost a bit of control of the game and they had a lot of chances.
“We’re happy with the point but we could have done more to see the win out.
“We will work on doing that and not conceding silly, soft goals.”
