Neill Collins said the 3-0 home win over Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night was ‘for the fans’ after a difficult run of results at Oakwell.
The Reds’ home form had been poor with four defeats in five, including the last two.
Collins told the Chronicle: “It was for the fans as much as anyone. We have rewarded our away fans really well but we want to get our home fans right behind us as well. They got behind us from the start and the players gave them something to cheer. So I am very happy about that.
“We want the three points but we’re still at the stage where the performance is really important and I think we got both. Credit to the players because we asked them to do both sides of the game because Shrewsbury are a real threat who beat Derby at the weekend. We balanced it well with great football.”
The Reds were given a first league penalty at Oakwell in 591 days since March last year when Barry Cotter’s shot was handled in the box. Herbie Kane netted from the spot for his second goal of the week.
Collins said: “Just by the law of averages it is so strange for a team at the top end of the league not to have a penalty for so long. We got the type of penalty that have been given against us. It was good for the fans to see it.
"I mentioned in the first game of the season that Herbie could take penalties then since then I thought ‘what’s the point in wasting my breath?’ But I knew Herbie wouldn’t forget.
“He dispatched it well. You could moan about it then they miss it. He’s been excellent and I am glad he’s got a couple of goals to go with his great performances.”
Callum Styles netted five minutes later from a fine Devante Cole assist. Collins said: “It was an excellent goal. It was typical Devante then he had great selflessness to put it on a plate for Callum Styles. Getting that second goal puts you in a good position at home.”
Styles came off at half-time having been limping but Collins said he was not injured. He had received his fifth booking of the season so will miss Saturday’s game with Fleetwood.
“It was a yellow card situation and one missed tackle, you go down to ten men. He was playing well but it made sense for the team.”
Cole secured the win late on with his tenth goal of the season. Collins said: “It’s a great achievement. Devante will have been very happy to get the goal after a few games without but for me it was his all-round performance.”
Defender Jamie McCart added: “It’s been coming with our home form. We were due a really good performance and result and it clicked – everything we’ve been working on especially in the first half.
“You can see the team is fully starting to gel and the performances have shown that.”
