Neill Collins is delighted to have broken a club record for away points in a season and will take ‘on our shoulders’ the chants for him to be sacked in the first half of Monday’s win at Burton Albion.
Barnsley came from 1-0 down at the break to beat the relegation-battlers 3-1, chalking up a club record tally of 42 away points.
Collins said: “There’s been a lot of fantastic teams over the years and it says a lot that we’ve broken the record with four games left. We know our shortcomings have been at home and we need to be better but you don’t do what we’ve done away without being a really good side.
“If you are going to be successful as a team you will have to break some records along the way. It says a lot about our team.”
A section of the sold-out 1,600 away end chanted ‘we want Collins out’ during the first half.
He said: “You never want to hear that as a manager but it’s part of the game. There has been disappointment at recent results. It’s just part and parcel of the game and we take it on our shoulders.
“We’re frustrated that that the last couple of games probably took automatic away but we will keep going until it’s mathematically impossible.
“I don’t know if it’s fair or unfair. I see much better coaches and managers than me get criticism.”
Barnsley changed from 3-5-2 to 4-5-1 with Adam Phillips and John McAtee dropping to the bench having been ill yesterday.
“We knew we were coming to a poor pitch against a team who would let us have the ball so we felt that shape would give us the best chance. I don’t think there were any issues with the shape.”
McAtee came on at half-time and scored the first two Barnsley goals.
Collins said: “I love what Macca brings to our team. You can see why our fans can relate to him because he plays with spirit and he has quality. He took the first goal well then the second was more what we expect from him.”
McAtee added: “I woke up yesterday and felt really sick. I think it was general bug. I listened to all the advice from the physios.
“I had a nap and felt better then even better this morning so made my way down and thankfully got some goals.
“For the first one, Phillo was unlucky hitting the post with his header. It fell lovely to me and I made sure I got good contact. Thankfully I hit the net not the post this time.
“The second one, Cozzy (Sam Cosgrove) has done brilliant to flick it round the corner. I got to the ball, had a look up and saw him off his line and bent round him.”
Luca Connell netted his first goal of the season for 3-1.
Collins said: “It’s about time he got a goal. Luca will be disappointed with his part in the first goal. But he’s vital to the team and he will score goals from now until the end of the season.”
On the game in general, Collins said: “I don’t think it was a game of two halves. I didn’t think there was a lot in the game in the first half but we needed more urgency and quality. We felt we had to make changes and we know Macca brings intensity.
“There were a number of stand-out performances. Mael (de Gevigney), Jamie (McCart), Josh (Earl) defended excellently and Jon Russell was superb.
“We’re delighted to come from behind, at a difficult place against a team fighting for their lives and get a huge three points.
“The players didn’t get anxious, they got better as they have generally tended to do.”
