DARRELL Clarke will retain belief in promotion this season until it is mathematically impossible and believes a less gruelling schedule from next week will help Barnsley in that challenge.

The Reds are tenth in League One – as they have been for most of the last month – and six points off the top six play-off places.

This week they won 4-3 at home to Lincoln City on Saturday then lost 1-0 at Charlton Athletic on Tuesday, which ended a three-match winning streak.

They have 11 games left and are now due to host Blackpool tomorrow, before several weeks with no midweek match.

Clarke says they will need ‘seven or eight’ wins to compete for the play-offs.

He told the Chronicle: “I always believe.

“We know we’re playing catch-up, but teams have caught up before.

“I am going to stay positive in the fact that we can have a rest and recharge after Saturday.

“Until it is impossible to do I will stay positive that we can do it.

“I won’t allow the season to fizzle out. We will try to win against Blackpool then reset for the final ten and see how many points we’re off the top six and how many bodies we can get back.”

Barnsley now have ten players missing due to injury or suspension.

Clarke admits that is partly due to a lack of quality squad depth.

“We have probably seven or eight top six League One players and the rest are trying to reach that level.

“You want to get as many of those players in the team as much as you possibly can every game.

“We’ve picked up injuries in the second half of the season which hasn’t helped but it’s part and parcel of the game.

“We didn’t have many injuries in the first half of the season.

“We have to push players. In my day there was always something wrong with you and I used to pop tablets for fun.

“It’s bodies on the line time and we need people to take little risks and make sure players are putting themselves out there.

“It’s risk and reward. I tell the medical team to push players and get them back as quick as we can.”

He added: “A lot of players are playing in what we call the red zone – injuries are a very very strong possibility.

“The changes we make haven’t been as strong as we would have liked.”

Clarke has already said the January transfer window was a disappointment with Neil Farrugia the only player signed in it to be playing regularly.

Joe Gauci and Jonathan Lewis are injured while Dexter Lembikisa and Clement Rodrigues have not played regularly.

Clarke told the Chronicle: “When we have our strongest 11 out, we have a team who are more than capable of getting in the top six.

“The underbelly has to have more quality at times.

“I said that in the dressing room after the game (at Charlton).

“There is nothing wrong with the effort but, to get out of this league, they have to show more quality and they have to get up to speed pretty quickly.”

Frenchman Rodrigues, the only striker signed in the window, was an unused substitute on Tuesday despite the Reds trailing from the 12th minute.

Clarke told the Chronicle: “I didn’t think it was the night for him. It was difficult. I am searching for answers.

“He’s come into the club, doesn’t speak English, finding his feet.

“I really don’t want to put too much pressure on the lad.

“He’s a nice lad who is training hard and opportunities will come further down the line.”

On Lembikisa, Clarke said: “It’s very difficult to come in in that window and hit the ground running. It’s a very short season of 12 weeks.

“He definitely has more in his locker. We will pick his confidence up. We need more from him but we need more from all the players.

“You either sink or swim.

“The players have been brought in by the recruitment team who feel they can make a difference.

“My job relies on getting the best out of them.”

Barnsley let some of their squad players leave on loan in the transfer window.

Clarke said: “There were reasons why players wanted to go out and get minutes.

“In hindsight, if I knew these injuries would happen, those decisions probably wouldn’t have been made.

“Those players wanted to explore different options.”

After hosting Blackpool, Barnsley are due to play on the remaining three Saturdays in March.

They are due to visit Clarke’s hometown club Mansfield Town then host Cambridge United before visiting Wigan Athletic.