Tom Bradshaw says Barnsley felt like they had been 'written off' as certainees for relegation before Saturday's vital 2-0 win over Brentford took them out of the bottom three.

The Reds could have gone down with a game to spare but their victory means they will be safe on Sunday if they beat Derby County, while any result could keep them up depending on the outcomes of other games.

Striker Bradshaw, 25, praised his team-mates for responding to the 3-0 loss at Nottingham Forest which had left them two points adrift of safety and meant they had to rely on other teams slipping up.

Bradshaw told the Chronicle: "It felt like people had written us off as a team before the Brentford game. Then the boys produced a great performance against a good team and put our fate back in our hands which is exactly what we wanted. It could have been a massive confidence blow when the control was taken out of our hands. We could have easily sunk into our seats and thought 'that's it' but the character everyone has shown to claw ourselves back out of the relegation zone is great. If we do that again on Sunday then we will win be fine, and am I confident that will happen."

Bradshaw played every game under Paul Heckingbottom this season, with 26 starts and eight substitute appearances, before the former head coach moved to Leeds United in February. But, after starting replacement Jose Morais' first match, he has made the first 11 only once in the next 13 with six appearances off the bench.

The Wales striker is the club's top-scorer with 12 goals in all competitions but, since Christmas, his winner against Sheffield United last month is his only strike in 17. He is level as the top-scorer in Championship games on nine with January signing Oliver McBurnie, despite playing 23 fewer matches.

Bradshaw, who is expected to be on the bench at Derby, said: "It's been a strange season. I scored eight goals last season so to beat that while only playing two thirds of the season and to be top-scorer is a good return. It's been a frustrating few months but that's part and parcel of football. It isn't working out at the moment but I will just try and support the lads and help them get over the line.

"I know that, when we are winning, he won't be looking at attacking players, he will be looking more at defensive substitutions to shore up the game. I will be ready in case he needs me, but hopefully he doesn't need me because that means we will be winning."

Bradshaw, who has one year remaining on his current deal, has been linked with a move away from Oakwell this summer. He said: "I still have another 12 months on my contract and there seems to be no movement on that. I will have to see what happens when the season ends and I speak to the club."