Barnsley’s first League One loss since December 20 ‘hurts a lot’ says their head coach Daniel Stendel.
The Reds lost 3-1 at Burton Albion, ending their 20-match unbeaten run in league games. Stendel said: “It hurts a lot at the moment. The players invested so much and wanted to win so much. Burton didn’t play very well but better than us and scored at the right times and they deserved to win. Burton is a good team but not normally good enough to beat us.
“I am disappointed with the result and performance. We fought for 95 minutes but it was not enough to win today. The goals were too easy for Burton. When you defend like we did, you win no game. All the pressure that we had in their half was most of the time outside the box.
“We should have had a penalty for handball in the first half but we needed too much time to make chances against a side who played with ten men in their own half.”
Striker Victor Adeboyejo, who came on with ten minutes left, added: “It’s a very tough one to take. The boys gave everything they could but it just wasn’t to be. The final third cost us today. It was tough to come on and then they scored straight away which gave us another mountain to climb. It’s an unfamiliar feeling to lose because the boys have done so well but I am sure we will put it right next week.”
Second-placed Barnsley are now level on points with third-placed Sunderland who have two games in hand. The Black Cats won 2-1 at Rochdale thanks to an 89th-minute goal.
“Sunderland had the luck that we didn’t have today. They have the chance to come second but I don’t believe they will win all their games and I believe we also have a chance.”
