Paul Heckingbottom is hoping to end the worst run of his managerial career when Sam Winnall's Derby County come to Oakwell tomorrow.
Following four successive defeats, the last of which was a 3-1 beating at lowly Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, the Reds are 19th with 20 points from as many games – leaving them four points clear of the relegation zone and a further two above last-placed Burton Albion.The head coach admits his squad, the youngest in the Championship, may be starting to doubt themselves but says it is is vital they maintain their self-belief.
He told the Chronicle: "It's all part of football and you have to deal with it. No one can feel sorry for themselves or go into their shell. You can see the players are desperate to end that run and get a win. The approach is the same: to enjoy playing football and winning games. My end goal is to make sure we stay in this league and that we have improved as the season has gone on."
He added: "We had a young squad last year but they were more experienced than this squad and, when we went through spells of not winning, it didn't really affect the players. The difference now is that a lot of our players are playing their first ever league football and they have been together less as a squad. They may have doubts about themselves but that's when we have to work with them and keep pushing them through it."
Barnsley are on their worst run since the eight successive defeats in 2015 under Heckingbottom's predecessor Lee Johnson. He said: "It doesn't really feel like this is my toughest spell. Results-wise it is, and that's what you are judged on. But, if that is all you focus on, you are not going to get better. We're learning about these players and it's part and parcel of getting better.
"We prepared the players for barren spells but you have to have gone through one to know how to deal with it, and we don't have many with that experience.
"It's important that the fans stay with us. The majority of fans get behind us and they can see a team that is really trying. Everyone has got to get behind the players because they are young lads stepping up to the Championship and they might have doubts. We knew this would happen at some point. Seeing the character of the players will be even more important than the football side of it for me in the next few weeks."
Heckingbottom believes the current dip in form is partly down to his side's run of fixtures which included five games in 15 days. He has brought in a cryo chamber which is often used by sports teams to expose their players to low temperatures for a short time to improve fitness and help muscle recovery.
"We're suffering from the exertions of the last few months. The intensity and sprint distance has dropped recently, after being through the roof in six or seven games to the point that no one could compete with us. There are signs of fatigue and we have to be wary of that so the training load has been right down this week and we've brought a cryo chamber in, which will be interesting."
Heckingbottom said he would pick a team for Derby full of 'dogged' players who were tactically disciplined off the ball, which suggests he might drop attacking midfielder George Moncur and possibly winger Harvey Barnes who has five goals this season but struggled defensively at Bolton.
He said: "We are going to have to pick a side who are the strongest we can be without the ball then have players coming off the bench to try to win the game. At the moment we are handicapping ourselves and going behind too easily. Winning the ball when it really matters is a key issue."
Tomorrow Barnsley will hope to record their fifth home league win of 2017, with only Preston and Reading still to visit Oakwell this year. It will also be a reunion with Winnall, who scored 48 goals in 116 Reds games across two and a half years. He then infuriated Barnsley fans by moving to their bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday in January and running almost the length of Oakwell's East Stand to celebrate scoring against his former club in April.
After scoring four goals in 18 games for the Owls, the 26-year-old was loaned to Derby in August and has four goals in four starts and five substitute appearances. He netted a brace in a 2-1 win at Leeds United but then missed a month with injury before returning as a substitute on Saturday.
Heckingbottom said: "I know Sam has been injured but I am sure Gary (Rowett) would like to use him and I know Sam would like to play against us. He will probably have a hostile reception from our fans."
Derby also have former Barnsley captain Jason Shackell but he is yet to play in the league this season and is recovering from injury. The Rams are currently sixth, in the lowest play-off place, with 35 points from 20 matches which puts them 15 points and 13 places clear of Barnsley.
County are one of the form teams in the Championship, only losing two of their last 13 matches and having won seven of their last ten. They were beaten 1-0 at home to Ipswich Town last week but bounced back on Saturday with a 1-0 home win over Burton Albion.Rowett's team have the fourth best defensive record in the division with just 21 goals conceded. Their away record is also the fourth best as they are unbeaten in six on the road since September, with three wins and three draws.
Heckingbottom said: "They are a good team with good players and a good squad. Gary is getting over how he wants them to play. They can counter-attack at pace and that will be a big threat. We know the importance of a win in this game and the benefits it would bring for the players, fans, everyone."
Barnsley have already beaten Derby at Oakwell this season in a Carabao Cup tie in September, for which Winnall was cup-tied. The match finished 3-2 after the Rams led twice but Adam Jackson and Tom Bradshaw equalised before Adam Hammill scored an 88th-minute winner. Derby also lost at Oakwell last season in the league, with an own goal and Alfie Mawson's strike securing a 2-0 win.County have only won two of their last 12 games at Oakwell, losing seven.
Barnsley captain Angus MacDonald is likely to miss out due to a virus while Lloyd Isgrove is back running following his knee injury and, although he is not in contention for Derby, he could return to action before Christmas.
