Conor Hourihane has not given up on his dream of playing in the Championship with Barnsley despite their current league position.
The midfielder's superb 95th-minute equaliser against Sheffield United on Saturday made it three goals in as many matches and six for the season, along with eight assists.
Head coach Lee Johnson has previously said the Reds will 'do well to keep hold of' Hourihane – whose contract expires in summer 2017 – but, with the January transfer window approaching, the Irishman insists his future is helping Barnsley move up from last place.
"I still believe I can play in the Championship with Barnsley," Hourihane, 24, told the Chronicle.
"The club should not be where it is but that's the reality so we have to fight together to push as high as we can. It's not like we have been getting beaten three or four nil. It has just been by the odd goal. Maybe the Sheffield United match will be a big turning point for us. A couple of weeks ago we wouldn't have got that goal. We have tough games in December so we have to push on."
Hourihane's dramatic 20-yard stunner followed his penalty miss earlier in the match and he admits that a defeat would have hit him hard individually. He said: "It was an emotional day to say the least. It was a rollercoaster ride. Missing the penalty was very disappointing at the time. You try to put it to the back of your mind but it's hard to do that because it plays on your mind.
But God was looking down on me and let me redeem myself a bit when the ball just fell nicely for me and I was delighted that it went in. It would have been very tough to take for myself personally if we had lost against our local rivals Sheffield United with me missing a penalty. I restored a bit of pride for myself and it was pure relief when it went in. "It was a good point for us against a really good team."
Hourihane usually puts his penalties to the goalkeeper's left – like against Peterborough four days earlier – but this time he went the other way only to see the spot-kick turned behind by Blades stopper George Long.
"Me and the 'keeper were playing a bit of cat and mouse with each other. Our goalkeeper coach (John Vaughan) told me that, when we got the penalty, their goalkeeper coach was getting out the information about where I usually put them. They had obviously done their homework. I thought he might go the way I always go so I went the other way, he did me and it was a good save."
