Daniel Stendel was pleased with Barnsley’s second half performance as they cruised to a 4-1 win at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday. 

The Reds took the lead but the hosts levelled and missed a glorious chance to go 2-1 up, then conceded three goals after the break. 

Stendel said: “I said to the squad at half-time that this was a test for us. When we went 1-0 in front we were a little bit lazy and gave the ball away too easily. Wimbledon were better than us at that point, made it 1-1 and had a chance to take the lead so we had a bit of luck. We needed a reaction in the second half but we scored early and then we had more control and played more like a team at the top of the table.” 

Cauley Woodrow opened the scoring but came off injured late in the first half. Stendel said: “He had an impact to his calf. He tried to play but, after five minutes, he said he could not sprint. Cauley came out then we put Kenny (Dougall) on and and we had more control.”

Stendel thanked the 740 Reds fans who crammed into the stand behind the dugouts. He said: “The fans were very loud in a small stadium. I could only hear our fans. We have such brilliant supporters and I am happy that they follow us away.” 

Cameron McGeehan, who got the final goal, said: “Wimbledon is a tough place to go. I have struggled there before with Luton and Scunthorpe. The crowd are right on top of you and you can hear every word that the spectators say. But we had great away support after a long trip.

“We bossed the first 20 minutes but we took our foot off the gas and they came back into it which you’d expect from the home team.  The gaffer said his thing at half-time, got us going again and we went out with renewed energy, pressed them hard and didn’t give them a sniff. It’s a great result for us but it’s just three points and we have to keep plugging away.”