Daniel Stendel said the Barnsley players were ‘very sad’ in the dressing room after a 1-0 loss at Wycombe Wanderers.

The Reds head coach was disappointed with his side’s performance at Adams Park in Buckinghamshire on Saturday. 

Stendel said: “There is not really an explanation for this performance. We can play so much better. We were not in the game from the first minute. 

“We knew Wycombe would be strong from long balls and set pieces, but they scored from a set piece. We knew they would stop us getting space but we had the ball always on the halfway line and not enough near their goal. 

“We needed more power and more speed in our attack. We did not have a high enough tempo. We just weren’t at our best level. 

“I will be thinking about this game for the rest of the weekend and so will the players. It is very sad in the dressing room.”

While many stayed to clap the Reds off, some of the 949 Barnsley fans booed the team after the final whistle. Stendel said: “I can understand that 200 per cent. 

“Their mood is very similar to my mood. It is not just that we didn’t play at our best but also that we didn’t have the impression that the players can change the result. That is what is so disappointing.”

Stendel refused to blame tiredness after Wycombe had an 11-day break without a game during which Barnsley played in both the FA Cup on Saturday and Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday.

“It’s not an excuse for us. We want to win this game. My impression was that we were tired but I don’t know why. Most of these players didn’t play on Tuesday. This team was fresh but not one player played at the level he can normally play at.”

Striker Cauley Woodrow came off after 54 minutes. Stendel said: “He was a little bit injured. It is his calf. We will have to see how he is next week. I hope he can play against Portsmouth (on Saturday).”