Gerhard Struber is even more convinced that Barnsley can move up the Championship table after his side salvaged a draw with leaders West Bromwich Albion yesterday.
Aapo Halme netted a 90th-minute equaliser to cancel out goalkeeper Sami Radlinger’s early error and make sure his side are unbeaten in four. The Reds are now second-bottom in the table, one point off safety, after Stoke City scored two injury-time goals to beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-2.
Struber told the Chronicle: “I 100 per cent believe this is a team that will move up the table. “There is a long way to go, it’s not easy. We need top preparation and top focus. We’re on the limit. When we’re not on the limit, we lose. Every game we must go with every player on the limit.
“When we create this I’m very hopeful. Barnsley is not like a relegation team. “We have much to do in the next time. We have a situation for hard work. We have the right quality, the right character. In the next transfer window we need a little more experience, this is no surprise. The spirit is very good and I hope for the next games also for a performance like this. I think the points are coming.”
Struber was pleased with his side’s performance as they created the majority of the chances against the team who are first in the league. He said: “I think West Brom was expected to be a difficult opponent, the leader in the league and after this game I’m very proud of my team. I think we were the better team, with more chances, the right mentality, the right character and the right matchplan. I’m very happy with the performance, with the attitude after the lead from the opponent.
“We believe in our strengths, our matchplan and I think we had the right discipline in our positioning. We had the right punch and the power to change this result and I think it was a very good game. “My first Boxing Day atmosphere was special. It’s an absolutely new situation for me. We created our matchplan on the morning before the game. The coaches had a meeting from 7.30am, with the team arriving at 9am.”
Radlinger’s fifth-minute clearance was straight to Filip Krovinovic who opened the scoring. Struber said: “He created a good performance but my plan is always to have control, we build up from the goalkeeper. Sometimes mistakes come.”
Halme’s was a second late goal in a week after Patrick Schmidt’s winner at Millwall on Saturday. Struber said: “We’re a young team, a team that never gives up. With this attitude, we can also beat big opponents with our quality. Every player knows what he has to do and we play together. The teamwork today was our big headline.
“It’s always very important for me especially. This discipline and this power to win games is coming back. We’ve changed this mindset with our matchplan and also our attitude.”
Halme added: “It felt great, it was my third goal so I’m getting used to it. “We could’ve won the game, we had the chances and were the better team, the equaliser was important. We played well, and West Brom are top of the table so I think we’re ready to compete at Swansea. I think things are looking better and feel like the dressing room is happier. We have to keep going and continue to believe in ourselves. We have the feeling we can win games. It’s growing more and more into our game. The Millwall game was good for us, it gave us the confidence that we can win away games as well.”
Halme struggled on his debut in a 3-0 loss to Carlisle United in the League Cup in August but since has been one of the Reds’ better players. He has recently moved from centre-back to defensive midfield in a 4-4-2 diamond formation. He said: “I think as you get confidence, and get to know the lads more and know the system, you start to play better. It’s different (playing in midfield), I’ve never played there before. But if that helps the team I will play there. You get pressed more from everywhere, you have to be more focussed with the ball.”
