Daniel Stendel is thrilled with a third successive victory to end 2018 after his Barnsley team beat Charlton Athletic 2-1 at Oakwell on Saturday.
The Reds raced into a 2-0 lead after 14 minutes and could have scored more with Charlton's only shot being their late consolation goal.
Stendel said: “I am very happy. It is not too easy to play a short time after our last game. It was a good performance. We had the feeling of being in control of the game all of the time. I was very calm on the side because I was very happy with what my team was doing.
“In the end it was hard work and a fight against a good team have played very well in the last weeks. Charlton didn’t have really big chances but, after 2-1, it was very close. They played a lot of long ball and it was not easy to defend but we did it. We deserved to win and we were the better team. It is good to win the last three games of the year and we go with a lot of confidence into 2019."
Scorers Brad Potts and Mamadou Thiam both got their first goals since the win over Luton Town on October 13. Potts finished off an outstanding team move in the fourth minute then Thiam found the top corner in the 14th.
Stendel said: “Both goals were from very good moves. Potts and Mama have needed to be more ruthless in front of goal and I am glad that they both scored. Pottsy’s goal was a very good team goal and Mama’s strike a fantastic rocket, I was right behind it and it was a brilliant goal.”
Potts said: “We knew it was a big game for us and for our season, with Charlton being in and around us. But it was a really good performance and the lads are really happy. I just remember Mama laying me off and I was happy with the connection I got then it flew in.”
Mike Bahre missed several chances to add to the lead at 2-0 including a one-on-one, but Stendel was pleased with his fellow German’s performance.
“It was not easy to score when he went through on goal. I am happy that he played three games in a week which is a new experience for him over Christmas. It was the first time I substituted him and I had the impression that the crowd was not happy that he was coming off.”
Stendel is hopeful that Dani Pinillos can play on Tuesday at Luton Town despite hobbling off having been fouled by Chris Solly who was sent off in injury-time. The Reds boss was without top-scorer Kieffer Moore who has been ill and now has a back problem.
“Kieffer has been sick since Boxing Day morning. On Friday, we tested him in training and he stopped training because he had pain in his back. He saw a chiropractor today and maybe he can play at Luton but we don’t want to take a risk because we will need him in the rest of the season.”
