Daniel Stendel was delighted that Barnsley won 3-1 at Fleetwood Town on Saturday for Stephen Croft.
The Reds volunteer is in hospital after suffering a heart attack a week earlier before the game against Burton Albion which was called off. The players held up a shirt with his name on it after the game.
Head coach Stendel said: “We spoke this week about Steve and we said that, when we win this game, we want to give him a gift of three points. We hope that he can soon leave the hospital.”
Barnsley went 1-0 down after 19 minutes but led 2-1 at half-time before adding a late third. Stendel said: “It was very important to win. We turned the match after being behind. Fleetwood were very aggressive from the first minute, as we knew they would be. We knew we would have more quality and power to win the game and we showed that.
“In the second half, we played not so good and but we worked hard and we closed the game with a good performance by the defence."
The equaliser was Jacob Brown’s first career goal after the 20-year-old missed three good chances in the previous game at Coventry City. Stendel said: “I am very happy that Jacob scored. He was very disappointed after Coventry. But this is a young player and we give him a chance to play in the next game.”
Mamadou Thiam scored the last goal, after being set up by fellow substitute Victor Adeboyejo. Stendel said: “I am satisfied that we have a good squad with not just 11 players who can win the game but 25 players.”
There was a confrontation between the two benches after Joey Barton’s Fleetwood did not give Barnsley the ball back when the Reds kicked it out for an injury.
Stendel said: “Kenny Dougall played the ball out because Dani (Pinillos) had an injury and it’s normal that they should give us the ball back. I don’t know what Fleetwood thought but I think it was not fair play. But it’s only a game and after the game it was over.”
Stendel praised the Reds supporters, saying: “The fans were unbelievable. From the first away games, they have been unbelievable and I am happy that we have such great fans.”
