Barnsley FC – 3 reasons to be cheerful

After Barnsley`s 3-1 away win at Port Vale on Tuesday night, which was the reds 10th victory on the road this season, we look at a few positives coming out of Michael Duff`s side at the moment.

ONE - Midfield duo of Connell & Kane

Luca Connell is rightly being lauded as one of the best pieces of transfer business the club has done in recent times. Signed on a free after not making the grade in Scotland, the 21 year old has settled into life at Barnsley and runs the engine room of Michael Duff`s side.

Chipping in with goals and assists as well as breaking up play and orchestrating the offensive side of the reds game, Connell has it all. He is looking a fantastic piece of business, signing on a free last summer.

Herbie Kane has had his detractors since signing for the reds for a reported £1m. A successful loan at Oxford last season in League One had Reds fans wondering if he could copy that good form in the red of Barnsley?

Although Kane has been a slow burner this season, seeing flashes of performances in between poorer ones, since November the midfielder has been putting in regular 7-8/10 performances meaning he and Connell are first names on the team sheet every week.

TWO - Good recovery after a poor start to 2023

It was always the case there would be “bumps in the road” throughout Michael Duff`s first season but how the reds bounce back after those bumps was key. After a bad start to this year, losing heavily to Bolton, Derby (FA Cup) and at Charlton all without scoring a goal, Barnsley have returned to form going unbeaten in the last 5 games.

In that run has seen the reds collect 7 points out of a possible 9 at tough away games where they have a poor record over the years. Oxford, Portsmouth and Port Vale have been negotiated on the road without defeat. Whilst there are some tougher tests coming up over the next few weeks, you cannot take it away from Duff and the players for digging deep and getting out of that hole they found themselves in early January.

THREE - Squad depth and improving options

With the additions of Bobby Thomas, Oli Shaw, Max Watters, Barry Cotter, Jon Russell and Harry Isted along with the return of Slobodan Tedic, Michael Duff is starting to have a better depth of squad to use in games. Once Shaw, Watters, Russell, Tedic and Luke Thomas who isn’t far off a return all get up to full match fitness, Duff will have a strong squad to call upon in the final run in.

With games in hand, the reds will likely have to play every 3-4 days to catch up so the squad will be used to full effect. Looking at the team sheet against Port Vale, not only the starting 11 but the bench is looking stronger than ever this season.

Michael Duff will have plenty of options in several key areas which will be vital to maintain a run at a playoff spot.