The Tykes moved four points clear of the Championship relegation zone thanks to victory at Preston North End but Davey is taking nothing for granted.

With four games still to play, starting tomorrow night against Hull City at Oakwell, Davey has stressed that his beaten FA Cup semi-finalists still have work to do.

The Tykes have shaken off the disappointment of defeat to Cardiff City at Wembley by recording back-to-back away victories at Watford and now Preston.

But on the back of a hectic schedule, the Barnsley manager is growing concerned about the effects of fatigue as the season enters its final chapter.

"We have just had three very tough games in the space of a week," he said. "The players have dug in and come out with two great results but we are still not there yet and we still have a lot of work to do.

"We have a lot of fatigue in the group and we are trying to keep them as fresh as we can."

Winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce needed pain-killing injections to get through the game at Deepdale and striker Daniel Nardiello was not risked despite shaking off a hamstring injury.

But, encouragingly for Davey, both winger Martin Devaney and midfielder Brian Howard are likely to return from injury tomorrow which will allow other players to be rested.

Davey has always maintained that the League was more important than the FA Cup but, until last weekend, had not admitted that the latter was proving a distraction.

He now says that his only target for safety is maximum points from the remaining four games against Hull, Leicester City, Charlton Athletic and Cardiff.

"After the semi-final, we knew we had six games left and we knew they were six Cup finals," he said.

"We have played two and won two – now we want to go and play six and win six.

"That's the aim. Wherever that takes us, who knows. We are not going to look at the league table yet because it means nothing now. Come May 6, that's when it is important. The FA Cup has been a distraction. We had a fantastic run, a great journey for everyone that we wouldn't take away, but, without the four wins we had in the Cup, we would probably have picked points up in the League and been a little bit more comfortable than we are now.

"We found ourselves going to an FA Cup semi-final and dropping into the bottom three, which was hard to take.

"But the players have bounced back from the disappointment of Wembley and have been fantastic."

Saturday's victory was even more sweeter for Davey as he had spent 11 seasons at Preston as player and coach. "It's always nice to come back to a former club and win," said Davey, who moved to Oakwell as Academy coach after being released by Preston two years ago.

"The fans gave me a great reception but the most important thing was coming back and winning."

Former Preston striker Jon Macken scored the winner from the penalty spot after Diego Leon put Barnsley ahead with his first goal for the club.

Although stand-in captain Stephen Foster headed into his own net to offer Preston a lifeline, the Tykes held on.

"I would have taken these last two League wins over a victory in the FA Cup semi-final," said Davey.

"Our priority has always been the League. We need to stay in the Championship.

"Three points are always a massive boost on the road and it has taken until now to get our away form back to where it should be."

Winger Rohan Ricketts, meanwhile, has moved to the USA to sign for Toronto after reaching a settlement on his deal at Oakwell.