Valerian Ismael lauds ‘aggressive’ Barnsley FC for ‘perfect afternoon’ at Derby County

Valerien Ismael hailed a “perfect afternoon” as Barnsley made it three wins out of four to climb to 16th in the table.

The result dumps Derby to the foot of the Championship, but that is not a concern for the Reds who have responded positively to the new man in charge.

Derby’s plight was summed up by a mistake from goalkeeper David Marshall which gifted Conor Chaplin Barnsley’s opener.

The Reds could have scored more goals before a fine finish by Victor Adeboyejo seven minutes from time maintained Barnsley’s upward trajectory.

Ismael, who only succeeded Gerhard Struber last month, said: “It was a big win for us, first of all for the attitude, the performance from the team.

“We wanted to be aggressive and have high intensity in the game.

“I told the guys before the game, ‘force mistakes, punish mistakes’, and it was a perfect game plan for us that’s why I’m very happy about the result, the performance and I’m told the first win since 2009 against Derby – that’s why it was the perfect afternoon.

“We knew Derby with their confidence was very, very down and in such a situation you have to be ready to force the mistake.

“There is a long way to go, we have to work hard, we don’t have the big roster like Derby or Cardiff, we know what we have to do to get the points all the time.

“We work hard together and now this gives us confidence and more belief in our principle to transfer to the team and the team transfers this on the pitch.”

Luke Walton rescued Barnsley twice in the space of a minute when he kept out a fierce drive from Tom Lawrence following Nathan Byrne’s run in the 21st minute before beating away another effort from the Wales international.

Derby were building momentum until Marshall’s attempted clearance went straight to Chaplin, whose drive beat the goalkeepe Callum Styles and Chaplin both wasted opportunities before the visitors finally put the game to bed, breaking quickly with Adeboyejo advancing to the edge of the box before curling a low shot past Marshall.

Derby first-team coach Liam Rosenior said: “We all need to take responsibility.”

Derby: Marshall, Bielik, Davies, Clarke (Jozwiak 46), Byrne, Knight, Shinnie (Sibley 58), Buchanan, Waghorn, Rooney, Lawrence (Kazim-Richards 79). Unused substitutes: Wisdom, Bird, Roos, Holmes.

Barnsley: Walton, Sollbauer, Helik, Andersen, Brittain, Mowatt, James (Kane 60), Styles, Chaplin, Frieser (Adeboyejo 77),mWoodrow (Halme 90). Unused substitutes: Thomas, Oduor, Simoes, Collins.

Referee: Leigh Doughty (Lancashire).

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