Fresh incentive: Derby encounter with Leeds United can lift Barnsley after FA Cup exit

PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM insists tired legs will not be a problem for Barnsley in Saturday's derby encounter with Leeds United despite two hours of draining FA Cup football in midweek.
Action from Barnsley's defeat to Blackpool on Tuesday night (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)Action from Barnsley's defeat to Blackpool on Tuesday night (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)
Action from Barnsley's defeat to Blackpool on Tuesday night (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)

The Reds were knocked out in the third round by League Two Blackpool, Bright Osayi-Samuel curling in an exquisite winner in the very last minute of extra-time.

In a keenly-fought contest that saw both sides enjoy spells in the ascendancy, the pace was frantic at times and the fear is this could have repercussions for Barnsley, who lost central defender Marc Roberts to injury, in the tea-time Oakwell meeting with in-form Leeds.

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“That game (against Leeds) will take care of itself in terms of energy and atmosphere,” said the 39-year-old about a derby that will be shown live by Sky Sports.

BOUNCING BACK: Barnsley mananger Paul Heckingbottom. Picture: Bruce RollinsonBOUNCING BACK: Barnsley mananger Paul Heckingbottom. Picture: Bruce Rollinson
BOUNCING BACK: Barnsley mananger Paul Heckingbottom. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

“We might have to consider things with regards the starting players and the subs that we make because we want to finish the game just as strong as we start.

“But the adrenalin and atmosphere for Saturday’s game and the live cameras will make sure everyone is right.”

Roberts limped out of the 2-1 loss to Blackpool on Tuesday night after suffering a hip injury when making a clearance.

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Heckingbottom insists the withdrawal of the former FC Halifax Town defender was merely a precaution but, with Angus MacDonald also limping slightly at the final whistle, the Reds chief will have to closely monitor his two defenders during the build-up to the match.

BOUNCING BACK: Barnsley mananger Paul Heckingbottom. Picture: Bruce RollinsonBOUNCING BACK: Barnsley mananger Paul Heckingbottom. Picture: Bruce Rollinson
BOUNCING BACK: Barnsley mananger Paul Heckingbottom. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

“We have no bodies so have to look after people,” he added.

“We have Adam Jackson, who has done great for us but I would rather have three fit centre-halves.

“It is hard to get people in so, when carrying only three centre-halves, it is imperative we keep them fit.”

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The transfer window is proving a testing time for Heckingbottom. Last week, top scorer Sam Winnall joined Sheffield Wednesday in a £500,000 deal and was followed out the door by chief executive Linton Brown.

For the Reds manager, the latter’s departure meant his workload suddenly increased in terms of fielding calls from agents and trying to strike deals to bolster the Oakwell squad.

Since then, this has been alleviated somewhat by chairman Maurice Watkins and others at the club but Heckingbottom still suffered a blow on Tuesday when former loanee Sam Morsy snubbed a return to the club to sign a new contract at Wigan Athletic, despite them being next-to-bottom of the table.

“We are already without three of the boys who were in the team who got us up to eighth,” said the Barnsley manager, whose star player Conor Hourihane continues to be chased by several clubs.

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“Yids (Andy Yiadom) is away (at the Africa Cup of Nations) and was on the bench for Ghana, and there is Sam Winnall and Sam Morsy.

“The team has changed already, without a doubt. But we can’t do anything about that. We have to be as strong as we possibly can for the rest of the season.

“There has been lots of speculation about lots of players. It changes hourly. That is how much speculation there is.”

The loss of Winnall to Sheffield Wednesday and Morsy’s decision to stay at Wigan Athletic means Barnsley need to strengthen during the window.

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It is not, though, proving easy – not least because of the disruption at the club last week that left Heckingbottom having to deal direct with the agents rather than leave things to the chief executive.

“It is something I don’t want to be doing because it is non-stop,” he admitted. “I now have help with Maurice and others. I can dump a lot of the workload on them.

“But we have to get this right. There is less than two weeks of the window left now. While we want it to close for lots of reasons, we also need it to be open for lots of reasons. That is what makes it so frantic.

“We are a club where all hands are on deck. We don’t have loads of staff so you have to knuckle down and work.”

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As for the Cup exit to League Two Blackpool, Heckingbottom admitted missing out on an extended run is a blow – not least because of the enjoyment Barnsley had en route to lifting the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy last season.

“From a personal point of view, I am no different to anyone else in that I would love to have a Cup run,” added the Barnsley chief, whose side will now travel to bottom club Rotherham United on January 28 as Blackpool head to Blackburn Rovers in the Cup fourth round.

“We saw what it did for us last year, albeit in a different competition. I am gutted we can’t have a Cup run. We did have opportunities but we still didn’t do enough to win it.

“You have to credit Blackpool, they made it really difficult for us. But it is gone now and we focus on two Yorkshire derbies coming up.”