New attacking options delight roaming Barnsley hero Alex Mowatt

Mowatt dare not let his ‘gaffer’ down and did not – calmly rounding goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski to make it 2-0 to the hosts.

Given what happened immediately afterwards, with former Reds loanee Adam Armstrong pulling a goal back in the third minute of stoppage-time at Oakwell, it was just as well that Mowatt did not.

Speaking after the victory, a contented Mowatt was full of smiles. He is the embodiment of a player at the top of his game who is happy in his work and has full confidence in his manager.

Not that you can rest when Ismael is around. His thirst for high standards is unshakeable.

On his strike, Mowatt – given more licence to roam under the Reds head coach – said: “The gaffer was going mad with the chance I missed before. But Carlton (Morris) said that it was a bad ‘set’, so I am blaming that!

“I could see him (Ismael) going mental on the sidelines and when I was running through, I was thinking about chipping it, but I thought: ‘If I miss this, he is going to go mad!’ So I took it around the keeper and I am glad I scored in the end.

“The manager came in afterwards and it was all about the next game and saying that we need to recover and be on it on Saturday. The standards he sets even after a win means he quickly shows us what we can improve on. It is shown in his clips and his standards are really high and that helps everyone.”

Ismael’s meticulous and relentless focus on the finer details and avoiding errors is an attitude of mind which is also rubbing off on his players, who are also starting to police themselves in that regard.

It is why Ismael probably did not have to say too much in the dressing room after Barnsley erred with their late concession on Wednesday. It proves his charges are learning.

Mowatt acknowledged: “To be fair, we were all moaning as it should not have happened.

“We should have kept it in the corner really and seen the game out, instead of making it nervy in the last minute. But we won the game and that is all that matters.”

For the second game running, Morris underlined just why Barnsley were so keen to sign him at the start of the winter window in January.

Two clinical goals have got him off and running in the scoring stakes, but his link-up work and ability to unsettle defenders has been just as pivotal.

The team play of Daryl Dike, another starting out at the club, has been no less important either with variety being the spice of life for Barnsley in terms of their forward options.

It is something which should serve them well amid a glut of demanding three-game weeks.

“I thought Carlton was excellent when he came on and every time he got the ball, things happened and he was driving at defenders,” observed Mowatt.

“He was very good and Dee-Kay (Dike) won headers and was strong. The bench did really well.

“Carlton was our best player when he came on. I am buzzing for him with his two goals.

“We have got lots of different styles up top. Strong, powerful players and then people who can work hard, get in pockets and run in behind. We have all sorts.

“The gaffer changed two of the front three at Brentford and he did that again (against Blackburn) and it showed that everyone can come in and do a good job.”

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