Barnsley 2 Portsmouth 0: Done and dusted as Reds add to Portsmouth plight

He felt his former Rochdale chief would have been justified in axing any of the players following abject performances at Watford and Burnley but was still delighted to have scored at Oakwell for a second successive match.

Done spurted away in the final minute of stoppage time, breaking through the challenge of Hayden Mullins and keeping a cool head to slot the ball past Stephen Henderson.

“The last two performances weren’t acceptable and we knew that. The performances were not good enough from everyone, including myself, so this result was important,” said Done.

Of his goal, he continued: “They were going for it and threw everyone forward. The ball dropped to Wisey (Scott Wiseman) and he’s trying to claim an assist but I don’t think he can have that. He’s just kicked it away and it broke for me and with them going for the game they had no-one back and luckily the ball fell from the tackle for me rather than for him.”

The 23-year-old remains one for the future as Hill works to a strict budget, plucking players from the lower reaches rather than breaking the bank chasing lost causes.

“Matt’s got the ability but he’s learning from the Championship which he has not played in up to this point in his career so I am expecting him to improve. We are nurturing him for next season,” said Hill, fiercely critical of profligate Pompey, who were docked 10 points overnight for entering administration again.

Another player brought to Oakwell from relative obscurity, former Motherwell winger Jim O’Brien, signalled his return to fitness after a couple of months of injury trouble with an outstanding display.

He was the one player to spark Barnsley into action as they struggled to overcome a Portsmouth side beset by injuries and blocked by the league from recruiting, leaving them with just three men on the bench, including goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown.

Frustration was setting in as the Reds failed to break down the visitors, who had been reduced to 10 men in the 40th minute when experienced striker Dave Kitson was sent off after two yellow cards for reckless challenges.

Bolstered by their magnificent fans, however, they had still threatened, largely through Joel Ward, who made some great runs to support striker Marko Futacs.

However, O’Brien deflated Pompey with a great goal in the 76th minute, receiving the ball on the edge of the area, making space with a quick turn and curling it inside Henderson’s left-hand post.

Fellow scorer Done enthused: “Jim has been unlucky with injuries over the last couple of months but you always know what you are going to get from him. He’s honest, works his socks off for himself and the team and really deserved his goal. I’m chuffed for him because it was a great finish.”

His manager added: “Jim O’Brien has been a long time out but he’s an energy bubble and took his goal superbly but I have to be very careful with him as he has played two games in a week. It will be difficult asking for the same energy level from him against Birmingham on Tuesday.”

Hill, who revealed David Perkins will be out for three weeks after twisting a knee, also launched another attack on Portsmouth and the predicament they are in.

Asked if he had any sympathy for them he said: “None whatsoever. Absolutely none because they spent money they can’t afford.

“They recruited players at the beginning of the season knowing full well that they were still in debt from the previous time in administration.

“They have recruited players I could not afford to recruit. They are paying the type of wages that I could only dream about paying so how can I have sympathy for any football club who is competitive against me in a league where I have not got the same rich rewards?

“They are spending money they haven’t got so why should I show any sympathy to them? Michael Appleton, yes, the players, yes and most importantly the supporters but with what they are doing absolutely none whatsoever.”

Portsmouth manager Michael Appleton said he had held talks with adminstrator Trevor Birch, who was at Oakwell, and had been assured that he will try to bring in players if the Football League will sanction attempts to strengthen the squad.

Appleton also confirmed his players had turned up for training to discover the storage company had changed the padlocks on their lockers at the changing grounds due to outstanding debts.

He said: “We have got a very, very small squad, the smallest in the league, and we’ve got a horrendous injury situation which isn’t getting any better.

“It’s difficult to keep the players motivated but at the end of the day we’re footballers and we’re football people.

“I nearly said we get paid to play football, but we’ve not been paid for a while. But they’re football people and they’ve got a sense of pride about them. We want to make sure we’re playing in this division next season.”