Barnsley are simply the best, says upbeat Hill

The Barnsley manager delivered an hilarious tongue-in-cheek tirade on the eve of today’s trip to top-of-the-table Southampton.

Hill wants more credit for taking Barnsley 14 points clear of the relegation zone and is unhappy at being portrayed as ‘pessimistic.’

Assessing his side’s prospects against the Saints, Hill said: “They are probably the worst team in the league. We have got miles better players than them and I’m going there expecting for us to win. I’m going there expecting us to beat them 6-0!

“We have got the best goalscorer in the league, by a country mile, in Craig Davies, we have the best defenders, the best goalkeeper, the best two central midfielder players by a country mile and if we don’t win, then I should be sacked. Apparently I am too pessimistic in my interviews about the opposition so I’m expecting to go there and win,” he stressed. “If we don’t win, I expect a call from (general manager) Don Rowing sacking me on Monday morning!”

Asked to comment on Southampton’s strengths, he joked: “I have not done any match reports or analysing, I don’t know who plays for them, I will pick the team 45 minutes before kick-off, I will throw cups of tea all around the room and say ‘Hey lads, hey’, pump my chest a few times, and say ‘Go out there and beat them’.”

Despite his show of feeling, Hill says he has been accepted by 99.9 per cent of Barnsley supporters.

Defender Stephen Foster, meanwhile, wants a new deal at Oakwell.

Foster, who is out of contract in the summer, makes his 200th appearance for the Tykes today.

He is one of several Barnsley players facing uncertain futures including Andy Gray, Nathan Doyle and Jim O’Brien.

“I would love to stay at Barnsley and be part of what the manager is building here,” said Foster. “I feel like I owe the club for putting faith in me and will do whatever I can to stay. I am under no illusions about my talent as a footballer,” he added modestly. “I know I am not the best player around but I have managed to stay consistent over the years and that has kept me in the team even though the manager has changed a couple of times.”