Barnsley keep their focus as they aim to measure up for play-offs

BARNSLEY players and staff may have got suited and booted for Wembley this week, but it is how the Reds measure up in a keynote Easter programme which is preoccupying the thoughts of Paul Heckingbottom.
WEMBLEY-BOUND: Barnsleys Adam Hammill and Adam Davies with Jackson Schofield and the JP Trophy ahead of the final. Picture: Scott MerryleesWEMBLEY-BOUND: Barnsleys Adam Hammill and Adam Davies with Jackson Schofield and the JP Trophy ahead of the final. Picture: Scott Merrylees
WEMBLEY-BOUND: Barnsleys Adam Hammill and Adam Davies with Jackson Schofield and the JP Trophy ahead of the final. Picture: Scott Merrylees

The Oakwell outfit may just be 10 days away from a final at the home of football against Oxford United in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy showpiece on April 3, but the club’s on-pitch itinerary before then is not exactly a distraction.

Far from it, with Barnsley fighting on two fronts in a run-in which promises to be every bit as enthralling and climactic as the ‘Great Escape’ season of 2012-13 and the League One promotion campaign of a decade ago.

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Some Wembley hype and hullabaloo may have arrived this week, but it has swiftly been compartmentalised and filed, with other pressing matters being attended to.

WEMBLEY-BOUND: Barnsleys Adam Hammill and Adam Davies with Jackson Schofield and the JP Trophy ahead of the final. Picture: Scott MerryleesWEMBLEY-BOUND: Barnsleys Adam Hammill and Adam Davies with Jackson Schofield and the JP Trophy ahead of the final. Picture: Scott Merrylees
WEMBLEY-BOUND: Barnsleys Adam Hammill and Adam Davies with Jackson Schofield and the JP Trophy ahead of the final. Picture: Scott Merrylees

Caretaker head coach Heckingbottom has made sure of that ahead of big Easter assignments against Scunthorpe United and Port Vale as the Reds aim to consolidate their play-off spot.

It is a place remarkably achieved thanks to a spectacular New Year renaissance which is shaping up to be one of the Football League stories of the season.

The words ‘promotion’ and the ‘Wembley’ both have their place for Barnsley, but in their own time and order, according to Heckingbottom.

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While feted Premier League managers such as Arsene Wenger and Manuel Pellegrini may anxiously wrestle with the problem of keeping well-heeled sides in contention on dual fronts at the business end of seasons, Heckingbottom insists that it is not a problem in his world.

WEMBLEY-BOUND: Barnsleys Adam Hammill and Adam Davies with Jackson Schofield and the JP Trophy ahead of the final. Picture: Scott MerryleesWEMBLEY-BOUND: Barnsleys Adam Hammill and Adam Davies with Jackson Schofield and the JP Trophy ahead of the final. Picture: Scott Merrylees
WEMBLEY-BOUND: Barnsleys Adam Hammill and Adam Davies with Jackson Schofield and the JP Trophy ahead of the final. Picture: Scott Merrylees

He said: “You can’t ban it (the Wembley word), but you can put it in its place.

“This week has been all JPT stuff, we have had players on school visits and we have had suits measured up and we have been booking hotel rooms.

“We have been planning the weekend because it is a different weekend.

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“But this weekend, we have got two more important games before it. Come Port Vale, we hopefully finish with three points and, hopefully, the mind can turn and build towards what is a special occasion because we are not denying that.

“Credit to everyone so far, because being in the final has not affected our performances or focus.

“You see such things happen all the time with big clubs in Europe and clubs who have FA Cup runs and a big draw in one of the cup competitions.

“We have dealt with things in the right manner. If we had let things drag on in terms of an itinerary and suits and what we are doing and when, it could have been a problem and distraction.

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“But we have dealt with them quickly and sharply and all in one go and put them to one side.

“The players can’t wait for Wembley, but they have other things that they are chasing for themselves and the club.”

The Reds certainly will not be short of inspiration this weekend ahead of their Easter schedule, mindful of how back-to-back holiday losses to Sheffield United and Colchester United last season firmly nailed any outside hopes of a top-six tilt.

This time around, Barnsley look like the real deal and it will be more of a disappointment if they do not stick around, given their huge momentum shift in the second half of 2015-16. Events last season were more of a bonus with the club as low as 19th place in mid-February 2015.

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The Reds’ cause has not been helped this weekend with Ashley Fletcher, Lloyd Isgrove and Callum Connolly all missing on international duty and Marley Watkins and James Bree also sidelined.

Normally, clubs can call off games if three players are called up for internationals, but because Fletcher and Connolly are under 21, Barnsley cannot invoke the rule.

While believing that an amendment in those rules would help many lower-league clubs, Heckingbottom is keeping focused and has called on those who get their chance in the trio’s absence to grasp it with both hands.

He added: “The players know the score and they are playing for places, not only Wembley, but chasing a play-off spot as well.

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“You don’t need to build this weekend up because it is massive and I always liked Easter weekend. It has got a different feel and you know it’s the business end of the season and you have got a run-in.

“Fortunately, for us, we are involved in a lot of big games in this run-in and we don’t need to dress it up with two massive games and a great occasion at Wembley the week after.

“Last year, we had that run of six wins and then two draws. Draws don’t really get you anywhere and we never really got back in the chase and lost both games at Easter.

“But we are well and truly in it now and because there’s that many teams involved and playing each other, I really think that we will be involved all the way to the end.”