Barnsley planning to push on with survival

Not only did the midfielder’s first goal for the club end a horrific run of six defeats in seven games but it also all-but banished the chances of being dragged into a relegation scrap.

The victory was enough to nudge Barnsley 11 points clear of danger with seven games to go and has meant supporters have been able to banish any frowns thanks to the threat of dropping into League One having receded.

For the players, however, there will be no relaxing just yet in what has been a season of transition at Oakwell.

Andy Gray said: “I think we are comfortable but we want to get as many points as we can.

“The turnaround we have had in players has been unbelievable this season. We have got a whole new team. It is always going to take time.

“You only have to look at the likes of the players we have lost – Jacob Butterfield, Ricardo Vaz Te and Danny Drinkwater, for example. And Jim O’Brien to a certain extent because he has been injured for a while.

“That is the midfield that have created and scored so many goals.”

Nathan Doyle will also be missing today at Portman Road as Barnsley look to build on the morale-boosting victory over Peterborough by becoming the first away team to beat Paul Jewell’s side at Ipswich since January.

The one-time Bradford City and Hull City utility player was sent off against Posh so must miss not only the Ipswich game but also the Easter meetings with West Ham United and Blackpool.

As a result, Keith Hill will be forced into a reshuffle at Portman Road as he continues to battle against a lengthy injury list that includes David Perkins, Bobby Hassell, Rob Edwards, goalkeeper Luke Steele and winger Jim O’Brien.

Meanwhile, the Barnsley manager has confirmed the south Yorkshire club do not plan to offer David Preece a new contract once his current deal expires in the summer.

Former Sunderland and Darlington goalkeeper Preece signed a new one-year deal at Oakwell after Hill took charge.