Barnsley v Crystal Palace: Davies is proving a diamond buy for Reds chief

The 25-year-old stepped up two leagues in the summer when he joined the Reds from Chesterfield and has since hit the goal trial.

Davies’s winner at Peterborough United last weekend was his sixth in as many games, a return that has more than justified the £750,000 fee Hill paid the Spireites for a striker who had shot the club to the League Two title.

Hill, who before moving to Oakwell spent four years in charge of Rochdale, said: “No other Championship manager tried to recruit him. I would not say it was a gamble – if we had a roulette table then Craig Davies is red all day long.

“Craig deserves his opportunity and what a player he can be at this level. There are a lot of rough diamonds down in the lower reaches of football but they are not given an opportunity because of the fear factor in football.

“I am happy he is performing and scoring goals. But let’s not put too much pressure on him.”

Davies’s scoring run has helped Barnsley up to 13th in the Championship, their best position of the season. Victory tonight at home to Crystal Palace would nudge the Reds even higher and into the top 10.

Hill, however, insists his side will have to learn the lessons of last weekend when Barnsley let a three-goal lead slip at Peterborough before scoring a late winner through Davies.

He said: “The Peterborough game showed how scoring a goal can change the course of a game. We had a worthy three-goal cushion but made a mistake and let them back in.

“In the end, we had Luke Steele to thank for winning the game. We have to learn our lessons. We have to secure the centre of the pitch.

“We became too expansive and didn’t defend properly as a team. You just can’t do that. It is not like a team of mine to perform like that defensively. But we will learn from that.

“We play against Crystal Palace in what is effectively a free game due to the other teams not playing.”

Tonight’s game was originally due to take place last Tuesday but was postponed so Palace could take on Manchester United in the Carling Cup quarter-final.

Dougie Freedman’s side beat the Premier League champions 2-1 but were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Derby County just 48 hours later.

Last six games: Barnsley LWLWWW, Crystal Palace DLLDWD.

Referee: Tony Bates (Staffordshire).

Last time: Barnsley 1 Crystal Palace 0; August 14, 2011; Championship.