Barnsley v Oldham: Reds' Wembley win now followed by six '˜cup finals'

But the pressing question for Barnsley supporters is this: can the Reds’ class of 2015-16 follow in their footsteps and turn a memorable season into a truly astounding one?

All of the aforementioned teams have followed up glory in the Football League Trophy, in its various guises, by clinching promotion at the end of the season.

This is the challenge in which Paul Heckingbottom’s Barnsley are now immersed with the Wembley hullabaloo having finally died down following a week in which his side were feted by the great and the good of the South Yorkshire town.

The Oakwell outfit negotiated seven matches en route to lifting the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in front of 24,000 fans at the home of football.

They now effectively face six cup finals to extend their season and hopefully secure play-off participation on the 10th anniversary of their promotion from the third tier by that route in 2005-06.

Heckingbottom, a member of Andy Ritchie’s line-up in that standout campaign, acknowledges that the seventh-placed Reds have little margin for error ahead of tonight’s Roses game with struggling visitors Oldham Athletic after an unfortunate weekend home loss to Chesterfield.

That 2-1 defeat left Barnsley trailing sixth-placed Walsall by six points with six games to go, although something must give tonight. The Saddlers welcome the side just above them on goal difference in Gillingham, with at least one team guaranteed to drop points.

Heckingbottom knows only too well that Barnsley dare not pass up an opportunity to make inroads this evening .

His side displayed a joie de vivre and plenty of expression on their way to JPT cup glory, and he wants his side to follow that template in the final month of the season albeit with some renewed defensive due diligence that was missing in the concession of two costly weekend goals.

Caretaker head coach Heckingbottom, who could elect to freshen up his side with the likes of Harry Chapman, Marley Watkins and Ivan Toney set to be in the starting equation, said: “We have got to almost win every game now and have got to go for it.

“Let’s enjoy doing that and playing with tempo and a bit of freedom and creating chances.

“It is far from over, we know that, and the performance on Saturday was pleasing in terms of the energy, work-rate and desire to score goals, which is us, and the fans appreciate that.

“We know it is hard to play that way, but want to play that way. But it suits our position in the league in that we now have to go for it. You have got to go out and enjoy it and go out and give everything because we are getting to that point where it literally is last chance.

“When you have been chasing, and we have been all season, you have that freedom and nothing-to-lose mentality. You just have to go out and do it.

“From where we were and what we have done, we have achieved big things and can’t fail. We have just got to Wembley and won a trophy. It is about keeping that sub-conscious energy to keep driving forward and the pleasing thing was that we had that on Saturday.”

The downside of Saturday was the result, which provided a touch of reality to a hitherto dream week that started with the Reds’ colossal highs at Wembley – the precursor to a long night of justifiable celebrations.

The backslapping and bonhomie continued on Thursday when Reds players and staff were honoured at a civic reception at Barnsley Town Hall, when thousands of fans turned up to herald their heroes.

While Heckingbottom admitted that the timing was not ideal, with it being so close to Saturday’s game, he would dearly love another celebratory encore – albeit a more conventionally timed one – at the end of May to toast promotion.

Heckingbottom, who you sense is inwardly pleased to get back to something resembling normality this week, added: “For me, personally, it dragged on. I wanted it done and dusted and out of the way.

“But it is difficult; we did the things at the town hall and the town wanted to say thanks and it is brilliant for the players.

“It shows the appreciation of what they have done, which is a big deal.

“Likewise, the players can thank the fans for turning out as everyone was over the moon.

“Usually when you win trophies and promotions, it is at the end of the season and all things like that are fantastic. But the timing of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy is different.”

Last six games: Barnsley LWDWWL, Oldham WLDWWW.

Referee: S Hooper (Wiltshire).

Last time: Barnsley 1 Oldham 0; February 3, 2015; League One.