Barnsley v York City: Lee Johnson strives to end Tykes’ losing mentality

Johnson has presided over Barnsley’s worst run of results in 56 years, with the Reds having lost their last six games in all competitions ahead of tonight’s JPT quarter-final with York City.

The losing mentality is also sadly prevalent among several other Reds age-group sides, but Johnson insists he is very much a fighter and not a quitter despite comfortably the worst run and darkest period as a manager.

Johnson, who has brought in former Reds and Huddersfield Town winger Adam Hammill on a short-term deal and also signed young Newcastle forward Ivan Toney on a month’s loan in a bid to stop the rot, said: “I understand people want me gone. If I do stay – and I want to and believe I will – I know what we require.

“I’ll never stop fighting. I’ll keep going. Call it small man syndrome. I’ve got a genuine belief we can get out of it.

“I have to take full responsibility and I do. It’s my place to make changes, whether that be changing personnel or rallying the troops.

“The whole club has to assess the way to move forward because there’s too many losing mentality characters around the place.

“The Under-18s rarely get a win, the Under-21s haven’t got enough wins and we haven’t got enough wins. Something has to have a clean sweep of the mindset and change.”

The Reds are waiting on news of Josh Scowen, who underwent a scan yesterday after going off with a knee injury in Saturday’s FA Cup exit at Altrincham.

While Barnsley head into the game somewhat flat and subdued, the mood among supporters of tonight’s opponents is also somewhat muted after a FA Cup exit at Accrington.

The loss was York’s third on the trot and extended their winless sequence to six matches, with recently-appointed manager Jackie MacNamara acknowledging the need to provide fans with a fillip after their backing went unrewarded at the weekend.

And after Altrincham’s cup win over Barnsley at the weekend, the Scot is also chasing a cup upset on the Reds’ own patch at Oakwell

He said: “Hopefully we can go there and play with a bit of freedom. The supporters were fantastic at the weekend, they really helped the lads.

“It must be frustrating for them watching this unfold. We need to get back to doing things properly for them.

“It’s a cup game, and they are naturally favourites being above us in the leagues.

“But we can go there and cause an upset. A win would be massive for us.”

York forward Michael Coulson is doubt for tonight’s game against his former club, while fellow forward Rhys Turner is cup-tied. On loan Middlesbrough midfielder Bryn Morris is away on international duty but James Berrett returns from a one-game suspension for York.