Birmingham City v Barnsley – Overdue away day joy not far off for Reds, says Valerien Ismael

Results say Barnsley are not very good away from home this season but coach Valerien Ismael believes they can travel to Birmingham City for tonight’s Championship game buoyed by the quality of their performances.
Herbie Kane has been integrated into the Barnsley set-up, giving Valerien Ismael an alternative to Matty James in the middle of the park. Picture: George Wood/Getty Images.Herbie Kane has been integrated into the Barnsley set-up, giving Valerien Ismael an alternative to Matty James in the middle of the park. Picture: George Wood/Getty Images.
Herbie Kane has been integrated into the Barnsley set-up, giving Valerien Ismael an alternative to Matty James in the middle of the park. Picture: George Wood/Getty Images.

The Frenchman has been happy with how consistently his team has played since he took the reins last month, but a lack of “killer instinct” has stopped that always being translated into results.

The Reds have only won once away in this season’s Championship but Ismael is dwelling on the good points of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Blackburn Rovers.

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“I’m always positive, you need to stay positive, but we have to be critical of the players to see why we lost the game,” he says. “We have to try to improve the players. We’re a young team and we need to learn quickly from defeats.

Baarnsley boss Valerien Ismael celebrates with Herbie Kane after win over Nottingham Forest at Oakwell last month. Picture: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images.Baarnsley boss Valerien Ismael celebrates with Herbie Kane after win over Nottingham Forest at Oakwell last month. Picture: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images.
Baarnsley boss Valerien Ismael celebrates with Herbie Kane after win over Nottingham Forest at Oakwell last month. Picture: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images.

“It doesn’t matter for us if we play away or at home, we always have to give our performance on the pitch and adapt.

“We’ve been showing consistency in our performance. You need this because the Championship is a marathon and you have to be calm and believe in your performance but you need the results too to give you more confidence.

“Last week was a bad week for the results, but not the performances, which were very, very good. This time we need the performance and the result.”

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Birmingham are more similar in style to Cardiff City, who beat Barnsley 3-0 in Ismael’s first away game, than recent opponents but the coach relishes that and feels his team learnt a lot in Wales.

Matty James holds off Bryan Mbeumo in the recent clash against Brentford at Oakwell.  Picture: Bruce RollinsonMatty James holds off Bryan Mbeumo in the recent clash against Brentford at Oakwell.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson
Matty James holds off Bryan Mbeumo in the recent clash against Brentford at Oakwell. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

“We’ll prepare in a different way to Blackburn or Brentford,” he says. “I’m looking forward to it. We have to adapt but we know what we have to do now to do better than we did against Cardiff.

“I told the guys you have to be able to play against different opponents, this is the Championship. We have to have more flexibility in our squad to be ready to play different ways.

“It’s very difficult but it’s a big challenge I enjoy. You have to think a lot between the games. That’s why it’s very interesting to work in the Championship.

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“It’s the first time I’ve played three games in six days. You can’t stay on the (training) pitch with the players for a long time because they need to stay fresh.”

CONFIDENT: Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael, on the touchline at Oakwell. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.CONFIDENT: Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael, on the touchline at Oakwell. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
CONFIDENT: Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael, on the touchline at Oakwell. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.

He at least has plenty of options for rotation in midfield after former Doncaster Rovers and Hull City loanee Herbie Kane finally made his full debut.

Ismael does not have so many in other areas – although Aapo Halme is back to bolster the defensive ranks, even if Jordan Williams is not. He wants that addressed in January with signings more able to hit the ground running than Kane has been.

Now Kane has been integrated, it gives Ismael a good alternative to Matty James.

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“They’re both very strong with the ball but two different players,” says Ismael. “Matty James has a lot of experience, he can handle the game and sees a lot of good situations. Herbie is a young player with a lot of good qualities, very good at set-pieces who can put the ball where he wants.

“I have a lot of options and I have a good feeling about this position. Other positions are more difficult. I’m not completely happy about the weight of the squad, that’s why I’m waiting with expectation for January’s window to make some changes and bring more balance. But for the moment the guys are doing well.

“We had a lot of players join Barnsley at the last moment and Kane was injured for a long time. He had a new manager, a new way to play, a new intensity, so there was a balance to find so the player could be fit. Now I think he’s better prepared than if he had played three or four weeks ago.

“It’s the same at the moment with Romal Palmer and it will be the same situation with Jordan Williams. That’s why it’s very good for us to have five substitutes.

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“We have to find players (in January) who know our way to play. Callum Brittain also came shortly before I arrived but you would think he had been playing for Barnsley for 10 years because he played the position before and he knew what he had to do.”

The former centre-back has thrown his support behind the idea of concussion substitutes to properly assess head injuries without a player having to withdraw completely from the game. The issue came to the fore after Arsenal’s David Luiz was allowed to play on after a clash of heads which left Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Raul Jimenez with a fractured skull on Sunday, only to be substituted at half-time.

“I’m a fan of the NFL and I see a similar problem every week,” said Ismael. “I was surprised David Luiz played after the collision but we have to be careful. It’s good to have the possibility to have a concussion substitute. It’s our responsibility to protect the player.

“We want to win but the players are very important.”

Last six games: Birmingham City DLDDDL; Barnsley LLWWLW

Referee: T Harrington (Teesside)

Last time: Birmingham City 2 Barnsley 0, August 20, 2019, Championship.

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