Hill feeling beaten up as Reds face tough survival scrap

Friday’s 4-0 home defeat by West Ham United was Barnsley’s eighth loss in 10 Championship games and Hill was embarrassed by the display.

Ahead of a tough encounter today at promotion-chasing Blackpool, Hill said: “We want to be in the Championship next season, but with performances like that against West Ham I can’t see where the next point is coming from. That’s what is really difficult for me as a manager and my pride. It’s like a real kick in the teeth.”

Barnsley probably only need one win from the last five games but Hill continued: “We reached a stage in the season where we had everything we wanted and could have expected from this campaign, but since the turn of the year the campaign has gone sour. At the moment, it feels like I have been beaten up.”

Today, Nathan Doyle serves the last of a three-game suspension but David Perkins could return to the starting XI after returning from a knee injury in the defeat to the Hammers.

Blackpool look set to be without striker Gary Taylor-Fletcher after he was taken off with a head injury in the victory over Watford.

Kevin Phillips is doubtful with hip and ankle problems but Barry Ferguson and Stephen Crainey could start.

Leeds United defenders Darren O’Dea and Paul Connolly are expected to return from bans against fellow mid-table side Derby County at Elland Road today.

Centre-back O’Dea has missed the last two games after amassing 10 yellow cards and right-back Connolly sat out Friday’s defeat at Reading following his dismissal for two yellow cards against Watford.

Midfielder Adam Clayton serves the second game of his two-match ban after reaching 10 bookings and teenage defender Zac Thompson starts a three-match suspension after his straight red card for his reckless lunge on Reading winger Jobi McAnuff.

Manager Neil Warnock has no new injury problems but winger Aidy White, out of contract in the summer, remains sidelined with an ankle injury that could keep him out for the rest of the season.

Strikers Danny Webber and Mikael Forssell and winger Robbie Rogers made late substitute appearances at Reading and hope to press for starts.

Derby secured their first goalless draw at home this season against Ipswich Town on Saturday.

Tenth-placed Rotherham United, who are expected to announce their new manager later this week, are charging Under-16s just £1 for today’s League Two game with Cheltenham Town at the Don Valley Stadium.

Bradford City eased their relegation worries with a 2-0 home win over Southend United on Friday – James Hanson scoring his 13th goal of the season and Craig Fagan netting a penalty against the promotion-chasers, who had two men sent off.

Manager Phil Parkinson knows his side face a bigger test at third-placed Shrewsbury Town today but says: “We go there full of confidence and if we can turn on the same level of performance we will be a difficult team to beat.”