Daryl Dike's winning goal was 'unbelievable', says Barnsley FC chief Valerien Ismael after Birmingham City success

Barnsley chief Valerien Ismael described Daryl Dike's decisive strike against Birmingham City as "something unbelievable."
Barnsley chief Valerien Ismael. Pictures: Getty ImagesBarnsley chief Valerien Ismael. Pictures: Getty Images
Barnsley chief Valerien Ismael. Pictures: Getty Images

The American international striker raced on to Carlton Morris' pass and rifled a ferocious 49th-minute effort into the roof of the net to settle an otherwise turgid affair at Oakwell on Saturday.

That goal proved sufficient to hand the Reds a seventh consecutive victory and lifted them up into the Championship's top-six, leaving their head coach understandably thrilled.

"It was something unbelievable," Ismael said.

Daryl Dike celebrates his stunning strike against Birmingham City.Daryl Dike celebrates his stunning strike against Birmingham City.
Daryl Dike celebrates his stunning strike against Birmingham City.
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"In my career, in 29 years in football it was an unbelievable strike and an unbelievable feeling for Dike and for the guys. Congratulations to the guys for a big win.

"You saw this afternoon again the opponent is coming here with a clear game-plan to put a lot of bodies on the pitch, they took their football players out and it was all about defending the long-balls and the second balls.

"You never can press, you never can play but you have to stay strong. You have to deal with it, control it. We knew that in the second half we had the possibility to put the pressure on the opponent and we did it with a brilliant strike from Dike and after that we stood very, very strong and kept the clean-sheet.

"Seven wins in a row, it's a great feeling tonight. It puts us in a great situation."

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Twenty-year-old Dike arrived at Oakwell on transfer deadline day and has made an instant impression, netting three goals in a relatively short space of time.

And Ismael insisted that Saturday's winner was a reward for Barnsley doing good business during the winter window.

"My first thinking [after the goal] was to the board, especially Dane Murphy for the transfer of Dike at the last minute. It was very important," the Reds chief added.

"That is why it [his goal] is a reward for everybody in the club. The board, the team, the people in the background. It was a great feeling tonight to see how important the transfer window is for us and now we are getting our reward.

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"It [up front] was our problem when I came. I knew after the Cardiff game what is going on in the Championship. We changed it with Carlton [Morris] and Dike and you see the impact from those two players.

"We were looking for strikers to suit our play and to adapt to the Championship. We knew Dike was the right guy for us.

"It was important to blend the squad in the transfer period, it's very important to make the right decisions and that's why I'm delighted we made some great decisions with Dane Murphy."