Hard graft will eventually pay off for Barnsley, believes boss Flitcroft

Summer optimism that the Reds would avoid another relegation scrap – they only escaped the drop on the final day of last season with a draw at Huddersfield Town – seems to be thinning after a 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth on Tuesday night left Barnsley with just four points from seven games.

But Flitcroft has been encouraged by his side’s performances, if not results after Marc Pugh’s winner on Tuesday, and has urged his squad to keep working hard if they want to end their poor start to the season.

“I can’t ask anything more from that group of players – they work hard for each other and give it everything,” he said.

“We came here (Bournemouth) to win the game and I’ve thrown everyone on and gone really positive.

“I’ve told the lads after the game to keep working hard.”

Barnsley’s first-half display in particular belied their status as one of the league’s strugglers and they were incredibly unlucky not to head into the break with a one-goal lead as Chris O’Grady and then Steve Dawson both rattled the same post in the same move.

And they continued to create chances throughout the 90 minutes and only a fine block denied substitute Jason Scotland a late leveller.

“I told the players to give it everything and they have done,” Flitcroft said. “They put everything I asked of them into a football match and it wasn’t good enough to get anything out of the game. Certainly in the first half I was delighted with the way we played and in the second half they got on top of us and we couldn’t stop them at times.

“We still had chances; the two that hit the post in the first half and on another night they go in and we comfortably win the game.”

Barnsley return to Oakwell on Saturday when they host Watford.

Manchester City midfielder Albert Rusnak has returned to the Barclays Premier League club after his loan spell at Oldham was cut short.