Hill demands mistakes be eradicated by Reds

While the Reds’ crippling injury list – with 11 players set to miss the game against Derek McInnes’ Robins – is something the Oakwell boss can’t legislate for, neither are the defensive mistakes that have afflicted their last two defeats in league and cup to Brighton and Swansea, which has seen them leak eight goals.

Hill said: “We need to cut out the individual mistakes; that’s what is letting us down.

“As bad as we were against Brighton, they had six shots on target and scored five goals. And I would have said three of those were avoidable.

“The other night, all three goals were avoidable.

“As well as we played against Swansea, the individual mistakes cost the team and opportunities to progress.

“We want to get back to where we were against Middlesbrough. It’s not a case of the defence struggling, but just individual errors – whether it’s a striker or centre-half defending.

“As a team, I’m not overly concerned. But the individual errors have got to stop as they can affect confidence, no doubt about that.”

While Bristol City may be seen as one of the lesser lights of the Championship, along with the Reds, Hill insists the West Countrymen are still poles apart from the Oakwell men – in terms of financial clout.

On City, who did the double over Barnsley last term, Hill added: “They have spent money, spent money and spent money! Last season, they narrowly avoided relegation similar to ourselves, but they have bought quality in Sam Baldock and Steven Davies and retained (Martyn) Woolford, (Albert) Adomah and (Stephen) Pearson – you name it.

“Money buys you quality whichever league you are in. It makes a manager’s job easier when you have money to spend on recruitment.

“They (Bristol) have started well and with confidence and are scoring goals and winning games gives you that confidence.

“It’s just about us though, as opposed to the opposition.”