‘I am sure it will go to the last day against Huddersfield’

The Reds were in a parlous state when he answered the call to take over as caretaker ahead of the clash with fellow strugglers Peterborough United on New Year’s Day, with that clash ending in a 2-1 loss.

That saw the Oakwell outfit prop up the table with just 21 points from 26 games – four points adrift of safety.

But in the 18 league games since, Barnsley have lost just four times, winning eight of them and drawing six, pocketing a tidy haul of 30 points.

Unfortunately for their sake, several other strugglers have enjoyed impressive second-halves of the season as well, with the upshot being that it is possible there could be one or maybe even two teams relegated with a record amount of points in 2012-13. As it stands, the Reds are still in the drop zone as they were on January 1, but only on goal difference, with manager Flitcroft still positive about their prospects of survival and expecting matters to go down to a final-day decider at Huddersfield.

He said: “I would have taken this position when I came in, absolutely; without a doubt.

“I am sure 12 weeks ago, we would have been delighted to be fighting for the opportunity to stay in this league.

“I am sure it will go to the last day, I really am. Is there a reason we are playing on the last day at Huddersfield? I have been thinking about that ever since I took over and I am fixed on that game.

“It has been the craziest division ever and the maddest year, so I don’t expect everyone to get the results that might conspire against us (today).”

Oakwell has been the scene of much of the Reds renaissance this year, with Flitcroft’s side having won six of his nine league outings in charge – although they were also hammered 6-0 by Charlton.

Their efforts in difficult circumstances – they went down to nine men – were even applauded that day from the Oakwell faithful, who have rallied around and bought into what Flitcroft has been trying to achieve, with the mood at home games far removed from the divided atmosphere that prevailed there for much of the first half of the season.

And Flitcroft is confident the Reds fans will stick with them on a tense afternoon today.

He added: “I think everyone connected with the football club understands what these players have put themselves through and that was evident against Charlton. The level of support after so much disappointment on the day was overwhelming.

“I have no fear over our fans – to still get applauded at four, five and six-nil down and stay with us against Charlton told me everything that we have turned a massive corner. I know our fans appreciate the effort we are putting in.”

Flitcroft’s troops have fronted up after that horrendous home hammering against Charlton a fortnight ago and manned the defensive barricades impressively in the dual outings against East Midlands rivals Derby County and Nottingham Forest, which would have yielded four crucial points if it wasn’t for the Rams cruelly grabbing a stoppage-time equaliser at Oakwell on April 16.

But with the Reds needing wins and not draws in their final two matches – and having netted just twice in their five last games – Flitcroft admits that getting the balance right could hold the key to his side’s season after setting his side up to be primarily solid of late.

He said: “We have played some difficult fixtures, especially in our last three away games and we have had to be very much defensive in our mindset and be resilient.

“To only concede one goal in our fixtures at Cardiff, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest was commendable. But that has taken away our attacking focus and I have got get the balance right.

“That is the key and what we have been working on this week.”