In-form Barnsley FC wing-back Corey O'Keeffe on Reds' renaissance after being 'kicked while we were down'

December was a rollercoaster month for the Reds, not least for in-form wing-back Corey O’Keeffe, who was part of a home line-up who were licking their wounds and entitled to think which direction their season was heading in after an humiliating 4-0 pre-Christmas drubbing at the hands of Leyton Orient.

For the Brummie, that compounded the pain after Barnsley threw away victory in their previous Oakwell appointment, a 2-1 reverse to his boyhood club Birmingham City, with a travelling army of Blues fans giving him a fair bit of stick along the way.

Barnsley’s response after those two losses has been stirring, winning their last four league matches to revive their campaign at a key psychological juncture.

O’Keeffe, who has been at the heart of the Reds’ mini-renaissance, said: "Obviously, no-one was happy (after Orient) - the staff, players and manager - with that result.

"The gaffer had us in (the next day) and went through the game and sat down and did different things like in and out of possession and things that were good and went wrong.

"We’ve really worked on that (since) and knuckled down on it and been decent ever since.

"The Birmingham game was also a tough one and the Orient game really kicked us while we were down and we’ve done well to get out of it and hopefully we can keep this form going now.

"We’ve had four wins on the bounce and want more and more and don’ want to settle on that now.

"I got some stick (with the Birmingham game), but I love it (the banter)."

Barnsley loanee Jack Shepherd will remain with Bradford City for the rest of the 2024-25 season following discussions between both clubs.

Shepherd, who joined City on a season-long loan last summer, had a clause inserted into his deal allowing him to potentially return to Oakwell in January.

Injuries to Josh Earl and Marc Roberts last month potentially muddied the waters in regard to Shepherd staying at City, but it has now been agreed that he will continue his season-long loan in West Yorkshire.