Reds get reality check to underline Hill’s task

Hill said they could not be considered genuine challengers for a return to the summit of English football.

He made his comments after Barnsley missed a golden chance to go seventh in the Championship, just one place and two points outside the play-offs.

The Reds lost 5-3 at home to struggling Ipswich after surrendering a 2-0 half-time lead in Saturday’s televised evening kick-off.

Although proud of his players’ performances this season, with four straight wins prior to Saturday’s setback having engendered considerable optimism among the Oakwell faithful, Hill is maintaining a realistic approach.

He pointed out prior to the Ipswich game that Barnsley were also only 10 points off the relegation zone and stressed things can change quickly.

Asked whether Saturday’s result showed his side were some way off mounting a serious challenge, Hill replied: “Yes, without question. I think we’re capable of being competitive, but serious challengers?

“I don’t want to have to magnify it but the type of budget that Ipswich have got in comparison to ours, for example, is a gulf. And I mean a real gulf.

“If I wanted to recruit Keith Andrews (the Ipswich captain), for example, I’d have to sell all my squad.

“There’s a massive difference there.

“Can we challenge? I think we can challenge game-to-game, but, over 46 games, it’s going to be very difficult.

“I know the players are hurting deeply because they saw this game as a real opportunity – we could have gone seventh, two points behind Leeds.

“We can definitely be competitive, but, at the same time, when you’re up against the likes of an Ipswich side with Keith Andrews, Bowyer, Scotland, Chopra, Edwards, Sonko, Collins, and so on – Premier League players – it’s difficult to be competitive.”

Barnsley have one of the division’s lowest budgets.

They are punching above their weight in financial terms but have acquitted themselves well under the wily Hill.

The manager does not expect too much movement during January’s transfer window but conceded there might be some activity in and out of Oakwell.

However, he insisted he was more than happy with his existing squad. “I will probably have to bring someone in,” said Hill.

“There might be a possibility that we will lose some of our loan signings and maybe one or two players if the right amount of money comes in bid-wise.

“There’s probably not too much leeway there but I’m not concerned about that.

“The situation is what it is and we work with what we’ve got, and I’m quite happy to do that.”

Defeat saw Barnsley drop to 12th in the table – five points and six places off the play-offs.

They face a tough game at second-placed West Ham United on Saturday before home fixtures against eighth-placed Blackpool on Boxing Day and sixth-placed Leeds United on New Year’s Eve.

“We’re very competitive and will remain competitive,” said Hill, “and there’s not a lot wrong despite this result.

“I can’t condemn the players too much because this is the league we’re playing in.

“It’s not taking anything away from the decent run we’ve been on or the players we’ve got, but the reality is that we have to be at our very best for 90 minutes, week-in, week-out.

“If we’re not, we’ll get beat. I won’t over-egg the pudding when we win games, lose games or draw games.

“The players have been magnificent and they remain magnificent, but when you come up against the calibre of player that Ipswich have got, it’s going to be difficult.”

Victory saw Ipswich climb one place to 20th – three points above the relegation zone.

It also probably saved manager Paul Jewell’s job.

The former Bradford City and Sheffield Wednesday chief was believed to be on the brink following a run of seven straight defeats, the club’s worst run for 17 years.

But he roused his troops in remarkable fashion for a second-half fightback that will live long in the memory.

“It was looking grim at half-time, let’s be honest, and I was asking someone how to spell ‘yours sincerely’,” joked Jewell, in reference to the possibility that he might have been forced to draft a letter of resignation.

“But I just told the players to believe in themselves, to back themselves, and, to their credit, they did just that.

“When you’ve been on the run we’ve been on, it’s easy to feel sorry for yourself and think that the world’s against you, but all you need is belief, desire and determination and we showed that in abundance in the second half.

“I wasn’t really worrying about my own position because I’ve had nothing but support from the owner, although it’s been horrible for everyone connected with the club and I understand that if you lose seven on the bounce you’re going to be under pressure.”

Hill empathised with Jewell’s situation. “Let’s be right, at half-time, every one of their supporters behind the goal was shouting for Paul Jewell to be sacked.”

“After the match, he’s like the Messiah. It’s fine lines and margins in this business, fine lines and margins. But I don’t react to results; it’s supporters and supposed fans who do that.”