Rotherham United v Barnsley: Deja vu for Reds as under-pressure Conor Hourihane comes out fighting

For Darrell Clarke in February 2025, read Conor Hourihane today.

The correlations extend to the present-day Reds making the short trip across the Dearne Valley on the back of a six-match winless run – the same sequence without a victory that Clarke's side had registered prior to heading to the Millers.

Barnsley prevailed 1-0 on that late winter day, thanks to Adam Phillips’ penalty.

Respite for Clarke proved temporary. He was axed just 18 days later.

It is fair to say that several things Hourihane's predecessor spoke about ahead of the Reds' last appointment in Rotherham will chime with him.

Defensive deficiencies, a lack of bonafide winners in his squad and transfer window frustrations being chief among them.

Like Clarke, Hourihane – who worked under him as a coach before subsequently replacing him – is in the business of buying himself some time.

The league table may suggest the game has more ramifications today for a Rotherham United side whose desperation for three points to keep their slim hopes of League One survival just about alive does not need to be spelt out.

Yet in many respects, the game is arguably as big, if not bigger for Barnsley – and certainly Hourihane.

The Millers don't just need one snooker to stave off the drop, they require three or four and there is little heat on Lee Clark, given the stricken situation he inherited.

The opprobrium was reserved for his predecessor. The one feeling it ahead of derby day is Clark’s opposite number.

Hourihane told The Yorkshire Post: "I'm fully aware of it and fully capable of taking it on board.

"Regardless of being in my first year of head coach, I'm a big boy.

"I'm able to take criticism. I've had it all my career when I was a player. It's no different as a head coach.

"Look, I understand the fans' frustrations. And I wanted to give them more days of happiness and three points and re-live the captain who was there at Wembley and the famous goals that we always talk about and whatnot.

"And ultimately, I've not been able to give them as many happy days as what we would like.

"But there's still time. There's still time to put that right over the next couple of games and until the end of the season, of course.

"Because I want to give them some happy memories starting with Saturday, between now and the end of the season.

"It's not easy for them to get up for games at the minute because of the situation that we're in.

"But I'm really looking for that volume and connection over these next couple of games to try and give us the big lift everyone needs."

Like Clarke, Hourihane is a tough cookie.

After being rejected at Sunderland and then Ipswich as a youngster, he showed that he was made of the right stuff by forging an outstanding career.

His qualities as a leader and player shone through at Oakwell.

There was glory in that unforgettable double-Wembley season of 2015-16, but don't forget the Reds also had it hard.

In the early winter of that season, Barnsley were in freefall and more likely to be in a relegation fight than a promotion one.

They were also embarrassingly knocked out of the FA Cup by non-league Altrincham.

Hourihane and co successfully rode out the storm. As he must now.

The Reds chief, whose first anniversary as full-time head coach arrives next weekend, continued: "Absolutely. And that's what I'm falling back on, if I'm honest.

"Look, it's been an unbelievable season for myself in the first year of being head coach.

"Loads of knockbacks, setbacks, learning and reflection. And I really believe that this season will only make me stronger moving forward, heading into the future of my head coaching career.

"That can be talked about in the summer and I can reflect on it.

"But right now, I've got a job to do and try and get the lads in a really good position heading into Rotherham."

This time last year, Hourihane's task was all about steadying the ship until the close season. Some would say that is his task today.

Circumstances are different, that said. He is now the permanent ‘gaffer’, not the interim one.

There's also an outside chance that Barnsley could get dragged into a relegation maelstrom if events go against them in the next few weeks. Unlikely, but not impossible.

Hourihane added: "Maybe this time last year with six/seven games to go, we all knew we were mid-table and getting ready for the summer, whereas now we still have work to do.

"We've still got points to put on the board and that's the only focus right now. And it needs to be for the players as well.

"When you have hard times, you have to set the tone from a head coach point of view, and that will be me heading into the meeting room and onto the grass about where I want to go and how I want to do it. And hopefully it will come out."