Top scorer O’Grady set on lifting lowly Tykes

While the former Rotherham United and Sheffield Wednesday striker has banged in five goals this season, the Reds are bottom of the Championship.

But ahead of today’s tough trip to QPR, O’Grady said: “Personal performances and goals go hand-in-hand if you’re going well. And the results will then go for the team.

“But I’d rather us be higher up the table than possibly me scoring the main goals this season. I’m sure that will come.”

O’Grady’s latest goal came in the 1-1 draw with Reading on Tuesday, which ended a four-match losing streak for Barnsley.

“It would have been ideal if we’d have won [against Reading], but it (the performance and result) is something to definitely build on,” said the 27-year-old.

“We played really well, but when they scored we thought, ‘here we go again’. However, we showed the character to get back into the game, so we were really pleased with that. I’m relatively pleased with my own form this season, but results are more important than personal achievements.”

O’Grady is relishing playing the underdogs role today at Loftus Road.

“It’s the perfect motivation for me going to QPR because if you’re not expected to get on the scoresheet at all, well then you’ve got nothing to lose.

“I think we’ll be going for it. It’s going to be the game where we are most fancied not to get anything at all, so we’ll definitely use that to our advantage.”

Manager David Flitcroft believes O’Grady, signed for £300,000 in the summer from Wednesday, has thrived at Oakwell.

“We did great getting Chris O’Grady to this football club,” said Flitcroft. “I think there were five or six football clubs chasing him.

“Chris needs support, he loves support, and the fans have took him in as one of them. He wants to repay that, and he is repaying that.

“Chris O’Grady just keeps getting better and better as the season progresses. I thought his link-up play (was good), his hold-up play, he is menacing and strong and is getting goals.”