Valerien Ismael sees confidence grow in his Barnsley team after ‘character win’ at Birmingham City

Hosts Birmingham led the Championship contest through Scott Hogan’s 56th-minute strike, only for Cauley Woodrow to level with a 71st-minute penalty before Callum Styles turned the game on its head to seal the Reds’ fifth win in eight games.

Ismael has enjoyed a positive start to his time in the Barnsley dugout and believes the confidence of his players is growing day by day.

“I am very happy with the start,” he said. “It gives you a good feeling and improves our standing in the Championship. This win will give us more confidence.

“We told the players before the game they had two tasks: To sustain their performance – and I was delighted with that – and show more mentality and the desire to get the points.

“It was very important to have a game-changer after going one goal down.”

And in 20-year-old Styles, Ismael believes the Reds have an excellent prospect after hailing his match-winning effort.

“He’s a special weapon for us on the edge of the box,” added Ismael. “He’s got a great strike on him.

“Dominik (Frieser) tries to score for us from those throw-ins - he tries this in every game.”

Striker Woodrow went from villain to hero to bag himself an early birthday present – he turns 26 today – making up for two first-half misses with his equaliser from the spot.

Hogan’s opening strike had ended a run of 326 minutes without a goal in open play for Aitor Karanka’s Birmingham, after Jonathan Leko’s backheel let in Maxime Colin to cross.

But they let the visitors back in when Kristian Pedersen made contact with Callum Brittain and Woodrow calmly sidefooted to goalkeeper Neil Etheridge’s left.

Then Styles drilled home the winner after the home side had failed to deal with substitute Frieser’s long throw.

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