Video: ‘We’ve turned a corner’ says Barnsley boss Lee Johnson

The Reds avoided creating a piece of unwanted club history on Saturday when they beat Johnson’s old club Oldham Athletic 2-1 at Boundary Park - and avoided a club record equalling ninth successive league defeat set way back over sixty years ago in 1952-53 in the process.

Johnson’s side were full value for victory and head into tomorrow night’s League One game at Peterborough United with renewed confidence, according to the Oakwell chief.

Johnson admitted that the club’s wretched run has hit some individuals’ confidence, but he believes that if they can come through this testing period, it could be the making of his side.

Johnson said: “We have a young squad and sometimes a couple of individuals have lost a bit of confidence and been feeling it and been in unknown territory because of the pressure that builds.

“But they have come back and played well again. It’s a real learning curve for some of our players and if we come through it properly, then they have got that behind them and never want to go back there because the feeling is not nice.

“We have tried to remain positive. There has obviously been some low dark moments in that run. But we have always felt we could turn the corner.

“We haven’t fully turned the corner yet, we know that and one swallow doesn’t make a summer.

“But at the same time, I think our performances have turned a corner.”

On tomorrow’s test, he added: “Hopefully, we can go there with that renewed confidence, although I don’t think that the lads have lost a lot of confidence.

“I think that in the last three games, we have been pretty good with two wins and a loss and we have to go to Peterborough with confidence.

“We also have players coming back and the squad is getting a bit stronger. If we can get another result and a win, then it is all looking positive for the big one.

“Adam Hammill is now getting up to speed to make ninety minutes and he will another really good performer and a threat.

“There is no doubt we have upgraded our nous in the squad by bringing in a couple also.

Meanwhile, Johnson confirmed that injury-jinxed winger Ryan Williams will be considered for involvement from the bench in Saturday’s South Yorkshire derby with Sheffield United if he gets a full week’s training behind him this week.

On the Aussie, who arrived at Oakwell for a six-figure fee from Fulham in the summer, Johnson said: “If Ryan is available for Saturday, it would be like a new signing.

“We are not putting too much pressure on him, but we are aiming to see if he can at least effect things from the bench on Saturday.

“Although I am not going to say it’s definite as there’s a week to go.”