Wembley a welcome distraction for Barnsley - Conor Hourihane

Barnsley, thanks to a four-point haul over the holiday period, are one of those still involved. Sitting seventh and just two points adrift of Bradford City, the Reds are handily placed to push on after easing clear of a chasing pack who all sit more than one victory adrift of Paul Heckingbottom’s men.

The South Yorkshire club do, though, face a tough run-in with top two, Burton Albion and Wigan Athletic, still laying in wait along with a derby visit to Sheffield United on April 23.

With the stakes so high, the pressure is going to be on for not just Barnsley but also all the others striving to reach the Championship.

That is why Sunday’s Wembley trip for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final with Oxford United can be such a welcome distraction for the Reds, as Conor Hourihane admits.

“It is going to be the sort of week to put a smile on people’s faces,” the 25-year-old Irishman told The Yorkshire Post, fresh from scoring the winner in the Easter Monday victory at Port Vale.

“The pressure is off. It is a Cup final and a day all the lads are looking forward to. Maybe in the back of everyone’s mind at Port Vale was a case of, ‘I don’t want anyone to get injured or suspended’.

“Luckily, we all came through fine. The pressure is off now and it is just a week to enjoy. A lot of the lads in our changing room won’t have played in front of crowds like that before.

“We need to just go into it like any other match and hope our best game comes out. If we do that, we will, hopefully, get the win.”

Barnsley booked their Wembley trip on February 4, since when they have certainly not been distracted from the quest to win promotion.

Eleven games have yielded 23 points to take the Reds from 12th to the fringes of the play-off places. A solid defence has been key, Monday’s 1-0 win at Vale Park being the seventh shut-out achieved by Barnsley since booking their trip to Wembley and the 10th time since the turn of the year.

Another on Sunday could go a long way towards sealing what would be just a third triumph by a Yorkshire club in the Football League Trophy, Doncaster Rovers having triumphed in 2007 and Rotherham United 11 years earlier.

“It would be a big highlight for all of us if we can lift that trophy,” added Hourihane. “A special day – but Oxford will be there to win it as well.

“We are aiming to play well. It is a big pitch and a nice occasion. Everyone wants to go there and enjoy it.

“If we win via a scrappy 1-0, we won’t complain. But if we can play football as well then that would be great.”

If Barnsley are to prevail against the League Two club, Hourihane could have a leading role to play. He has certainly been central to the club’s amazing turnaround in form since those dark days of winter when the club lost eight league games in a row.

The Irishman’s goal at Vale Park was his 10th of the season, which together with his 10 assists this term underlines what a valuable player he is to the Reds.

“It was obviously a cross,” he replied when asked if his free-kick opener had been a cross or shot. “Though, myself and Adam (Hammill) were with Hecky on Sunday and talking about free-kicks.

“We were told to aim for goal and then if the ball goes into the ’keeper’s hands he will have a go at the lads for not getting across their man.

“That was in my head when I took the set-piece. Just put it in that difficult area where the ’keeper doesn’t know whether to come or stay.”

Barnsley’s triumph in the Potteries was made all the more important by results elsewhere on Easter Monday, as Gillingham, Millwall and Bradford City all also claimed the three points.

“The three points were massive because we had to keep with the pack going into Wembley,” Hourihane added.

“After the weekend, we will have a game in hand so we just want to be part of the pack going into that. It means we can now enjoy the week.

“We can put the league to one side knowing we had a good result. It was massive, in that respect.

“Like the players, the fans have their eyes on the play-offs and, come the end of the game, if we don’t play well but get the three points then I don’t think many can complain.

“We will enjoy the weekend and the occasion at Wembley, which can take our minds off the league. A win there would allow us to then fully focus on the final seven games.

“It is a tough run-in. As you have seen lately, some of the games haven’t been the prettiest to watch. But that is how it is at the business end of the season. The three points are all that matter.”