Wigan Athletic v Barnsley FC: Josh Earl insists Reds belief is intact as return to play-off picture eyed
Barnsley have plummeted down the League One table - but still believe they can achieve the goals they laid out in the summer.
2025 ended with the Reds languishing in 15th place, nine points adrift of the final play-off spot.
They have lost each of their last three games, with Lincoln City their most recent conquerors.
Conor Hourihane’s players could be forgiven for feeling deflated - yet defender Josh Earl is adamant the squad’s belief is still intact.
Barnsley’s belief remains
When asked if there is still belief in the squad’s ability to meet targets, he told The Yorkshire Post: “100 per cent. It’s such a tight league.
“We’re only a few wins back-to-back away from us getting right back in the play-offs and right back in the mix. The top six or top eight is so tight that anyone can get involved in it.
“Obviously, we’re all absolutely devastated about the [Lincoln] result - there’s no question about that. Set-piece goal - rubbish. A great strike for the second goal, which there’s not much we can do about. But there are positives from the game.”
A swift return to action
Barnsley will kick off 2026 at the Brick Community Stadium, facing a Wigan Athletic side just one point above them. The Latics ended 2025 on a high, defeating Burton Albion 2-0.
The fixtures are coming thick and fast and although it is tough on the legs, Earl believes the Reds are lucky.
Earl said: “We’re lucky we’re in the Christmas period where we can go and have games back to back to back. It’s difficult for the lads to get through it.
“There’s a lot of recovery because it is genuinely a really, really tough period for the lads. We’ve got to make sure we recover right and any little niggles, we get on top of.
“But we’re lucky. We have another game, we go and win that and we can put things right and go again on Sunday.
“Then - you never know. We might go and win the next two and then we’ve got Liverpool in the FA Cup. Then we have a break between games, we can recover a little bit, and we might find a little bit of form.”