Wigan Athletic v Barnsley FC: Why 'thick-skinned' Reds defender is not worried about League One relegation
SAM Gale is a conscientious, bright young professional who always tries to answer questions put to him earnestly.
The Barnsley defender’s statement that there is ‘a lot of confidence’ among Reds' players that they will turn around the club’s fraught start to the 2026-27 season is not mere spin-doctoring or platitudes.
He says it because he genuinely means it.
Recent performances suggest the Reds are starting to peer around the corner, if not yet turning it.
A positive result in the Oakwell outfit’s biggest game of the campaign to date, at fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic today, might achieve just that, following two morale-boosting cup wins over Aldershot and Oldham Athletic and a gutsy draw versus Oxford United.
It remains a considerable if.
Gale told The Yorkshire Post: "We're not a team that lacks character so that's why I'm sitting here - and I'll be honest - I am not worried.
"Listen, no one wants to be near the bottom and you want to get out of there as soon as possible, but we're not sitting there in the dressing room terrified of where we are.
"There is a confidence that we're doing the right things lately and results will tell."
While some cynics - including a fair few Reds supporters in fairness - might decry that belief, Gale’s viewpoint is one worth listening to.
The Reds’ performances with 10 men, in resilient draws against Oxford and Leicester City, fortify his belief and fuel his argument and he makes a salient point in that regard.
Both sides are among the division’s form teams during the autumn. In League One’s latest ten-match guide, the U’s are top and the Foxes are ranked sixth.
The centre-half continued: "I think we have to look at those games, for example, when we're up against it a little bit.
"There will always be spells in games where we're up against it. It's natural - football is a game of momentum.
"I think we can call on those experiences in games, knowing that we held out against Leicester - a team that was in the Premier League two years ago - and against Oxford, who were a Championship side (last season) and have one of the best sides in the league.
"Knowing we can do it against teams like that with their quality, we should be able to take that into situations against teams who aren't as dangerous and know we can hold on or see out of a game of football."
Holding out remains the trick.
Barnsley are rated 10th in the half-time table in League One. Conversely, they are 19th in its second-half equivalent, which helps to explain why they are currently second-from-bottom in the true standings that matter and without a win at league level in eight matches since September 2.
The run has prompted considerable disquiet among Reds followers ahead of a key run of fixtures. After visiting Wigan, Barnsley face back-to-back derbies against Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford City.
The ex-Gillingham player continued: "I've had a short career so far, but I've been through negative spells already and been in teams where we've gone games without winning. So I've definitely got thick enough skin to take it.
"Fans are right to have their opinions, especially when the team's losing. It's also important that I'm strong enough to block that out on a match day and focus on my game and then hopefully give them something to cheer about."
Gale has had an up and down start to his Oakwell career.
After starting out in the Reds line-up in August, the 22-year-old briefly found himself out of the starting XI in mid-autumn. He has subsequently reclaimed his starting berth.
In his first season at League One level, the Kent-born player sagely understands that plain sailing was unlikely.
With a desire for self-improvement and being self-critical regarding his individual performance, expect Gale to take lessons on board.
There is clear ability within a player who was shortlisted for the League Two Young Player of the Season in 2025-26.
On the differences between the fourth and third tiers, Gale added: "The main thing I've noticed - and I've said it to a few of the lads—is that the quality of the finishing at this level is somewhat higher.
"In League Two, sometimes you can make errors as a defender or as a team and they go unpunished.
"But at this level, you've got some serious seasoned pros who have played in the Premier League and Championship. You just have to be switched on all game, otherwise you get punished."