Robins hopes to turn dream into reality

championship

Ian Appleyard

BARNSLEY supporters are ‘daring to dream’, admits manager Mark Robins ahead of the club’s biggest game of the season.

The Tykes visit leaders Newcastle, who are unbeaten at home and firmly on course for an immediate return to the Premier League.

With a gate in excess of 50,000 at St James’ Park, Robins says his players have nothing to lose. However, they also have everything to gain since a victory could lift the Tykes to within a point of the play-offs.

“You can ask too much of players if you don’t believe they are capable of achieving something – but I don’t believe I have ever done that,” said Robins, who inherited a side in danger of relegation six months ago.

“We have a situation now where our supporters are daring to dream,” he added. “They are thinking about ‘what might be’ if we can string a few more wins together but teams above and below us are trying to scrap and achieve things, too.

“It will take a monumental run and we have got a lot of tough games. Our record is just shy of where we need to be but there are 13 games left and it is still possible.”

Robins added: “It’s a great challenge facing Newcastle, who, in essence, are a Premiership squad in waiting. If we start brightly and maintain a bright start, we have got a chance.”