The Reds suffered back-to-back defeats in the league for the first time since 2015, losing 2-0 to Brighton away from home.
Reds Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom spoke after the match, talking about the performance from his side.
“We’re disappointed today, we started the game poorly and took a long time to get going against a good side, so we didn’t really give ourselves a chance.
“We weren’t as good with the ball as we usually are and didn’t keep the ball for long spells, or pass it quick it enough. Out of possession we didn’t have the same intensity or energy to our game. Brighton played well and deserved the win but we are disappointed with how we played.”
Brighton made the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs last time out and have strengthened their squad in order to try and push for promotion again. Heckingbottom talked about how every match in this league is tough.
“We know we’ve got to play at our best to win games in this league, and even then sometimes that might not be good enough but today we weren’t at our best and we have come unstuck.
“I think it’s the first time as a collective that the performance was below par. We know that, the boys know that. We did gradually get better as the game wore on but it had already got away from us with the second goal.”
The Reds used all three permitted substitutes in order to try and get back into the match and had their chances towards the end of the game, but the Brighton defence held firm.
The Reds Head Coach said, “We tried, we huffed and we puffed and if we had scored in that last 15 to 20 minutes when we had a couple of chances, it would have been a different story.”
Next up for the Reds is Aston Villa under the lights at Oakwell on Tuesday night followed by a Yorkshire derby away at Leeds United on Saturday. Heckingbottom is determined to get the team re-focused and ready for the tasks ahead.
"We know its a massive week for us - Brighton today, Villa on Tuesday, Leeds away on Saturday...huge games. We've got a good squad in there so we've got to get the eleven out on the pitch, get them playing how we want them to play, get them enjoying themselves, playing with the freedom and with fire in their belly."
View Paul Heckingbottom's full reaction on !Barnsley Player HD
