After Barnsley snatched a dramatic late winner against Peterborough United, Caretaker Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom praised the efforts of the fans for remaining behind the side.
George Williams’ injury-time winner proved enough for the Reds to move level on points with Gillingham but sit outside the play-offs on goal difference.
Heckingbottom feels the fans spurred the side on to a late winner and were exceptional throughout the match.
He said: “I think the most pleasing thing about the result and the performance was the patience we showed, not just the players but the fans as well.
“We stress that everyone is in it together and the fans stuck with the players brilliantly and it’s an important message for everyone.
“We as the staff are trying to preach that, but it’s no good us saying that if the fans don’t believe that and they were brilliant and everybody has got their rewards today.
“We believed a chance would come and as it happens it’s the one that we were the least likely to score from but that’s our reward.”
Williams’ first goal of the season proved to be enough but Heckingbottom was surprised that the left-back snatched the winning goal.
He asserted that the manner of the performance remained the most pleasing aspect of the game and that overall, a win was just what the Reds deserved and that everyone played their part in helping Barnsley win.
He added: “I don’t know why he was in there to be honest. It’s a squad game and everyone has played their part and tonight, George gets the goal.
“He’s contributed lots in other games with his performances and for an unlikely player to get the goal and the timing of it, is good for us and George.
“For us, it was all about the three points and the performance was pleasing. Even when they had 11, I thought we were the better team and we created more of the chances because when they went to 10 they were strong.”
Heckingbottom added that the Reds will remain positive heading into their final three games and will continue to play with the same levels of intensity.
He hopes Barnsley will still be in the mix for a play-off spot at the end of May and vowed to keep the Reds’ intensity level at its optimum.
He added: “The manner of the victory, the scorer, the crowd, you have to bank and feed off that adrenalin and we’ll release that ahead of the Sheffield United game.
“It’s still three points but it’s totally different. Everyone goes on there full of adrenaline and you have to ride that, taking it into the next game because it is about momentum.
“As long as we’re in it, anything can happen, especially at that last game. Everyone knows how hard the lads are trying and they will give it everything in the last three games.
“Where we end up we end up, we’ll have to roll with it and keep being as positive as we can and keep getting the points we need to get there.”
