Head Coach Lee Johnson gave his thoughts after the Reds secured a trip to Wembley. Adam Hammill scored the decisive spot-kick after the teams could not be separated in 180 minutes of football.
“It was an incredible night” said Johnson. “I thought we played well. In the final third we didn’t have the quality we normally do but it was a cup tie and the nerves were jangling. How Fletch (Ashley Fletcher) hasn’t stuck that in at the end
I’ll never know, and we should have had a penalty in the first half.
“I thought we played all right. Their first attack of significance gets them a goal and when it gets to penalties it’s a lottery. I felt sorry for Steven Pressley because he had a couple of key injuries before the game but they did well. It was a good game and both teams gave everything they had.”
After Hammill’s penalty eventually crossed the line from hitting the bar, Johnson said just how happy he was.
He said: “For us, the fans, the lads I am delighted. We’re going to Wembley.
“You can’t be disrespectful to Fleetwood, we had chances they had chances, but the right team won in the end. When it gets to penalties, fair play to Adam Davies.
“If I’m honest I didn’t think it would be our night at the end, it was set up for the home side to win on penalties. I thought we played good football at times, it was just a case of not having quite enough quality.
“Credit has to go to the goalkeeper coach john Vaughan who has done the research on how they take their penalties. Davies had it strapped round his wrist as to where they’d go. I’m sure they did it as well, but Davies is excellent at reading penalty kicks and he’s come out the hero.
“It looked like it hadn’t gone in to me! (Hammill’s kick). It looked like it hit the bar twice, it’s such a fine line between success and failure. We’ll take it, we’re off to Wembley!
With Hammill and Aidy White returning to the side from injury, Johnson explained his decision on that.
“It was a close call” he explained. “I wasn’t going to do it but I asked them if they were sure. Whether they can play Sunday I don’t know, I am sure they’ll want to.”
Finally, Johnson wanted to tell the people of Barnsley that he know what it meant, reaching a Wembley final.
“I am delighted for the town, the people, the players, the finances” he said, gleefully. “It’s the whole package. For these lads to play at Wembley and have the chance of silverware so early in their careers is outstanding.
“It’s a nice moment for the club, now we have to make sure we go there and win it. There’s no point going there and being a brave loser.”
