GOALKEEPER Kyle Letheren is determined to prove people wrong after pulling off a string of wonder-stops against Wigan Athletic at Oakwell on Tuesday night.

The Wales U21 international told www.barnsleyfc.co.uk: "It was my debut 90 minutes in the first team at Oakwell and we were playing against Premier League opposition. I had never played against a team at that level before and I was thrilled to bits before to get the chance to go out and show what I can do. I am only 20 and I made one mistake in that game and have been criticised immensely for it. The boos and criticism have made me more determined than ever.

"Every keeper makes mistakes and I have to hold my hands up and say that the Heskey goal was one. The fans were on my back after that but that made me more determined to come out fighting and show them what I can do. I had never experienced anything like that and it was not nice but I was determined not to buckle under the pressure and go under.

"I wanted to make sure that I did myself justice. I thought my kicking and sweeping up was pretty good through the game and I had the chance to make some decent saves, particularly in the second half.

"To save a penalty as well was a massive boost for me but I have every confidence in my ability and, although it was a little disheartening after the game, I want to prove everybody wrong".

"However, what would people have remembered had that game not gone our way? They would have focussed on Nick's one mistake and he would have been hammered for it. He just got on with playing the game and we went on to in the shoot out. You cannot hide out there and there was no way I was going to let myself dwell on that mistake when I had 70-minutes left to play.

"It would have been easy to give up but my father was at the game and he is my harshest critic. He was a professional and played in goal for Leeds and he told me that I did well apart from that mistake and made some pretty good saves.

"All the sarcastic cheers have done is made me more determined to go out and prove myself. I kicked well, swept up well at the back and came for all the crosses I should have done as well as pulling off some good saves. I am only 20-years-old and I know that I will not hit my peak for a long time yet.

"It will make me a stronger player in the long run. There are only two other 20-year-olds playing first team football in the league - Joe Hart at Manchester City and Wayne Hennessey at Wolves. I am nowhere near the finished article yet and everybody knows that keepers nowadays can play on until they are 40.

"I will keep working hard and keep trying to improve with every days training and every game I play. I missed my first day on the training field in three years on Thursday due to a slight injury and I cannot wait to get back out there and working hard. Tuesday night has made me more determined that ever to prove people all wrong".